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Acknowledging the victory at Yorktown and details on the surrender ceremony... Washington's congratulatory order to the troops...
Acknowledging the victory at Yorktown and details on the surrender ceremony... Washington's congratulatory order to the troops...
Item # 629442
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November 14, 1781
THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Nov. 14, 1781
* Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
* Revolutionary War ending
* Historic item
Over two-thirds of the front page is taken up with a great letter: "To Earl Cornwallis, Lieut. General" and signed in type: "An American Soldier" dated Annapolis, Oct. 30, 1781, just eleven days after Cornwallis' surrender to Washington at nearby Yorktown. Bits include: "...the officer, who wages a savage warfare & sullies his victories by insult & inhumanity, will not have a friend among the virtuous...The philanthropy of America would be highly gratified in paying your lordship the tribute due an enlightened & humane soldier did your conduct entitle you to such treatment; but as her justice obliges her to view you in the odious light of a cruel leader & an unprincipled plunderer, it would be impious in her to treat you with generosity or delicacy..." and from here the insults hurled at Cornwallis get worse. He further mentions: "...I consider it a virtue to embitter your captivity...and to hold you up as an object of universal detestation by surrounding you with an assemblage of your crimes...From the moment you consented to draw your sword against her liberties, America ought to have viewed you as a monster..." and so much more.
Following this is an interesting piece noting in part: "It must inspire every feeling bosom with horror & resentment when they are told that out of upwards of 2000 slaves who joined Lord Cornwallis's army, upwards of 1500 have perished from disease and famine..." with more on this (see).
Page 3 begins with a nice report on the celebrations over the surrender of Cornwallis, including: "Upon the reception of the important intelligence of the capture of Cornwallis, a salute was discharged before this Excellency's seat, the bells were set to ringing..." with more. Also: "We doubt not the breast of every true American is warmed with gratitude towards our illustrious General, the Commander in Chief of the allied army...at the time of this great event. This capital stroke will more fully establish the independence of these states in the eyes of all Europe..." with more (see).
But the most notable content comes under the headed: "Trenton - Nov. 7, A letter for an officer of rank in the Jersey line, Camp, at York-Town, October 21, 1781" which was just 2 days after the surrender. It begins: "Permit me to congratulate you on the success of the allied arms, the fall of the boast of Britain! the flower of its army. The particulars of the surrender of Cornwallis you must have had before this reaches you..." and then the writer details a few of his eye-witness recollections of the surrender ceremonies, so rarely found in period newspapers. Included: "...but if I could communicate the pleasure felt on seeing the poor proud British ground their arms, it would give you new & inexpressible sensations. The allied army was drawn up in two straight lines, facing each other, leaving a space for the British column to pass. The Commander in Chief with his suite on the right of the American line; the Count de Rochambeau opposite on the left of the French. Lord Cornwallis pleading indisposition, the British were led by General O'Hara...The British officers in general behaved like boys who had been whipped at school..." with more.
As if this was not sufficient for one issue, included also is Washington's historic "General Orders" to his troops, dated at Yorktown the day after the surrender. It begins: "The General congratulates the army upon the glorious event of yesterday..." with more (see the hyperlink for the full text).
Further on is reporting concerning the successes of General Greene in the Carolinas, and the back page has: "The United States, in Congress Assembled, PROCLAMATION" offering a day of thanksgiving and prayer for the successes of recent days.
Four pages, archivally rejoined at the spine two old tape stains do not deter readability, generally good condition.
Category: The 1600's and 1700's
No Longer Available
