The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-07-28
THE SURRENDER OF YORKTOWN.
Marching to the Tune. "Tho World Turned
Upside Down."
From Uarpcr's .Maga.i,ic.

Upside Down."
From Iia,pcr's Jdya.iiic.
At noon of the 10Th (Oc.ober) we have
! ire first act of surrender. Yorktown
changed hands. Two redoubts on the
lett of the cnemys works were at that
hour taken possession Of by detachments
from the allied army, Col. Richard But.
Ter commanding the American and Mar.
quls Laval the French party, each of 100
men. AT o'clock we reach the closing
scene. The army of CORVALLIS marched
out as prisoners of war, grounded their
arms, and then marched buck. Accounts
agree i'll describing tie display and cere-
mony on the occasion az quite imposing.
ihe British appeared in new uniforms.
distributed among them few days be.
tore, and it only required the flying of
tncir standards II give their march the
effect of holiday parade. But their
colors were cased, and they were prohib.
lted from playing either a Frcnch or an
American tune. This was the return of
a compliment, piecc of iustifiable as
well as poetic retaliation on the part of
the Americans for what the enemy we're
pleased to command when Gen. Lincoln
was compelled to surrender at Charleston
the year before. The matter came up at
the meeting of the commissioners. "This
is harsh article" said Ross to Laureps.
Which article p answered the latter.
The troops shall march out miH ,,loys
cased ant drun,s beating British or a
German march,"
Yes, sir" returned Laurens with Il
touch OF sang jroid, ''it is IL harsh arti-
Then" said Ross, "if that is your
opinion, why is it herc?"
Whereupon Laurens, who had been
made prisoner at Charleston with Lin.
coins army, proceeded to remind Ross
that the Americans on that occasion had
made Il brave defence, but wcro uppnl.
lantly refused any honors of surrender
olhcr Than 10 march out with colurs cascd
ana drums not beating British or n
German march.
But, rtjoined Ross, my Lord Corn
wallis did not command at Charleston
There, sir" said Laurens, "you ex-
tort another observation. 1t is not the
individual that is here considered; il is
the nation: This remains an article or
cease TO be commissioner"
Nothing moic WAS to be said the arti-
Gle stood, and the enemy marched out
with colors cuscd, while the tune :hey
chose to follow was an old British march
with the quite appropriate title of "Ihe
world turned upside down."
As the prisoners moved out of their
works along the Hampton road thev
found the French aud American armies
drawn up OH either side of the way. the
Americans on the right, and extending
Tor more than mile toward the field Of
surrender. The French troops presented
u brilliant spectacle in their white uni
forms, with plumcd and decorated officers
ut their head, and gorgeous standards of
white silk, embroidered with golden
beurs de-li5, floating along the line. TIE
Americans were less Of an attraction IN
outward appearance, but not the less
eagerly eyed by their late antagonists
Among the war-worn Continentals there
was variety of dress, poor at the best,
distinguishing the men of the different
INES but to compensate for lack of
show there was solderly bearing about
them which commanded attention. The
militia formed in their rear presented a
less martial sight SO far as clothing and
order we're concerned. But all these
men were conqucrors, and their very ap.
pcarance bespoke tho hardships and pri-
vatlon they and their States had under
gone to win in the struggle. At the head
OF the respective lines were the com
m,anding generals, nobly mounted
Washington, Rochambeau, Lafayette,
Lincoln, Steuben, Knox md the rest.
Leading the British came Gen. O'Hara
instead of CornwaIlis. The latter plead
ed illness, but he sent his sword by
O'Hara to be given up to Washington.
AS OHara advanced to the chief, he was
referred to Lincoln, who upon receiving
the sword as token of the enemy's sub.
mission, Immediately returned it TO the
british General, whose troops then
marched between the two lines to field
on the right, where they grounded their
arms.