XX. m they depended as their last resource, were nearly expen- CHAP. ded. In these unfortunate circumstances, lord Cornwallis had no other choice left but to prepare for a furrender on the following day, or to endeavour to escape with the remaining part of the troops by conveying them over to Gloucester point. 1781. Unfuccefs crofs the In this laft precarious and almost desperate enterprise, he was disappointed by the weather. Having prepared, on fome other pretences, boats for conveying the troops to the other fide of the river, he made his arrangements with the utmoft fecrecy. It was his intention to abandon the baggage, and leave a detachment behind to make a ca- ful attempt pitulation for the town's people; for which purpose, a to carry the letter was to be left for Washington: but after the first troops aembarkation had got over, and the troops were already river. landed, the weather which hitherto had continued moderate and calm, instantly changed to a violent storm of wind and rain. The boats, with the remaining troops, were all driven down the river, and the defign of paffing them over not only fruftrated, but the absence of the boats rendered it impoffible to bring back the troops from Gloucefter. Thus weakened and divided, the army, by this untoward accident, was involved in a state of the most imminent danger. To increase the danger and distresses of their present fituation, the enemies batteries were opened with great vigour at day-break; and the passage to Gloucester was much exposed to their fire. The fatal crifis, therefore, could now no longer be delayed. The works were, every-where, finking under the prodigious discharge of artillery, which had been kept up in fuch a manner, as to exceed any thing remembered even by veterans in the fervice. The engineers were of opinion, and lord Cornwallis himself could not help concurring in the fame, that they were already affailable in feveral places; so that, by the continuance of the dreadful fire, which now took place from the new batteries, only for a few hours longer, they must be reduced to fuch a fituation, that it would be a defperate attempt to defend them, at the fame time that the French fhips seemed to be preparing for an attack by water alfo. In fuch deplorable circumftances, his lordship could Cornwallis not but confider it as extreme cruelty to expofe the re- obliged to capitulate. mains of that gallant army, who had encountered fo many dangers, to an affault, which must certainly prove fuccefsful. He, therefore, wrote a letter to general Washington, propofing a ceffation of hoftilities for twen oa. 17. CHAP. ty-four hours, and that commiffioners might be mutu XX. ally appointed to fettle the terms of capitulation. In the Y prefent fituation of affairs, few terms could be infifted 1781. upon by the befieged; however, they were as favourable as could have been expected. The troops, with the fame honours which had been granted to the garrison at Charlestown, became prifoners of war. Their number, exclufive of 1500 feamen, amounted to between 5000 and 6cco; but they had been fo much reduced by fickness and the cafualities of war, that only 3800 were now fit for fervice. The Guadaloupe frigate of 24 guns, with a confiderable number of tranfports, and a fine train of artillery, fell into the hands of the conquerors. The land forces became prisoners to America; but the feamen, with the fhips and furniture, were affigned to M. de Graffe, as a compliment to and return for the French naval power and affittance. ga. 19. The British general ftrove in vain to obtain better terms, particularly, that the British and German troops might be returned to their respective countries, as prifoners on parole, on condition of not ferving against France and America during the war, or until they were exchanged. Some favourable conditions which he wifhed to obtain in behalf of the inhabitants of York-Town, and other Americans who were under the protection of the British army, were likewife refused, on the footing of their being civil matters, and without the jurifdiction of the commander in chief. To fet at liberty these Americans, however, who would have been exposed to the most imminent danger, Cornwallis made it a point. that the Bonetta floop, which was to convey his difpatches to New-York, fhould pass without search or examination; he being only answerable, that the number of perfons fhe conveyed fhould be accounted for as prifoners of war upon an exchange. It was also provided, that no article of this capitulation fhould be violated under pretence of reprifals, or on any account whatever. The general himfelf, with all civil and military officers, excepting only those who were neceffarily retained for the protection and government of the foldiers, were at liberty to go upon parole, either to England, or New-York; and the troops, divided as much as poffible into regiments, were to remain within the government of Virginia, Maryland, or Pennsylvania. This capitulation, concluded on the 19th of October, was confidered by all parties, whether in America or Britain, as decifive of the independence of the colonies, and thanks were offered up in the churches, as if that CHAP. No bounds were set to the congratulations of the commander in chief. The Congrefs refolved that their thanks fhould be prefented to his excellency general Washington, for the eminent fervices which he had rendered to the United States, and particularly for the well-concerted plan against the British garrisons in York and Gloucefter; for the vigour, attention, and military skill with which the plan was executed, and for the wisdom and prudence manifested in the capitulation.-Addreffes of congratulation were also prefented to him by all the dif ferent public bodies in America.-To the French commanders by fea and land, the thanks of Congrefs were likewife voted. END OF VOLUME FIVE. |