Camp Before York Town, Oct. 15, 1781.
Sir:
I have the honor to render you an account of the corps under my
command in your attack of last night upon the redoubt on the left
of the enemy’s lines. Agreeably to your orders we advanced in two
columns with unloaded arms: the right composed of Lieutenant-Colonel
Gimat’s battalion and my own, commanded by Major Fish; the left, of a
detachment commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Laurens, destined to take
the enemy in reverse, and intercept their retreat. The column on the
right was preceded by a vanguard of twenty men, led by Lieutenant
Mansfield; and a detachment of sappers and miners, commanded by Captain
Gilliland, for the purpose of removing obstructions.
The redoubt was commanded by Major Campbell, with a detachment of
British and German troops, and was completely in a state of defence.
The rapidity and immediate success of the assault are the best comment
on the behavior of the troops. Lieutenant-Colonel Laurens distinguished
himself by an exact and vigorous execution of his part of the plan, by
entering the enemy’s work with his corps among the foremost, and making
prisoner the commanding officer of the redoubt. Lieutenant-Colonel
Gimat’s battalion, which formed the van of the right-attack, and which
fell under my immediate observation, encouraged by the decisive and
animated example of their leader, advanced with an ardor and resolution
superior to every obstacle. They were well seconded by Major Fish
with the battalion under his command, who, when the front of the
column reached the abatis, unlocking his corps to the left, as he had
been directed, advanced with such celerity as to arrive in time to
participate in the assault.
Lieutenant Mansfield deserves particular commendation for the coolness,
firmness, and punctuality with which he conducted the vanguard.
Captain Olney, who commanded the first platoon of Gimat’s battalion,
is entitled to peculiar applause. He led his platoon into the work
with exemplary intrepidity, and received two bayonet wounds. Captain
Gilliland, with the detachment of sappers and miners, acquitted
themselves in a manner that did them great honor.
I do but justice to the several corps when I have the pleasure to
assure you, there was not an officer nor soldier whose behavior, if
it could be particularized, would not have a claim to the warmest
approbation. As it would have been attended with delay and loss, to
wait for the removal of the abatis and palisades, the ardor of the
troops was indulged in passing over them.
There was a happy coincidence of movements. The redoubt was in the same
moment enveloped and carried in every part. The enemy are entitled to
the acknowledgment of an honorable defence.
Permit me to have the satisfaction of expressing our obligations to
Col. Armand, Capt. Legongne, the Chevalier De Fontevieux and Capt.
Bedkin, officers of his corps, who, acting upon this occasion as
volunteers, proceeded at the head of the right column, and entering the
redoubt among the first, by their gallant example contributed to the
success of the enterprise.
Our killed and wounded you will perceive by the inclosed return. I
sensibly felt, at a critical period, the loss of the assistance of
Lieutenant-Colonel Gimat, who received a musket ball in his foot, which
obliged him to retire from the field. Captain Bets, of Laurens’s corps,
Captain Hunt and Lieutenant Mansfield, of Gimat’s, were wounded with
the bayonet in gallantly entering the work. Captain Kirkpatrick, of the
corps of sappers and miners, received a wound in the ditch.
Inclosed is a return of the prisoners. The killed and wounded of
the enemy did not exceed eight. Incapable of imitating examples of
barbarity, and forgetting recent provocations, the soldiery spared
every man who ceased to fight.
I have the honor to be,
With the warmest esteem and attachment,
Sir, your most ob’t and humble serv’t,
A. Hamilton,
Lieut. Col. Commanding.
Major-General the Marquis De La Fayette.
Return of the killed and wounded in the advanced corps commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton, in an attack on the enemy’s left redoubt,
on the evening of the 14th of Oct., 1781.
Table Key:
K = Killed
W = Wounded
===================++=======++=======++=======++========++=======++=======
|| Lieut.|| || || Sub- || Ser- || Rank &
|| Col. ||Majors.||Capt’s.||alterns.||geants.|| File.
-------------------++---+---++---+---++---+---++---+----++---+---++---+---
|| K | W || K | W || K | W || K | W || K | W || K | W
-------------------++---+---++---+---++---+---++---+----++---+---++---+---
Lt. Col. Hamilton’s|| | || | || | || | || | || |
battalion, || | || | || | || | || | || | 4
Lt. Col. Gimat’s || | || | || | || | || | || |
battalion, || | 1 || | || | 2 || | || 1 | 1 || 7 | 15
Lt. Col. Laurens’ || | || | || | || | || | || |
detachment, || | || | || | 1 || | || | || 1 | 5
Corps of Sappers || | || | || | || | || | || |
and Miners, || | || | || | 1 || | || | || | 1
-------------------++---+---++---+---++---+---++---+----++---+---++---+---
Total, || | 1 || | || | 4 || | || 1 | 1 || 8 | 25
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