Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-02-17

Manhattan Island. next out Of New
York state and finally ont OF New Jer-
sey and into Pennsylvania. Washing
ton had only about 5000 men left when
he reached Pennsylvania. and. beaten
as he HAD been. a mau OF less faith and
will would have given M the struggle.
but IT WAS Just on this point when the
British thouc''t thew bod him crushed
that the resourcefulncss Of the man
began to show itself 1t was here thai
he made the hr ON Trenton
and Princeton. D. .a,--,.s that have
won the praise of military strategists
the world over.
Bnt IL was Yorktown that brought
out Washiug,ou's strategic ability in
Its fun spl,a or The story OF that
campaign, while familiar TO the aver
age reader in "A general way. is not so
well known as 80 details, and Il is in
She details that Nashiugton's mastery
plan is brought into relief. During the
winter before the movement the forces
were somewhat In this general posi-
ton: Washington. with about II 900
men. was wintering at Morristown.
Lafayette. with 5000 American troops,
was near Baltimore. Rochambeau.
with 5000 French troops had been
landed in Rhode Island. Count de
Grasse. with a large French fleet. was
or the West Indies. II the British
forces there was a large army I'm New
York; CORVALLIS, with 10000 men.
was at Yorktown, and the British feet
was cruising along the coast. Every
evidence goes TO show that Washington
thought out his plan during the winter.
In order 20 carry IL out Il was neccs-
sary 20 observe the utmost secrecy, TO
deceive the British as to his intentions
and TO bring four OF his own discon-
nectcd forces 10 bear on a common
point
Washington's first move was to take
his main army TO White Plains. n. Y,
In order TO protect the French troops
as they marched around New York
city ready for their trip south. While
doing this he led the British to think
that he intended an attack on New
York. When Rochambeau came up. the
combined army then crossed the Hud-
son prepared Tor the long march to
Yorktown. About this time came the
second great move I'm the game. The
feet under De Grasse was ordered ND
TO the Chesapeake in order TO cut of
CORVALLIS from escape by sea. Too
late the British admiral saw the sig.
nifcance OF the step. He attempted to
cut or De Grasse from accomplishing
the Investment but arrived a day after
the French admiral had reached the
Chesapeake. Battle was offered by the
British. but they were repulsed
Washington, with his 1900 American
and French soldiers, now swung rapid
~ southwark. Then the English com
mander at New York began TO see the
mastery game that was being played.
but it was again too late. He attempt.
ell TO divert the attention Of the Amer
lean commander by devastating New
England, but Washington was TOO wise
to be drawn from his purpose. The in
strument chosen by the British general
was Benedict Arnold. who attacked the
unprotected people of Connecticut with
ruthless cruelty. General Washington
knew OF this raid, and il caused him
great uneasiness and sorrow, but he
never relinquisbed his plan and pushed
steadily toward Yorktown. ON the way
south he was joined by Lafayette, and
the forces under the American com
mander were swelled to about 10000
troops.
It vas autumn when the Continental
armies reached Yorktown and began
the investment. Spreading his lines
around the doomed CORVALLIS, Wash
ington began the final moves in the
game that was to give independence to
his country. The British were now
completely hemmed in. De Grasse shut
them of from escape by sea, and the
forces under Washington prevented
their escape by land. 1t was now but a
matter OF driving home, and this was
accomplished by gallant assaults. in
which the Continental and French
troops Wed with each other in attempts
10 win glory.
The success that crowned the efforts
of the American commander in chief
was not all due to strategy, however.
The greatness OF the man excited re-
spect quite Us much in the French
ranks as In his own. lie was the &c
knowledged master OF the situation at
all times. There was never a moment
when he did not completely control the
entire forces engaged In the invest
mont. Even the French naval com
: mander was under his direction and co
operated With his plans. There are
few examples In history Of command
er so thoroughly dominating his allies.