Evening star., 1939-10-15

Gems. Greene and Morgan the Brit.
ish had BEEN faring badly in the
Southern department. CORVALLIS,
IN whose soul the obstinacy of the
Americans ranked deeply and who
felt that he could end the war
quicwly were he allowed to strike
one clean blow in pitched battle.
maneuvered in Virginia, playing at
hare-and-hounds with elusive La.
fayette.
The latter had been sent south by
Washington to watch the move
mentS of the treacherous Arnold.
and his force was not strong enough
to meet that of CORVALLIS. Indeed,
Lafayette wrote to Washington that
Il am not strong enough even to
be beaten" However, shortly there
after he was Joined by a force Of
Pennsylvania regulars, and with an
army of 1000 men he was able to
stave of the efforts of Tarleton to
capture Thomas Jefferson, then
Governor of Virginia. With that
larger army he was considerably
more capable of worrying Corn
wallis and Of driving him toward
the sea.
After some skirmishing near Will
liamsburg, CORVALLIS invested
Yorktown and supported his force
by the Portsmouth garrison, bring
ing his strength to 1000 men. La.
fayette intrenched himself on NAL
vern Hill and waited.
At this juncture the greatest
strategist entered the picture
George Washington, commander-in-
chief Of the Continental Army.
Daring Movement.
The most daring movement Of
all was Washington's conception.
1t was to dupe Sir Henry Clinton
In New York into believing that
the original plan of attacking there
was to be carried through and to
keep him on the lookout. Washing
ton held a small force at West
Point and marched the main body
Of his army Southwark, and Sir
Henry Clinton was completely mis-
led. Only a few of Washington's
aides knew of the plan, and the re-
mainder of the American army was
as much at sea about the movement
as was Sir Henry.
When Philadelphia was reached
1t was clear to all that Washing
tons plan was to effect q junction
with Lafayette and the French fleet
at Yorktown. AS the army marched
through and paraded before the
President of the Congress, French
troops in glittering uniforms and
Americans more plainly clad, the
populace cheered itself hoarse sens
ing that final deliverance was at
hand.
One obstacle remained-and a
tremendous one, aside from the.
arduous march of Washington's
troops down to Virginia-and that
was the menace of the British fleet.
Crowding sail for the Chesapeake,
Admiral Graves, heading the English
northern squadron, arrived at York
town on September S and immedi-
ately attacked the French fleet.
Everything now hung in the bal
ance. A British victory would mean
relief for CORVALLIS. A French VIC
tory would keep CORVALLIS in thei
trap. After q hot engagement Off
about two hours the British with
drew, beaten decisively. Then
opened the final phase Of the great
Yorktown campaign.
CORVALLIS was now cut of on all
sides, but until Washington arrived
there still would have been q chance
for him to escape since his force was
superior to that Of Lafayette.
Results Of Siege.
On September IA, Washington az
rived and by the 26th the Northern
Army of 10000 men was concentrated
at Williamsburg. The siege of York
town opened with the FIRST parallel"
drawn on. october 6 by Gen. Lincoln.
Under the fire of 10 cannon, the
works of Yorktown began to fall on
October 16, and on the 18th the
white flag appeared above the Brit
ish lines. Then came the negotia-
tions and. two days later, 7,247 Brit.
ish soldiers and $40 seamen marched
out and surrendered. -"