Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-05-20
Famous Battles and surrenders.

WuhC tHC SHdi &c VI ulC ptNhSo OdlhS
and the assault of the siege bring the VIC
tor a greater glory, nevertheless the iorc-
ing of a surrender is a feat of arms not
despised by the most famous of the Tight
ing captains of history. The Great Ma
poleon deemed the Austrian surrender at
Ulm without the firing OF single gun or
the loss OF life, one OF his most brilliant
performances. War annals do not reveal
an exact duplicate of his event.
Measured by big things the surrender
of the French to the Germans al Sedan,
September 2, 1870. is the greatest field
event of the kind in history. The sur
render OF Metz and other fortresses that
were its complement, during the same
war. were the most noted fortress events
in history. Sedan is still fruitful source
OF study to military students.
The battle OF Sedan that forced the
French surrender was fought on Septem-
Der /, 1870. Bad geperalship placed the
defeated army in position where finally
the Germans were able 10 encircle il with
a complete ring Of cannon.
Marshal MacMahon, the French COM
mander, was badly wounded by burst
ing shell early in the day. The command
devolved on General Ductot, the only
one OF the French leaders who Sensed
what the Germans were doing and who
advised a way of escape that was dis
dained. He at once set his army in mo-
ton toward the only route traverSible to
the west. AT this critical time General
DeWimpften produced commission to
the regency left by Napoleon in Paris
directing him to take over the command
in case MacMahon was killed or wounded.
He at once reversed the marching order
OF Ducrot and led his army nicely and
tightly within the last opening OF the cir
Gle left by the Germans. Then, with
more than 700 guns hurting death from
the heights, north, east, south and west,
Emperor Napoleon ordered the white
flag raised.
On October 27, 1870, the fortress OF
Metz surrendered after siege OF 10 days.
Marshal Bazaine, the French commander,
had retired within its walls after the great
battle OF Gravelotte on August Is. The
results OF the surrender were l73, 900 men,
&c Generals and more than 5000 subor-
dinate officers, 400 pieces of artillery,
100 mitrailleuseS and 50 eagles, or STAN
dards. Besides Marshal Bazane, two
other Marshals, Canrobert and lie Bieuf,
surrendered TO The victorS.
A surrender OF importance-although
far from being thought so at the time OF
its occurence-waS that OF Charles Earl
CORVALLIS, the commander OF the British
forces at Yorktown, 10 the Continental
commander, General George Washing
ton, October 10, 1881. This event ended
the American Revolution.
Washington marched from The vicinity
OF Fort Lee, New Jersey, all the way TO
Virginia TO accomplish it-4O0 miles-in
28 days. For boldness OF conception,
promptneSs OF decision and in celerity OF
execution Napoleon did nothing better in
his UIm campaign, famous as il became
with military analysis. The American
commander crossed the Hudson August
21St and Yorktown fell just SO days later.
After the battle OF Jamestown, July 9th,
1881, in which CORVALLIS had defeated
Lafayette, the British forces were led 10
Gloucester and Yorktown, the better 10
support British fleet that was TO be sent
10 Hampton Roads. Lines of field forti-
fications were laid out.
Yorktown was surrounded. Siege guns
were brought ashore, from the French
fleet. The line closed in, night attacks
were made, and finally after storm pre-
vented the transportation of the British
troops across the York River 10 Glouces-
ter CORVALLIS opened negotiations for a
surrender.
The prisoners numbered 7, l57 soldiers,
or 8,O77 in all. In addition there were
144 cannon, 6,65S muskets, great quanti-
ties of ammunition, supplies and clothing
belonging TO the army.
Another surrender outside fortress
that marked decided military epoch in
the War of the Revolution, was that OF
General Burgoyne 10 General Gates at
Saratoga, October II, TIT. AT Bemis
Heights on October Burgoyne had been
defeated with loss Of 600 men. He re-
treated TO Saratoga and began the con-
structon of defenses. Gates followed
and surrounded him. The British and
HesSians marched out OF their camp after
the papers were signed and laid down
their arms 10 the number Of 34l officers,
596 on-commissioned officers, 4,836 pri-
vates-total Of 5, 1853 men.
The surrender of Robert E. Lee to u.
s. Grant at Appomattox, April 9, 1865,
was perhaps one OF the saddeSt sights in
in the history OF warfare. The Confed-
crate troops, measured by the endurance
of all soldiery since the first armed force
was ever arrayed, would have been iust-
fled in sunenderingmonths before. They
were half starved, in rags, barefooted and
bareheaded. But they did lot give up
because Of this. They were content to
light on with all these handicaps so long
as there was some use in fighting II
was not even starvation that beat them.
1t was the overwhelming force Of a foe
outnumbering them five TO one. To con-
tinue would not have been battle, but
mere massacre. So they surrendered.
There were 2.S62 officers and q, ,494 en-
listed nen, a total Of q, ,:356, in the heroic
band of fighters. Fewer than 5000 had
rifles.
The mention of Fort Ticonderoga will