The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-20
Yorktown Centennial.

| The Baltimore SIN of Monday gIves the fol-
lowing suecinct account of the Yorktown
Centennial, at which many OF our citizens now
are, and towards which the eyes of all Christ
endom is turned
The official celebration of the centennial
commem0raton of the surrender of Corn
wallis will commence to morrow at Yorktown
with the reception of the guests OF the nation,
and an address of welcome by Coy. Holiday,
of VIrinia; q second address by the orator of
the day, the Hon. John w Johnston, of Vir-.
GINA, TO be followed by the laying of the
cornerstone of the monument by the grand
master of the Masons of Virginia. assisted by
the chief representatives of the order from the
thirteen original States. The celebration will
be brought to a close ON Friday next by
grand naval review. The intervening DAYS
Will be occupied with the delivering of speech,
es and poems, and by civil, religious and mill
tary exercises In all its main features the
Yorktown OF to-day which was the scene of
Inc eliminating struggle that virtually brought
the war OF independence to triumphant close
nnds It's chief difference from the little port
OF entry, where the Nelson's and the Pages
lved IN patrlarchal fashion century ago, in
the ravages that time has wrought The prin-
| clpal features of the place are the same. The
| little custom-house still remains There are
| still traces of the earthworks thrown IN dur
| ing the siege, and the fine old Nelson man
sion still rears its stately head, though in
| condition of dilapidation and decay. The
Yorktown Of a century ago is again The seat
| OF mimic war. Soldiers are encamped on its
now barren fields, and on its waters ships ride
at anchor, with the flags of France and Ameri-
! ca INJURED. 1t is IN more ways than one
peaceful reproduction of an historical event
1t was graceful act OF courtesy to invite the
descendants and representatives of those who
participated in our revolutionary struggle to
assist at the centennial celebration of its sue
cessful termination on the spot where Corn
| wallis laid down his arms and surrendered the
seven thousand men of his command prison
ers OF war. To Lafayette and Rochambeau,
Count de Grasse and the naval and military
forces OF France the country owes a deep debt
OF gratitude, as well as to the able German
soldiers, Steuben and De Kalb, whom France
engaged to assist us III our struggle. But for
France the war might have continued indefi-
nltely as a forlorn and desperate conflict, such
as people intent en- liberty can wage with all
the odds against them. She supplied the CO.
lonlal government with money, arms, men
and amunltions of war. 1t was her fleet of
tWenty-four ships of war that participated in
the siege of Yorktown, and of the sixteen
thousand men that constituted the besiegng
force under Washington, France contributed
seven thousand five hundred One other IA
nous Frenchman, whose name has been rarely
mentioned in connection with our war for lib
erty, deserves no little honor. 1t was Beau
marchais, the witty author OF the Marriage of
Figaro, who labored in France necessarily in
behalf OF the American cause. He took
deep interest IN the struggle between the colo
MES and Great Britain, and it was by his UNI
Wearied eXertions that he succeeded in induc-
ing the French government to advance assis-
lance IN money and arms to the colonies. He
was the SECRET agent through whom this assis-
lance was dispensed; and besides what he OBJ
tanned from the French government he en-
parked great part of his private fortune in
the cause. IL is true that he acted in the bust
ness as professional financier, but it was
through his faith in the American cause that
he succeeded in securing the assistance, and he
died without realizing any profit from his la
Dors. In whatever honor, therefore, we do to
the representatives of the French soldiers who
fought for us, the name of Beaumarchais; who
was the prime organizer of the assistance that
France so nobly rendered us, ought not to be
forgotten.
The programme as above Indicated has been
carried out, and tens of thousand of visitors
are now at Yorktown. We have heard of but
one unpleasant occurrence, and that was mis-
conduct on the part ola Massachusetts regi-
ment Their behavior was such as to cause
Gen. Hancock to make complaint to Gen.
Grubb the officer of the day Exaggerated re-
ports of this unpleasant affair reached Staun-
ton 1t was stated that a very serious difficult
ty had occurred. We are glad to learn that
there was little foundation for the rumor.