The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-06-28

pushed northWard from the CarOlinas
by the British. CORVALLIS finally made
his way into the peninsula between the
York and james rivers, where he es.
tablished a 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 fleet.
Lafayette wanted to attack the enemy,
but Washington deemed such a move
ment premature.
Washington finally effected a juno.
ton with the forces of Lafayette, max.
ing an army Of 10000 men, while Corn,
wallis had about 800 bottled Ip on
the peninsula, his only hope being
from the assistance which might come
to him from the British navy. Vlgor.
ously pressing the siege, Washington
secured from CORVALLIS overtures for
a surrender on October II, and ar
ticles of surrender were finally agreed
upon. The artillery, guns, %accoutre-
ments and public stores of every de.
scriptiOn We're to be delivered to the
v~ictors, 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 colors furled, to the
tune 1.-The World Is Upside Down"
Washington dispatched with all
haste his trusted a%djutant, Col. Tench
Continental congress was sitting. The
young soldier took the long trip or
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 hall
dressed from their beds into the street
| Tho hnIl,,n, pf Tho ola StntnI,,,So ,,ns
hurried out from his home to announce
the tidinGs; lights were seen moving
in every house; the people were astil
as they had not been before since the
day when the Declaration of Independ
nee 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 home.
where the members were living. fOunf
his errand Of notification useless. TIL,
patriots were all In readiness for tn,
early morning session and eager {,
hear the official dispatch from Wash
ington.
A prayer of thanksgiving was Of
fered, several speeches made, and ther
the congress adjourned to the Luther
an church where at 2 O'Clock thank.
were given ito Almighty God fol
browning the armies OF the Unitet
States and Its ally with success"
Dispatch riders were sent out II
every direction, heralds Of a new era
the dawn of a democracy, whose In
fiuence was eventually to permeat,
every pnth Of the earth. Congress
voted the thanks of the nation an,
appropriate honors to Washington
Rochambeau, De Grasse. and a da.
was appointed for general thanksgiv
ing and prayer throughout the Union
for Gods great favors to the struggiin,
patriots. Legislative bodies, executive
councils. city corporations, privat'
societies. churches and other organiza
lions overwhelmed Washington witt
coDgratulatOry addresses; bonfire
were kindled on the mountain peaks