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CORNWALLIS BURGOYNED. |
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" Had all the rebels in the States but one neck, his Lordship would glory in nothing more than an opportunity of severing the jugular vein"
2 His Lordship ^oon surrendered. The siege of Yorktown continued thirteen days, when Cornwallis requested a suspension of hostilities, during which time he made a desperate attempt to escape. On the morning of the day appointed for the laying down of arms, the American and French troops were drawn up on either side of the road, in a line of more than a mile in length. At about two o'clock in the afternoon the captive army advanced through the line, led by General O'Harra, who Cornwallis had appointed as substitute, he pretending sickness. O'Harra, advancing to the head of the lines, approached General Washington, and taking off his hat, apologized for the non-appearance of Earl Cornwallis. "With his usual dignity and politeness, his Excellency pointed to General Lincoln for directions; by whom the British army was conducted to the place where it was intended they should lay down their arms. It was here, when they came to the last act of the drama, that the spirit and pride of the British soldier was put to the severest test, and their mortification and disappointment could not be concealed. The subjoined epigram appeared a short time after the surrender:
The Earl Cornwallis, who ought to be civil, Grows gouty and sore, and sends us the devil; For who is the leader on us he doth parry, But Brigadier-general and tory 'OHarra.
3 And ca£d the British standard. The terms of capitulation were similar to those granted to General Lincoln, at Charleston, the preceding year. The troops marched out with shouldered arms, colors cased, and drums beating a British march. It was very gratifying to General Lincoln to have assigned him the duty of giving laws to the haughty army, which a few months before had obliged him to surrender, and of reflecting that the terms which were imposed on him, were adopted as a basis in the present instance.
4 By this event effected. This event was looked upon as the closing scene of the Continental war in America. |
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