91. The Siege of Yorktown
BY A CHAPLAIN (1781)
TO-DAY some of the troops arrived. General Washington arrived
from the French fleet. The
vessel he came in ran aground.[219]
Sunday, 23d. General Lincoln returned to-day ~rom the mouth
of the river, having been
down to supply the troops with provisions. His vessel ran aground, and
he was in great danger. I
went to Williamsburgh and preached to the light infantry commanded
by the Marquis De la
Fayette.
28th. This day we marched to a place which is about two miles
from the town of York.
29th. Our troops lay on their arms last night and expected an
attack from the enemy; but
they did not disturb us. This day the whole army approached the
enemy's lines. A cannonade from
the enemy took place, but we received very little injury.
October 2d. The firing of the enemy has continued all day, in
order to annoy our men
who are working on a redoubt. No men have been killed to-day in the
American camp.
3d. This day the firing from the enemy abated. Last night four
men were killed in our
camp by one cannon ball by the enemy.
5th. Preparations are making to besiege the enemy with great
vigor. Our troops vie with
each other in the performance of duty and the love of danger.
9th. This day an American battery of six guns, eighteen and
twenty four pounders, and
four mortars began to play on the town.
10th. Last night the cannonade and bombardment did not
cease. A second American
battery is opened, and a French battery increases the horrors of war.
The British batteries are
mostly silent.
11th. A cannonade and bombardment continued through the
greater part of last night. All
day the engines of war have raged with redoubled fury. Two of the
enemy's ships were burned last
night; one to-day. They were fired by red-hot shot from a battery under
the direction of Simon de
St. Simon. I have heard of no man being killed to-day.
12th. The French have this day played upon the enemy from
seven batteries. The horrors
of war must have been very evident to our enemies.
13th. Last night the firing of the enemy was very constant and
severe.
Sunday, 14th. No cessation of firing last night. This day
Captain White and four soldiers
were killed, and ten wounded in our trenches.
15th. Last night an attack was made on two redoubts of the
enemy. They were both
carried in the most gallant and enterprising manner.
The American light infantry, under the Marquis De La
Fayette, in storming the redoubt
had about eight killed and but four wounded. None of the enemy were
put to death after they
asked for mercy. This is an evidence of the generosity and humanity
which dwell in the breasts of
Americans, when they have a cruel and unmerciful enemy in their
power.
17th. This day we opened some batteries on the second
parallel, and are almost prepared
to cannonade and bombard the town with seventy pieces of ordnance.
The cannonade of to-day
has been prevented by the arrival of a flag from the enemy.
They request a cessation of arms for twenty four hours; also
desire to know upon what
conditions the garrison may expect to surrender. General Washington
informed them what terms
he would give them. He has allowed them only two hours to consider
them and to give an answer.
Four years ago to-day Burgoyne and his whole army
surrendered to the United States.
That signal instance of the smiles of heaven, and what we now have in
prospect, should make us
very thankful to Almighty God.
18th. This day the enemy have agreed to surrender themselves
prisoners of war to the
combined arms of France and America. Hallelujah!
19th. This day the enemy marched out of their works and laid
down their arms. Some
French and American troops have taken possession of the town.
20th. What an alteration do we find! The fields and plains,
which so lately were the
theatres of death and carnage, are now places of safety, and peace!
[[219]]
The British had taken Charleston (S.C.) and
then marched northward, but were hemmed in at Yorktown by the
American troops on one side and the French fleet on the other
side.