The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-10-20
YORKTOWN.

YORKTOWN.
The day on which VIC print this issue Of the
Chief, October 10Th, is the one hnndredth an
niyersary of the surrender of Lord Corvallis,
at Yorktown, which event occurred on the 18th
of October, 17sI. Our outside pages are mostly
occupied with historical matter connected with
that affair, or with persons who took prOmi-
nent part in t. The centennial celebration,
which is now in progress at Yorktown, will
doubtless call forth many facts and reminiscent
ces not heretofore known to the general reader
of history, and which we shall reprint, as it
comes TO hand, as we believe that no better
reading can be laid before the American people
than historical sketches relating to our own
country. But very few persons know anything
of the history of many of the principal actors in
that memorable occurrence; they seem to have
at once dropped from public view. On this ocea-
sion, something of their subsequent history may
not be uninteresting We have taken the troub-
lie to look them up, and here present such facts
as we have been able TO obtain.
The great central figure, George Washington,
is familiar to the reader, from his youth to his
death, and it is therefore unnecessary TO speak
of him.
General Benjamin Lincoln, who received Corn
wallis sword, n native of Massachusetts,.
He was AZ years of age when the war broke out,
through which he served, from the beginning to
the end, participating in many of the most i'm
portant battles He commanded the forces
which cleared Boston Harbor of British vessels,
and then Joined Washington. participating in
the battle of White Plains. He was severely
wounded at Bemis Heights, in the campaign
against Burgoyne, in 1777, which disabled him
for year. In 1775 he took command of South
em army, and commanded at the unsuccessful
siege of Savannah. Returning to Charleston,
he defended that city against the forces of Sir
Henry Clinton, in 17s0, but was compelled to
surrender, and returned home, under parole. In
the Spring of 1871, he rejoined Washington, and
participated in the siege of Yorktown, where
he received the sword of CORVALLIS. He was
Secretary of War, from 17s1 to 1884, and IN 17s7
he commanded the forces which suppressed the
Shays Rebellion, in Western Massachusetts,. Up
on the establishment of the Federal Government,
Washington appointed him Collector of the port
of Boston, which position he held until two
years before his death. He was a member of
several commissions appointed to make treaties
with the Indians. He died May ., 1910, at
bingham, the place of his birth.
General Henry Knox was a native of Boston,
and was bookseller there, at the breaking out
of the war. He escaped from the city, which
was occupied by the British, few days before
the battle of Bunker Hill. He participated in
that battle, and also in the siege of Boston. He
was a skillful engineer, and was made chief of
IIa in fha ram
paign of 1777, and participated in the battles Of
Brandywinc, Germantown, and Monmouth. He
was at the surrender of CORVALLIS; was placed
in command of West Point, after the close of
hostilities, and performed the duty of disband-
ing the army, and was appointed to arrange the
surrender of New York with Sir Guy Carleton
He succeeded Gen. Lincoln as Secretary of War,
in 17s5-the Navy then belonging to that De-
partment; and upon the election of Washing
ton to the Presidency, he was appointed a mem
Der Of the Cabinet, as the first Secretary of War
under the present form of Government. He died
at Thomaston Maine, October 25 1906
John Laurens, a son of Henry Laurens, was
one of the commissioners appointed to arrange
the terms of surrender with CORVALLIS. He was
a native of South Carolina, and became aid to
Washington. He participated in the battles of
Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Sa-
vannah. He was sent by Washington to France,
to appeal to the King for aid, in which he
ceeded, and returned home in time to take part
in the siege of Yorktown, where he led the for
lorn hope in stOrming one of the redoubts. He
shot Gen. Charles Lee in duel, for disrespect-
full language to Washington, at the battle of
Monmouth. He was killed near Charleston, in
17s2, in q skirmish with a marauding party of
British.
Lafayette Joined the American cause before he
was twenty years of age; before treaty was
made by which the aid of France was secured,
and while that country was by no means friend
" to the project. He purchased ship, and
equi pped a party at his own expense; and, in n
dark hour of the Revolution, escaping the vigi-
lance of both French and English ships, he land
ed near Georgetown, South Carolina, and was
entertained at the house of Major Huger. In
his party was the famous Baron De Kalb, who
was killed at the battle of Camden. He pro-
ceeded to Philadelphia, where he asked leave of
Congress to serve as q volunteer, without pay.
Congress accepted his services, and commits
stoned him a Major General He soon after met
Washington and the warmest attachment sprang
I'D between them, and continued throughout
their lives Lafayette's first hattie was Brandy
wine, where he was wounded in the leg, but
he saved the army from being thrown into a
panic He did good service at the battle OF
Monmouth, and in 1779 was sent TO France, to
apply for aid, in which he succeeded. He was
ono of the military court that tried and con-
demned Major Andre; and, being sent to Viz
ginis, in l7s1 he was the first to commence op-
erations against CORVALLIS, following him up,
until he was cooped at Yorktown, and during
the siege, he commanded an assault upon the
British works. At the close of the campaign,
he returned to France, where he soon raised a
large army and many vessels to aid America;
but before sailing, he learned of the treaty OF
peace, He revisited the United States, in 11S4,
and made visit to Washington, at Mount Yer
non. Upon his return to France, he actively
participated in efforts to amolorate the condi-
tion of Protestants in France, and to abolish
slavery. He was q member of the Assembly that
constituted the first step in the French Revolu-
tion, and became champion of the rights of
the people During the bloody days of the Rev
olution, he was instrumental in preventing many
excesses. When the National Assembly abol-
ished feudal titles, he was among the first to
Law down that of Marquis, which he never re-
sumed. being known thereafter only as Gen.
sral Lafayette, title which he obtained in the
American army, and under which be command
ed the National Guards of France, War having
aeen declared against Austria, he was appointed