George Washington’s Diaries: Volume II
[The following text was taken from The Diaries of George Washington Volume 2: 1771-1785. Washington recounts the Siege of Yorktown and Lord Cornwallis’s subsequent surrender in October 1781. For Washington’s full account, click HERE.]
(Drawing of Lord Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown, Virginia | Source: Library of Congress)
[October] 6th. Before Morning the Trenches were in such forwardness as to cover the Men from the enemys fire. The work was executed with so much secrecy and dispatch that the enemy were, I believe, totally ignorant of our labor till the light of the Morning discovered it to them. Our loss on this occasion was extremely inconsiderable, not more than one Officer (french) and about 20 Men killed and wounded; the Officer and 15 of which were on our left from the Corps of the Marqs. de St. Simond, who was betrayed by a deserter from the Huzzer that went in and gave notice of his approaching his parrallel…
9th. About 3 o’clock P.M. the French opened a battery on our extreme left of 4 Sixteen pounders, and Six Morters and Howitzers and at 5 o’clock an American battery of Six 18s. and 24s.; four Morters and 2 Howitzers began to play from the extremity of our right. Both with good effect as they compelled the Enemy to withdraw from their ambrazures the Pieces which had previously kept up a constant firing…
14th… The day was spent in compleating our parallel, and maturing the Batteries of the second parallel. The old batteries were principally directed against the Battis and salient angles of the enemys advanced redoubts on their extreme Right and left to prepare them for the intended assault… The bravery exhibited by the attacking Troops was emulous and praise worthy. Few cases have exhibited stronger proofs of Intripidity, coolness and firmness than were shown upon this occasion. The following is our loss in these attacks and since the Investure of York. — 20 killed and 56 Wounded.
The loss of the French from the Investiture to the assault of the Redoubts Inclusive is as follows. — viz — 52 killed and 134 Wounded…
16th. About four O’clock this Morning the enemy made a Sortie upon our Second parallel and spiked four French pieces of Artillery and two of ours, but the guards of the Trenches advancing quickly upon them they retreated precipitately. The Sally being made upon that part of the parallel which was guarded by the French Troops they lost an officer and 12 Men killed 1 officer taken prisoner. The American loss was one Sergeant of Artillery (in the American battery) Wounded. The Enemy, it is said, left 10 dead and lost 3 Prisoners…
17th… About ten o’clock the Enemy beat a parley, and Lord Cornwallis proposed a cessation of Hostilities for 24 hours, that Commissioners might meet at the house of a Mr. Moore (in the rear of our first parallel) to settle terms, for the surrender of the Posts of York and Gloucester. To this he was answered, that a desire to spare the further eddusion of Blood would readily incline me to treat of the surrender of the above Posts, but previous to the meeting of Commissioners I wished to have his proposals in writing and for this purpose would grant a cessation of hostilities two hours. Within which time he sent out A letter with such proposal…
18th. The Commissioners met accordingly; but the business was so procrastinated by those on their side (a Colo. Dundas and Major Ross) that Colo. Laurens and the Viscount De Noailles who were appointed on our part could do no more than make the rought draft of the Articles which were to be submitted for Lord Cornwalliss. consideration.
19th. In the Morning early I had them copied and sent word to Lord Cornwallis that I expected to have them signed at 11 o’clock and that the Garrison would March at two o’clock, both of which were accordingly done. Two redoubts on the Enemys left being possessed (the one by a detachment of French Grenadiers, and the other by American Infantry) with orders to prevent all intercourse between the army and Country and the Town. — while Officers in the several departments were employed in taking acct. of the public Stores &ca.
20th. Winchester and Fort Frederick in Maryland, being the places destined for the Reception of the Prisoners they were to have commenced their March accordingly this day, but were prevented by the Commissary of Prisoners not have compleated his accounts of them and taken the Paroles of the Officers.