bined attack by the French and the Americans. The consequent diminution of his force induced his lordship to cross James river, and to march in the direction of Portsmouth. Before, however, the reinforcements destined for New York had sailed, he received counter-orders and instructions from Sir Henry Clinton, in pursuance of which he conveyed his army, amounting to 7000 men, to Yorktown, which place he proceeded to fortify with the utmost skill and industry.

The object of Lord Cornwallis in thus posting himself at Yorktown, was to co-operate in the subjugation of Virginia with a fleet which he was led to expect would about this time proceed from the West Indies to the Chesapeake. Whilst his lordship was anxiously looking out for the British penants, he had the mortification, on the 30th of August, to see the Count de Grasse sailing up the bay with twenty-eight sail of the line, three of which, accompanied by a proper number of frigates, were immediately despatched to block up York river. The French vessels had no sooner anchored, than they landed a force of 3200 men, who, under the command of the Marquis de St. Simon, effected a junction with the army of Lafayette, and took post at Williamsburg. Soon after this operation, the hopes of the British were revived by the appearance off the Capes of Virginia, of Admiral Graves, with twenty sail of the linea force which seemed to be competent to extricate Lord

What other orders did Lord Cornwallis receive?

Whither then did he go?

What did he there do?

What was the number of his army?

What was his object in so doing?

What occurred on the 30th of August?

What was the force which the French landed?

Under whose command were they?

Where did Lafayette and the French force take post?

What occurred soon after this?

Cornwallis from his difficult position. These hopes, however, proved delusive. On the 7th of September, M. de Grasse encountered the British fleet, and a distant fight took place, in which the French seemed to rely more on their maneuvering than on their valor. The reason of this was soon apparent. In the course of the night which followed the action, a squadron of eight line-of-battle ships safely passed the British, and joined De Grasse, in consequence of which accession of strength to the enemy, Admiral Graves thought it prudent to quit that part of the coast, and retire to New York. This impediment to their operations having been removed, the Americans and French directed the whole of their united efforts to the capture of Yorktown.

This had not, however, been the original design of General Washington at the commencement of the campaign. Early in the spring he had agreed with Count Rochambeau to lay siege to New York, in concert with a French fleet which was expected to reach the neighborhood of Staten Island in the month of August. He had accordingly issued orders for considerable reinforcements, especially of militia, to join his army in proper time to commence the projected operations. The French troops under Rochambeau having arrived punctually at his encampment near Peekskill, General Washington advanced to King's Bridge, and hemmed in the British in York Island. Every preparation seemed to be now in forwardness for the commencement of the siege; but the militia came in tardily. The adjacent States were dilatory in sending in their quotas of troops; and whilst he was impatiently awaiting their arrival Washington had the mortification to receive intelligence that

In what way did the hopes of Lord Cornwallis prove delusive?
To what did the Americans and French direct their whole force?
Was this Washington's original design? What was?

1

Clinton had received a reinforcement of 3000 Germans.Whilst his mind was agitated by disappointment, and chagrined by that want of zeal on the part of the middle States which he apprehended could not but bring discredit on his country, in the estimation of his allies, he was relieved from his distress by the news of the success of Greene in driving Lord Cornwallis into Yorktown; and at the same time learning that the destination of Count de Grasse was the Chesapeake, and not Staten Island, he resolved to transfer his operations to the State of Virginia. Still, however, he kept up an appearance of persevering in his original intention of making an attack upon New York, and in this feint he was aided by the circumstance, that when this was in reality his design, a letter, in which he had detailed his plans for its prosecution, had been intercepted, and read by Sir Henry Clinton. When, therefore, in the latter end of August, he broke up his encampment at Peekskill, and directed his march to the south, the British commander, imagining that this movement was only a stratagem calculated to throw him off his guard, and that the enemy would speedily return to take advantage of his expected negligence, remained in his quarters, and redoubled his exertions to strengthen his position. In consequence of this error, he lost the opportunity of impeding the march of the allied army, and of availing himself of the occasions which might have presented themselves of bringing it to action before it could effect a junction with the troops already assembled in the vicinity of Yorktown. Thus marching onwards without molestation, General Washing

What brought about this state of things?
What appearance did he still keep up?
How was he aided in this?

What did Clinton imagine when Washington left Peekskill?
What did he lose by this error?

ton reached Williamsburg on the 14th of September, and immediately on his arrival, visiting the Count de Grasse on board his flagship, the Ville de Paris, settled with him the plan of their future operations.

SECTION XXXVI.

SIEGE OF YORKTOWN.-SURRENDER OF LORD CORNWALLIS.

In pursuance of this arrangement, the combined forces, to the amount of 12,000 men, assembled at Williamsburg, on the 25th of September; and on the 30th of the same month marched forward to invest Yorktown, whilst the French fleet, moving to the mouth of York river, cut off Lord Cornwallis from any communication with a friendly force by water. His lordship's garrison amounted to 7000 men, and the place was strongly fortified. On the right it was secured by a marshy ravine, extending to such a distance along the front of the defences as to leave them accessible only to the extent of about 1500 yards. This space was defended by strong lines, beyond which, on the extreme left, were advanced a redoubt and a bastion, which enfiladed their approach to Gloucester Point, on the other side of York river, the channel of which is here narrowed to the breadth of a mile, which post was also sufficiently garrisoned, and strongly fortified. Thus secured in his position, Lord Cornwallis beheld the approach of the enemy

When did Washington reach Williamsburg?
What did he do immediately on his arrival?
What was settled?

To what number did the combined forces amount?

What did Washington do? What the fleet?

What did the garrison of Lord Cornwallis amount to?
How was the town fortified?

A

with firmness, especially as he had received despatches from Sir Henry Clinton, announcing his intention of sending 5000 men in a fleet of 23 ships of the line to his relief.

The allied forces on their arrival from Williamsburg immediately commenced the investiture both of Yorktown and of Gloucester Point; and on the 10th of October they opened their batteries with such effect, that their shells, flying over the town, reached the shipping in the harbor, and set fire to the Charon frigate, and to a transport. On this inauspicious day, too, Lord Cornwallis received a communication from Sir Henry Clinton, conveying to him the unwelcome intelligence that he doubted whether it would be in his power to send him the aid which he had promised.

On the following morning the enemy commenced their second parallel, and finding themselves, in this advanced position, severely annoyed by the bastion and redoubt which have been mentioned above, they resolved to storm them. The reduction of the former of these works was committed to the French, whilst the attack of the latter was intrusted to the Americans.* Both parties rushing to the

The Marquis de Lafayette commanded the American detachment of light infantry, against the redoubt on the extreme left of the British works; and the Baron de Viominel led the French grenadiers and chasseurs against the other, which was farther toward the British right, and nearer the French lines. On the evening of the 14th, the two detachments moved firmly to the assault. Colonel Hamilton led the advanced corps of the Americans; and Colonel Laurens, at the head of 80 men, turned the redoubt, in order to take the garrison in reverse, and intercept their retreat. The troops rushed to the assault with unloaded arms, and in a few minutes carried the redoubt with inconsiderable

How did Cornwallis behold their approach?
When were the batteries opened?
What intelligence did Lord Cornwallis receive?
On the following day what was commenced?
Describe the assault made on the next morning,