Cornwallis aroused to his Danger.—His Retreat to the Carolinas cut
off.—Strengthens his Works.—Action between the French and British
Fleets.—Washington and De Rochambeau visit the French
Fleet.—Operations before Yorktown.
Lord Cornwallis had been completely roused from his dream of security by
the appearance, on the 28th of August, of the fleet of Count de Grasse
within the Capes of the Delaware. Three French ships of the line and a
frigate soon anchored at the mouth of York River. The boats of the fleet
were immediately busy conveying three thousand three hundred land
forces, under the Marquis de St. Simon, up James River to form the
preconcerted junction with those under Lafayette.
Awakened to his danger, Cornwallis, as Washington had foreseen,
meditated a retreat to the Carolinas. It was too late. York River was
blocked up by French ships; James River was filled with armed vessels
covering the transportation of the troops. His lordship reconnoitered
Williamsburg; it was too strong to be forced, and Wayne had crossed
James River to join his troops to those under the marquis. Seeing his
retreat cut off in every direction, Cornwallis proceeded to strengthen
his works; sending off repeated expresses to apprise Sir Henry Clinton
of his perilous situation.
The Count de Grasse, eager to return to the West Indies, urged Lafayette
to make an immediate attack upon the British army, with the American and
French troops under his command, without waiting for the combined force
under Washington and Rochambeau, offering to aid him with marines and
sailors from the ships. The admiral was seconded by the Marquis de St.
Simon. They represented that the works at Yorktown were yet incomplete;
and that that place and Gloucester, immediately opposite, might be
carried by storm by their superior force. It was a brilliant achievement
which they held out to tempt the youthful commander, but he remained
undazzled. He would not, for the sake of personal distinction, lavish
the lives of the brave men confided to him; but would await the arrival
of the combined forces, when success might be attained with little loss,
and would leave to Washington the _coup de grace_; in all probability
the closing triumph of the war.
The Count de Grasse had been but a few days anchored within the
Chesapeake, and fifteen hundred of his seamen were absent, conveying the
troops up James River, when Admiral Graves, who then commanded the
British naval force on the American coast, appeared with twenty sail off
the capes of Virginia. De Grasse, anxious to protect the squadron of the
Count de Barras, which was expected from Rhode Island, and which it was
the object of Graves to intercept immediately slipped his cables and put
to sea with twenty-four ships, leaving the rest to blockade York and
James rivers.
Washington received information of the sailing of the fleet from the
capes, shortly after his departure from Mount Vernon, and instantly
dispatched missives, ordering the troops who were embarked at the Head
of Elk to stop until the receipt of further intelligence, fearing that
the navigation in Chesapeake Bay might not be secure. For two days he
remained in anxious uncertainty, until, at Bowling Green, he was
relieved by favorable rumors concerning the fleet, which were confirmed
on his arriving at Williamsburg on the evening of the 14th.
Admiral Graves, it appeared, on, the sallying forth of the French fleet,
immediately prepared for action, although he had five ships less than De
Grasse. The latter, however, was not disposed to accept the challenge,
his force being weakened by the absence of so many of his seamen,
employed in transporting troops. His plan was to occupy the enemy by
partial actions and skillful maneuvers, so as to retain his possession
of the Chesapeake, and cover the arrival of De Barras.
The vans of the two fleets, and some ships of the centre, engaged about
four o’clock in the afternoon of the 7th of September. The conflict soon
became animated. Several ships were damaged, and many men killed and
wounded on both sides.
