The closing moments of Cornwallis at Yorktown: hopes, attack plans, etc...
Item # 572882Sorry, but this item is no longer available. Please be in touch at info@rarenewspapers.com if you would like to be placed on a want list or are interested in a potential alternate issue.
November 22, 1781
THE GLASGOW MERCURY, Scotland, Nov. 22, 1781
* Cornwallis at Yorktown ending
* Rare Revolutionary War title from enemy
Some nice content concerning the Revolutionary War, from the closing months, one item including: "Sir Henry Clinton's letters...accounts from Lord Cornwallis...at that time he was in possession of the posts of York & Gloucester...at the very moment I am writing, the French & Americans are within 600 yards of me. On the 9th of October they bombarded me so severely as to kill & wound upwards of a hundred men & on the 11th I had the misfortune to lose 30 more...he shall bid defiance to all the force the united power of the enemy can bring against him..." and more. A curious report from the closing moments of Cornwallis at Yorktown, as he would surrender to Washington just 8 days after this last comment from him.
Another page has a nice item concerning Benedict Arnold which includes: "If 10,000 lines...were to be written on the present military situation & conduct of General Arnold, all would amount merely to this: That is an able, experienced soldier; that he fights with a dagger at his heart...For this reason, General Arnold is a very valuable acquisition to this country..." and a bit further on is: "...the Boston Independent Chronicle, speaking of General Arnold, favours him with the epithets of 'Wretched Traitor! "Infernal Firebrand! Monster in the Shape of Man!! Devil Incarnate...".
Yet another page has some reports on the hopeless situation of Cornwallis in Virginia (see). And yet another page has some great text including: "...an express arrived with the agreeable news from Lord Cornwallis of his having totally destroyed a body of 500 grenadiers who attempted to storm one of his outposts...the Frenchmen gave way on all sides & in their retreat were almost to a man cut off...That Sir Henry Clinton & the fleet expected...to reach the Chesapeak by the 22d of October; and in that case he hoped to relieve Cornwallis by the 26th at farthest." Of course history tells us that was too late; he was forced to surrender to Washington on the 19th.
Also: "...an account from New York that Gen. Arnold arrived there the 6th of October & was preparing to execute an expedition up the North River in the absence of Washington's army...". And more great content is on the following page concerning several plans for attacking the French & American armies including: "...the British were to come to the closest action possible, & not to hazard, by the delay of waiting for a new day, the capture of Lord Cornwallis...the British were to run immediately into the Chesapeak & leave the French...to become the besiegers...and Sir Henry Clinton & Lord Cornwallis were either to attack the French & American forces...but if the French were to act on the defensive in the Chesapeak, that Cornwallis might be starved into a surrender...the short course of ten days will probably prove that one of them has been attempted. Heaven grant that it may be with success!" Just terrific content!
Eight pages, 8 3/4 by 11 1/2 inches, nice condition.
* Cornwallis at Yorktown ending
* Rare Revolutionary War title from enemy
Some nice content concerning the Revolutionary War, from the closing months, one item including: "Sir Henry Clinton's letters...accounts from Lord Cornwallis...at that time he was in possession of the posts of York & Gloucester...at the very moment I am writing, the French & Americans are within 600 yards of me. On the 9th of October they bombarded me so severely as to kill & wound upwards of a hundred men & on the 11th I had the misfortune to lose 30 more...he shall bid defiance to all the force the united power of the enemy can bring against him..." and more. A curious report from the closing moments of Cornwallis at Yorktown, as he would surrender to Washington just 8 days after this last comment from him.
Another page has a nice item concerning Benedict Arnold which includes: "If 10,000 lines...were to be written on the present military situation & conduct of General Arnold, all would amount merely to this: That is an able, experienced soldier; that he fights with a dagger at his heart...For this reason, General Arnold is a very valuable acquisition to this country..." and a bit further on is: "...the Boston Independent Chronicle, speaking of General Arnold, favours him with the epithets of 'Wretched Traitor! "Infernal Firebrand! Monster in the Shape of Man!! Devil Incarnate...".
Yet another page has some reports on the hopeless situation of Cornwallis in Virginia (see). And yet another page has some great text including: "...an express arrived with the agreeable news from Lord Cornwallis of his having totally destroyed a body of 500 grenadiers who attempted to storm one of his outposts...the Frenchmen gave way on all sides & in their retreat were almost to a man cut off...That Sir Henry Clinton & the fleet expected...to reach the Chesapeak by the 22d of October; and in that case he hoped to relieve Cornwallis by the 26th at farthest." Of course history tells us that was too late; he was forced to surrender to Washington on the 19th.
Also: "...an account from New York that Gen. Arnold arrived there the 6th of October & was preparing to execute an expedition up the North River in the absence of Washington's army...". And more great content is on the following page concerning several plans for attacking the French & American armies including: "...the British were to come to the closest action possible, & not to hazard, by the delay of waiting for a new day, the capture of Lord Cornwallis...the British were to run immediately into the Chesapeak & leave the French...to become the besiegers...and Sir Henry Clinton & Lord Cornwallis were either to attack the French & American forces...but if the French were to act on the defensive in the Chesapeak, that Cornwallis might be starved into a surrender...the short course of ten days will probably prove that one of them has been attempted. Heaven grant that it may be with success!" Just terrific content!
Eight pages, 8 3/4 by 11 1/2 inches, nice condition.
Category: Revolutionary War
