step a little back?'

Colonel Cobb,' replied his excellency, if you are afraid, you have liberty to step back.' The other redoubt, on the right of the British lines, was assaulted at the same time by a detachment of the French, commanded by the gallant Baron de Viominel. Such was the ardour displayed by the assailants, that all resistance was soon overcome, though at the expense of nearly one hundred men killed and wounded. Of the defenders of the redoubt, eighteen were killed, and one captain and two subaltern officers, and forty-two rank and file, captured. Our second parallel line was immediately connected with the two redoubts now taken from the enemy, and some new batteries were thrown up in front of our second parallel line, with a covert way and angling work, approaching to less than three hundred yards of their principal forts. These will soon be mantled with cannon and mortars, and when their horrid thundering commences, it must convince his lordship, that his post is not invincible, and that submission must soon be his only alternative. Our artillerymen, by the exactness of their aim, make every discharge take effect, so that many of the enemy's guns are entirely silenced, and their works are almost in ruins.

16th.-A party of the enemy, consisting of about four hundred men, commanded by Colonel Abercrombie, about four in the morning, made a vigorous sortie against two unfinished redoubts. occupied by the French. They spiked up seven or eight pieces of cannon, and killed several soldiers; but the French advanced and drove them from the redoubts, leaving several killed and wounded. Our New England troops here have become very sickly; the prevalent diseases are intermittent and remittent fevers, which are very prevalent in the climate during the autumnal months.

17th. The whole of our works are now mounted with cannon and mortars; not less than one hundred pieces of heavy ordnance have been in continual operation during the last twenty-four hours.

The whole peninsula trembles under the incessant thunderings of our infernal machines; we have levelled some of their works in ruins, and silenced their guns; they have almost ceased. firing.

"We are so near as to have a distinct view of the dreadful havoc and destruction of their works, and even see the men in their lines torn to pieces by the bursting of the shells. But the scene is drawing to a close. Lord Cornwallis, realizing, at length,

SIEGE OF YORKTOWN.

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the extreme hazard of his deplorable situation, and finding it in vain any longer to resist, has, this forenoon, come to the humiliating expedient of sending out a flag, requesting a cessation of hostilities for twenty-four hours, that commissioners may be appointed to prepare and adjust the terms of capitulation. Two or three flags passed in the course of the day, and General Washington consented to a cessation of hostilities for two hours only, that his lordship may suggest his proposals for a treaty, which being in part accepted, a suspension of hostilities will be continued until

to-morrow.

18th. It is now ascertained that Lord Cornwallis, to avoid the necessity of a surrender, had determined on the bold attempt to make his escape in the night of the 16th, with a part of his army, into the country. His plan was to leave sick and baggage behind, and to cross with his effective force over to Gloucester Point, there to destroy the French legion and other troops, and to mount his infantry on their horses, and such others as might be procured, and push their way to New York by land. A more preposterous and desperate attempt can scarcely be imagined. Boats were secretly prepared, arrangements made, and a large proportion of his troops actually embarked, and landed on Gloucester Point, when, from a moderate and calm evening, a most violent storm of wind and rain ensued. The boats with the remaining troops were all driven down the river, and it was not till the next day that his troops could be returned to the garrison at York. At an early hour this forenoon, General Washington communicated to Lord Cornwallis the general basis of the terms of capitulation which he deemed admissible, and allowed two hours for his reply. Commissioners were soon after appointed to prepare the particular terms of agreement. The gentlemen appointed by General Washington are Colonel Laurens, one of his aids-de-camp, and Viscount de Noailles, of the French army. They have this day held an interview with the British officers on the part of Lord Cornwallis; the terms of capitulation are settled; and being confirmed by the commanders of both armies, the royal troops are to march out to-morrow and surrender their arms. It is a circumstance deserving of remark, that Colonel Laurens, who is stipulating for the surrender of a British nobleman, at the head of a royal army, is the son of Mr. Henry Laurens, our ambassador to Holland, who, being captured on his voyage, is now in close confinement in the Tower of London."

Cornwallis, on the 19th of October, surrendered the posts of

Yorktown and Gloucester Point to the combined armies of America and France, on condition that his troops should receive the same honours of war which had been granted to the garrison of Charleston, when it surrendered to Sir Henry Clinton. The army, artillery, arms, accoutrements, military chest, and public stores of every description, were surrendered to Washington; the ships in the harbour, and the seamen, to Count de Grasse.

Cornwallis wished to obtain permission for his European troops to return home, on condition of not serving against America, France, or their allies, during the war, but this was refused; and it was agreed that they should remain prisoners of war in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, accompanied by a due proportion of officers, for their protection and government. The British general was also desirous of securing from punishment such Americans as had joined the royal standard; but this was refused, on the plea that it was a point which belonged to the civil authority, and on which the military power was not competent to decide. But the end was gained in an indirect way; for Cornwallis was permitted to send the Bonetta sloop of war, unsearched, to New York, with despatches to the commander-in-chief, and to put on board as many soldiers as he thought proper to be accounted for in any subsequent exchange. This was understood to be a tacit permission to send off the most obnoxious of the Americans, which was accordingly done.

The officers and soldiers were allowed to retain their private property. Such officers as were not required to remain with the troops, were permitted to return to Europe, or to reside in any part of America not in possession of British troops. A considerable number of negro slaves had fled from their masters, and gone over to the royal army: these the Americans resolved to recover; but deeming it indecorous to demand the restitution of slaves, while they themselves were fighting for liberty, they expressed their claim in general language, and stipulated that any property obviously belonging to the inhabitants of the states should be subject to be reclaimed. The garrison marched out of the town with colours cased, and with the drums beating a British or German march. General Lincoln was appointed to receive the surrender, in precisely the same way in which his own had been received at Charleston. Exclusive of seamen, nearly seven thousand persons surrendered, about four thousand of whom were fit for duty. During the siege, the garrison lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, five hundred and fifty-two men.