The Coolidge examiner., 1934-11-02
Washington Resiqninq His Commission. Dec 23, 1898

cellency General Washington. having brought
Official accounts Of the SURRENDER OF
Lord CORVALLIS and the Carrisons Of York
and Gloucester. those Citizens who chuse 70
ILLUMINATE On the Glorious Occasion. will
do Il this evening at SIX and extinguish
their lights at Nine o'clock Decorum and
harmony are earnestly recommended 90 ev-
cry Citizen. and a general disooun,eaancc TO
the least appearance of riot.
Although the school book histories give us
the impression that the Revolution ended abb
rupily with the surrender of CORVALLIS. II was
FAR from being ms simple ns all that Charleston
and Savannah were Siili held by the British So
was New York where Sir Henry Clinton. al.
though outwltted by Washington in bis quick
dash 10 trap Cornwallis silll bad a strong army
that a perpetual threat against the Ameri-
can line OF defense along the Hudson.
The surrender at Yorktown was n stunning
blow 10 British prestige. but II dld not mean that
the stubborn Briton was ready 10 give up set
True. our school book histories tell u.s. Lord
North. upon receiving news OF the disaster.
threw up bis arms as though struck by n
cannon ball and cried out: Ny God. II Is all
over. II Is all overr" But when parliament
convened. King George III made a speech whicn
Indicated HIS determination TO continue the war.
and. hearing OF this. Washington knew that his
task was far from being ended. So be sent urgent
appeals 20 the states not to relax their efforts,
made plans for a stronger army than ever be-
fore and after n brief stop at Mount Vernon and
a short stay In Philadelphia where he conferred
with committee from congress on the measures
necessary for the next campaign. marched his
Contlnentais back 20 Newburgh on the Hudson.
where for the next few months he lay watching
Clinton in New York.
But Clinton showed no desire to make move
and for the next year the two armies adopted
policy OF "watchfnl waiting" During this time
there was some ralding by maraudIng bands OF
Tories and Patriots. but there were no major
military movements In the northern theater OF
war. The conflict there had become a stalemate
Down in the South bitter partisan warfare
still being waged After Yorktown, Mad
Anthony" Wayne had been sent 10 help Gen
Nathaneal Greene regain South Carolina and
Georgia from the enemy and In a series OF minor
sklrmlshes he defeated the Creek Indian allies
Of the British. scattered parties OF Tory raiders
and ousted several small British garrisons from
the towns they were holding Then he marched
against Savannah. forced the British TO evacu-
ate IL In July. 17s2. and joined Greene in the
siege OF Charleston which the British gave up In
December.
So in both the North and South hostilities had
virtually ceased by the middle OF the year. But
out In the West the war was still raging In a
fearful form unknown on the Atlantic seaboard
except In the blood-drenched Mohawk valley OF
New York. Indian scalpIng parties, led by Brit
ish and Canadian officers. were assalling the
Pennsylvania and Virginia borders and the Ken
tucky settlements.
In August. 17s2 the men and women OF Bry-
ants Station successfully wIthstood such an at
tack. only 10 have their victory followed by the
disaster at Blue Licks August 10 when the
flower OF Kentucky's man power was destroyed
in this "Last Battle OF the Revolution" so called
because IL was the last pitched battle between
forces of any considerable size. On September
II wave Of savage fury once more beat against
the pasaded walls OF Fort Henry twheeling.
w. va) where Betty Zane won Immortality with
aer dash through a hail OF bullets to carry
powder TO the defenders OF the fort This attack
was also repulsed as were others against other
outposts OF the frontier. but for many months
afterwards there hung over the West the shadow
of fear of the redskins. kind OF fear which the
Redcoats had never been able 10 inspire In the
East
In the meantime the march OF events across
the Atlantic was rapidly bringing the war nearer
and nearer to an end Even before Yorktown the
English nation was tired OF a which gave It
more debts than victories and which had been
denounced more than once by members OF the
Whig party. After Yorktown King George was
about the only one who wanted to keep on Win