October 19th
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ON THIS DAY IN 1781
VICTORY AT YORKTOWN
“An Ardent Desire to spare the further Effusion of Blood, will readily incline me to listen to such Terms for the Surrender of your posts and Garrisons of York and Gloucester.”
National Portrait Gallery
From Charles Cornwallis
York Virginia, 17 Octr 1781
Sir
I propose a Cessation of Hostilities for Twenty four hours, And that two Officers may be appointed by each side to Meet at Mr Moore’s house to settle terms for the surrender of the posts of York & Gloucester*. I have the honour to be Sir Your most obedient & most humble Servant
Cornwallis
* surrender of Yorktown, Virginia by the British, which effectively ended the Revolutionary War
General George Washington at Yorktown
Library of Congress
To Charles, Earl Cornwallis
Camp before York, 17 October 1781
My Lord: I have had the Honor of receiving Your Lordship’s Letter of this Date.
An Ardent Desire to spare the further Effusion of Blood, will readily incline me to listen to such Terms for the Surrender of your posts and Garrisons of York and Gloucester, as are admissible.
I wish previously to the Meeting of Commissioners, that your Lordship’s proposals in writing, may be sent to the American Lines: for which Purpose, a Suspension of Hostilities during two Hours from the Delivery of this Letter will be granted. I have the Honor to be My Lord Your Lordship’s Most Obedient and most humble Servant
G:o Washington
British General O’Hara Surrenders to General Benjamin Lincoln
Yale University Art Gallery
From Charles Cornwallis
York in Virginia, 17 October 1781 1/2 past 4 P.M.
Sir
I have this moment been honoured with your Excellency’s letter dated this day.
The time limited for sending my answer will not admit of entering into the detail of Articles, but the basis of my proposals will be that the Garrisons of York and Gloucester shall be prisoner’s of War with the Customary honours, And for the convenience of the individuals which I have the honour to Command, that the British shall be sent to Britain, and the Germans to Germany, under the engagement not to serve against France, America or their Allies untill released or regularly exchanged. That all Arms and publick Stores shall be delivered up to you, but that the usual indulgence of side Arms to officers and of retaining private property shall be granted to Officers & Soldiers, and that the interests of several individuals in Civil Capacities & connected with us, shall be attended to. If Your Excellency thinks that a continuance of the suspension of hostilities will be necessary to transmit your Answer I shall have no objections to the hour that you propose. I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedient & most humble Servant
Cornwallis
British Soldiers Stack Muskets
Architect of the Capitol
To Charles, Earl Cornwallis
Head Quarters before York, 18 October 1781
My Lord,
To avoid unnecessary Discussions and Delays, I shall at Once, in Answer to your Lordships Letter of Yesterday, declare the general Basis upon which a Definitive Treaty and Capitulation must take place. The Garrisons of York and Gloucester, including the Seamen, as you propose, will be received Prisoners of War. The Condition annexed, of sending the British and German Troops to the parts of Europe to which they respectively belong, is inadmissible. Instead of this, they will be marched to such parts of the Country as can most conveniently provide for their Subsistence; and the Benevolent Treatment of Prisoners, which is invariably observed by the Americans, will be extended to them. The same Honors will be granted to the Surrendering Army as were granted to the Garrison of Charles Town. The Shipping and Boats in the two Harbours with all their Guns, Stores, Tackling, Furniture and Apparel, shall be delivered in their present State to an Officer of the Navy, appointed to take possession of them.
Rochambeau’s Battle Map: Yorktown
Library of Congress (click here to enlarge)
The Artillery, Arms, Accoutrements, Military Chest and Public Stores of every Denomination, shall be delivered unimpaired to the Heads of Departments, to which they respectively belong.
The Officers will be indulged in retaining their Side Arms, and the Officers and Soldiers may preserve their Baggage and Effects, with this Reserve, that Property taken in the Country, will be reclaimed.
With Regard to the Individuals in civil Capacities, whose Interests Your Lordship wishes may be attended to, until they are more particularly described, nothing definitive can be settled.
I have to add, that I expect the Sick and Wounded will be supplied with their own Hospital Stores, and be attended by British Surgeons, particularly charged with the Care of them.
Your Lordship will be pleased to signify your Determination either to accept or reject the Proposals now offered, in the Course of Two Hours from the Delivery of this Letter, that Commissioners may be appointed to digest the Articles of Capitulation, or a Renewal of Hostilities may take place. I have the Honor to be My Lord Your Lordships Most obedient and humble servant*
G:o Washington
* The British would march out the following day at 2 p.m. and surrender their arms (muskets, etc.) and colors (flags). General Lord Cornwallis would miss the event due to illness, and the second in command, General Charles O’Hara would officially surrender his sword to General Benjamin Lincoln under Washington’s eye.
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