De Grasse, who had the advantage of the wind, drew off after sunset;
satisfied with the damage done and sustained, and not disposed for a
general action; nor was the British admiral inclined to push the
engagement so near night, and on a hostile coast. Among his ships that
had suffered, one had been so severely handled, that she was no longer
seaworthy, and had to be burnt. For four days the fleets remained in
sight of each other, repairing damages and maneuvering; but the French
having still the advantage of the wind, maintained their prudent policy
of avoiding a general engagement. At length De Grasse, learning that De
Barras was arrived within the capes, formed a junction with him, and
returned with him to his former anchoring ground, with two English
frigates which he had captured. Admiral Graves, disappointed in his hope
of intercepting De Barras, and finding the Chesapeake guarded by a
superior force with which he could not prudently contend; having,
moreover, to encounter the autumnal gales in the battered state of
several of his ships, left the coast and bore away for New York. Under
convoy of the squadron of De Barras came a fleet of transports,
conveying land forces under M. de Choisy, with siege artillery and
military stores. It should be mentioned to the credit of De Barras,
that, in his orders from the French minister of marine to come to
America, he was left at liberty to make a cruise on the banks of
Newfoundland, so as not to be obliged to serve under De Grasse, who was
his inferior in rank, but whom the minister wished to continue in the
command. “But De Barras,” writes Lafayette, “nobly took the part of
conducting, himself, the artillery from Rhode Island, and of coming with
all his vessels and placing himself under the orders of an admiral his
junior in service.”[84]
From Williamsburg, Washington sent forward Count Fersen, one of the
aides-de-camp of De Rochambeau, to hurry on the French troops with all
possible dispatch. He wrote to the same purport to General Lincoln:
“Every day we now lose,” said he, “is comparatively an age; as soon as
it is in our power with safety, we ought to take our position near the
enemy. Hurry on, then, my dear sir, with your troops, on the wings of
speed. The want of our men and stores is now all that retards our
immediate operations. Lord Cornwallis is improving every moment to the
best advantage; and every day that is given him to make his preparations
may cost us many lives to encounter them.”
It was with great satisfaction Washington learned that Admiral de Barras
had anticipated his wishes, in sending transports and prize vessels up
the bay to assist in bringing on the French troops. In the mean time he
with Count de Rochambeau was desirous of having an interview with the
admiral on board of his ship, provided he could send some fast-sailing
cutter to receive them. A small ship, the _Queen Charlotte_, was
furnished by the admiral for the purpose. It had been captured on its
voyage from Charleston to New York, having Lord Rawdon on board, and had
been commodiously fitted up for his lordship’s reception.
On board of this vessel Washington and De Rochambeau, with the Chevalier
de Chastellux and generals Knox and Duportail, embarked on the 18th, and
proceeding down James River, came the next morning in sight of the
French fleet riding at anchor in Lynn Haven Bay, just under the point of
Cape Henry. About noon they got along side of the admiral’s ship, the
_Ville de Paris_ and were received on board with great ceremony, and
naval and military parade. Admiral de Grasse was a tall, fine-looking
man, plain in his address and prompt in the discharge of business. A
plan of coöperation was soon arranged, to be carried into effect on the
arrival of the American and French armies from the North, which were
actually on their way down the Chesapeake from the Head of Elk. Business
being dispatched, dinner was served, after which they were conducted
throughout the ship, and received the visits of the officers of the
fleet, almost all of whom came on board.
About sunset Washington and his companions took their leave of the
admiral, and returned on board of their own little ship; when the yards
of all the ships of the fleet were manned, and a parting salute was
thundered from the _Ville de Paris_. Owing to storms and contrary winds,
and other adverse circumstances, the party did not reach Williamsburg
until the 22d, when intelligence was received that threatened to
disconcert all the plans formed in the recent council on board ship.
Admiral Digby, it appeared, had arrived in New York with six ships of
the line and a reinforcement of troops. This intelligence Washington
instantly transmitted to the Count de Grasse by one of the Count de
Rochambeau’s aides-de-camp. De Grasse in reply expressed great concern,
observing that the position of affairs was changed by the arrival of
Digby. “The enemy,” writes he, “is now nearly equal to us in strength,
and it would be imprudent in me to place myself in a situation that
would prevent my attacking them should they attempt to afford succor.”
He proposed, therefore, to leave two vessels at the mouth of York River,
and the corvettes and frigates in James River, which, with the French
troops on shore, would be sufficient assistance; and to put to sea with
the rest, either to intercept the enemy and fight them where there was
good sea room, or to blockade them in New York should they not have
sailed.
