The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-06-21

pushed northward fyom the Carolinas
by the British CORVALLIS finally made
his way into the peninsula between the
York and James rivers, where he es-
tablished base of supplies at York
town
Lafayette was about twenty miles
away and in constant touch with
Washington, who was waiting infor-
nation regarding the French feet.
Lafayette wanted to attack the enemy,
but Washington deemed such a move
ment premature.
Washington finally effected juno
tion with the forces of Lafayette, MAX
ing an army Of 10000 men, while Corn
wallis had about 1900 bottled up on
the peninsula, his only hope being
from the assistance which might come
to him from the British navy. vigor-
ously pressing the siege Washington
secured from CORVALLIS oyertures for
a surrender on October IL, and ar
ticles Of surrender were finally agreed
upon. The artillery, guns, accoutre-
ments and public stores of every de-
scription were to be delivered to the
victors, the officers to retain their side
arms and the soldiers to keep their
private property of every kind.
Promptly at noon on the day agreed
upon for the surrender, October 10,
the gates of the fort were opened and
a detachment of American infantry
and French grenadiers entered and
took possession Two hours later, at
2 o'clock in the afternoon the enemy
marched out, with coIors furled, to the
tune 1.-THE World Is Upside Down"
Washington dispatched with all
haste his trusted adiutant, Col. Tench
Tilghman, to Philadelphia, where the
Continental congress was sitting. The
young soldier took the long trip on
horseback. Riding practically night
and day, he reached the Quaker city
at midnight on October %, four days af-
ter the surrender. After finding his
way with all haste to the home of
Thomas Mexican, the president Of
congress, he raped so violently the
door knocker that one Of the night
watch several blocks away hurried
over to learn the cause of the dis
turbance.
Soon the news was being proclaimed
throughout the city. The cry was
taken up, not only by the watch, but
by hundreds Of citizens, rushing half
dressed from their beds into the street.
The bellman of the old statehouse was
hurried out from his home to announce
the tidings; lights were seen moving
in every house; the people were astir
as they had not been before since the
day when the Declaration of Independ-
ence had been promulgated five years
before. The city was wild with joy.
Soon the cannon were booming.
Charles Thompson, secretary of con-
gress, in his rounds of the homes
where the members were living. found
his errand of notification useless. The
patriots were all in readiness for the
early morning session and eager to
hear the official dispatch from Wash
ington.
A prayer of thanksgiving was Of
fered, several speeches made, and then
the congress adjourned to the Luther
an church where at o'clock thanks
were given ito Almighty God for
browning the armies Of the United
States and Its ally with success"
Dispatch riders were sent out in
every direction, heralds of a new era,
the dawn Of a democracy, whose in
fluence was eventually to permeate
every path of the earth. Congress
voted the thanks of the nation and
appropriate honors to Washington,
Rochambeau, De Grasse, and a day
was appointed for general thanksgiv-
ing and prayer throughout the Union,
for Gods great favors to the struggling
patriots. Legislative bodies, executive
councils. city corporations, private
societies, churches and other organiza-
tions overwhelmed Washington with
congratulatory addresses; bonfires
were kIndled on the mountain peaks.
Museum Gets Montgomery Relic.
The sword Of Brig. Cen. Richard
Montgomery Of the Continental army,
who led the assault or Quebec and
was killed at the first discharge of
the British infantry on December 81,
1775, was formally transferred to the
national museum in accordance with
the congressional resolution Of Febru-
AIRY %.