On reading this letter, Washington dreaded that the present plan of
coöperation might likewise fall through, and the fruits of all his
schemes and combinations be lost when within his reach. With the
assistance of the fleet the reduction of Yorktown was demonstrably
certain, and the surrender of the garrison must go far to terminate the
war; whereas the departure of the ships, by leaving an opening for
succor to the enemy, might frustrate these brilliant prospects and
involve the whole enterprise in ruin and disgrace. Even a momentary
absence of the French fleet might enable Cornwallis to evacuate Yorktown
and effect a retreat, with the loss merely of his baggage and artillery,
and perhaps a few soldiers. These and other considerations were urged in
a letter to the count, remonstrating against his putting to sea.
Lafayette was the bearer of the letter, and seconded it with so many
particulars respecting the situation of the armies, and argued the case
so earnestly and eloquently, that the count consented to remain. It was,
furthermore, determined in a council of war of his officers, that a
large part of the fleet, should anchor in York River; four or five
vessels be stationed so as to pass up and down James River, and a
battery for cannon and mortars be erected with the aid of the allied
troops on Point Comfort.
By the 25th the American and French troops were mostly arrived and
encamped near Williamsburg, and preparations were made for the decisive
blow.
Yorktown, as has already been noted, is situated on the south side of
York River, immediately opposite Gloucester Point. Cornwallis had
fortified the town with seven redoubts and six batteries on the land
side connected by intrenchments; and there was a line of batteries along
the river. The town was flanked on each side by deep ravines and creeks
emptying into York River; their heads, in front of the town, being not
more than half a mile apart. The enemy had availed themselves of these
natural defenses, in the arrangement of extensive outworks, with
redoubts strengthened by abatis; field-works mounted with cannon, and
trees cut down and left with the branches pointed outward.
Gloucester Point had likewise been fortified—its batteries, with those
of Yorktown, commanding the intervening river. Ships of war were
likewise stationed on it, protected by the guns of the forts, and the
channel was obstructed by sunken vessels.
The defense of Gloucester Point was confided to Lieutenant-colonel
Dundas, with six or seven hundred men. The enemy’s main army was
encamped about Yorktown, within the range of the outer redoubts and
field-works.
Washington and his staff bivouacked that night on the ground in the open
air. He slept under a mulberry tree, the root serving for his pillow. On
the following morning the two armies drew out on each side of Beaver Dam
Creek. The Americans, forming the right wing, took station on the east
side of the creek; the French, forming the left wing, on the west.
That evening Cornwallis received dispatches from Sir Henry Clinton,
informing him of the arrival of Admiral Digby, and that a fleet of
twenty-three ships of the line, with about five thousand troops, would
sail to his assistance probably on the 5th of October. A heavy firing
would be made by them on arriving at the entrance of the Chesapeake. On
hearing it, if all went on well at Yorktown, his lordship was to make
three separate columns of smoke; and four, should he still possess the
post at Gloucester Point.
Cornwallis immediately wrote in reply: “I have ventured these last two
days to look General Washington’s whole force in the face in the
position on the outside of my works, and have the pleasure to assure
your Excellency, that there is but one wish throughout the army, which
is that the enemy would advance.... I shall retire this night within the
works, and have no doubt, if relief arrives in any reasonable time, York
and Gloucester will be both in the possession of His Majesty’s troops. I
believe your Excellency must depend more on the sound of our cannon than
the signal of smokes for information; however, I will attempt it on the
Gloucester side.”[85]
That night his lordship accordingly abandoned his outworks, and drew his
troops within the town; a measure strongly censured by Tarleton in his
Commentaries as premature; as cooping up the troops in narrow quarters,
and giving up a means of disputing, inch by inch, the approaches of the
besiegers, and thus gaining time to complete the fortifications of the
town.
The outworks thus abandoned were seized upon the next morning by
detachments of American light infantry and French troops, and served to
cover the troops employed in throwing up breastworks. Colonel Alexander
Scammel, officer of the day, while reconnoitering the ground abandoned
by the enemy, was set upon by a party of Hessian troopers. He attempted
to escape, but was wounded, captured, and carried off to Yorktown.
Washington, to whom he had formerly acted as aide-de-camp, interested
himself in his favor, and at his request Cornwallis permitted him to be
removed to Williamsburg, where he died in the course of a few days. He
was an officer of much merit, and his death was deeply regretted by
Washington and the army.
The combined French and American forces were now twelve thousand strong,
exclusive of the Virginia militia which Governor Nelson had brought into
the field. An instance of patriotic self-devotion on the part of this
functionary is worthy of special record. The treasury of Virginia was
empty; the governor, fearful that the militia would disband for want of
pay, had endeavored to procure a loan from a wealthy individual on the
credit of the State. In the precarious situation of affairs, the
guarantee was not deemed sufficient. The governor pledged his own
property, and obtained the loan at his individual risk.
On the morning of the 28th of September, the combined armies marched
from Williamsburg toward Yorktown, about twelve miles distant, and
encamped at night within two miles of it, driving in the pickets and
some patrols of cavalry. General de Choisy was sent across York River,
with Lauzun’s legion and General Weedon’s brigade of militia, to watch
the enemy on the side of Gloucester Point.
By the first of October the line of the besiegers, nearly two miles from
the works, formed a semicircle, each end resting on the river, so that
the investment by land was complete; while the Count de Grasse, with the
main fleet, remained in Lynn Haven Bay, to keep off assistance by sea.
About this time the Americans threw up two redoubts in the night, which,
on being discovered in the morning, were severely cannonaded. Three of
the men were killed and several severely wounded. While Washington was
superintending the works, a shot struck the ground close by him,
throwing up a cloud of dust. The Rev. Mr. Evans, chaplain in the army,
who was standing by him, was greatly agitated. Taking off his hat and
showing it covered with sand, “See here, General,” exclaimed he. “Mr.
Evans,” said Washington with grave pleasantry, “you had better carry
that home, and show it to your wife and children.”[86]
The besieged army began now to be greatly distressed for want of forage,
and had to kill many of their horses, the carcasses of which were
continually floating down the river. In the evening of the 2d of
October, Tarleton with his legion and the mounted infantry were passed
over the river to Gloucester Point, to assist in foraging. At daybreak
Lieutenant-colonel Dundas led out part of his garrison to forage the
neighboring country. About ten o’clock the wagons and bat horses laden
with Indian corn were returning, covered by a party of infantry, with
Tarleton and his dragoons as a rear-guard. The wagons and infantry had
nearly reached York River, when word was brought that an enemy was
advancing in force. The report was confirmed by a cloud of dust from
which emerged Lauzun and the French hussars and lancers.
Tarleton, with part of his legion, advanced to meet them; the rest, with
Simcoe’s dragoons, remained as a rear-guard in a skirt of woods. A
skirmish ensued, gallantly sustained on each side, but the superiority
of Tarleton’s horses gave him the advantage. General Choisy hastened up
with a corps of cavalry and infantry to support the hussars. In the
medley fight, a dragoon’s horse, wounded by a lance, plunged, and
overthrew both Tarleton and his steed. The rear-guard rushed from their
covert to rescue their commander. They came galloping up in such
disorder, that they were roughly received by Lauzun’s hussars, who were
drawn up on the plain. In the mean time Tarleton scrambled out of the
mêlée, mounted another horse, and ordered a retreat, to enable his men
to recover from their confusion. Dismounting forty infantry, he placed
them in a thicket. Their fire checked the hussars in their pursuit. The
British dragoons rallied, and were about to charge; when the hussars
retired behind their infantry; and a fire was opened upon the British by
some militia from behind a fence. Tarleton again ordered a retreat to be
sounded, and the conflict came to an end. The loss of the British in
killed and wounded was one officer and eleven men; that of the French
two officers and fourteen hussars. This was the last affair of Tarleton
and his legion in the Revolutionary War.
The next day General Choisy, being reinforced by a detachment of marines
from the fleet of De Grasse, cut off all communication by land between
Gloucester and the country.
At this momentous time, when the first parallel before the besieged city
was about to be opened, Washington received dispatches from his faithful
coadjutor, General Greene, giving him important intelligence of his
coöperations in the South; to consider which we will suspend for a
moment our narrative of affairs before Yorktown.
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