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Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown...
Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown...
Item # 686462 THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, December, 1781
* Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
* Surrender at Yorktown VA Virginia
* Revolutionary War from the enemy
Certainly the most historic report in this issue--and perhaps in any issue from the Revolutionary War--is that near the back of the issue under the "Historical Chronicle". It begins with an editorial comment: "Gen. Washington's letter to the President of Congress on the surrender of the British army under Lord Cornwallis is truly characteristic. The whole substance is comprised in the few words that follow: " and what follows is the historic letter datelined "York, Oct. 19, 1781" which begins with the famous sentence: "I have the honour to inform Congress that the reduction of the British army under the command of Lord Cornwallis is most happily affected..." followed by further particulars on the event.
Shortly after this is a note from the House of Lords: "...expressed his sorrow for the loss we had recently sustained in the capture of Lord Cornwallis and his army & warmly complimented that noble & gallant commander as well for his bravery, spirit & good conduct as for his having surrendered on capitulation in a moment of great exigence & thereby prevented his army from becoming a sacrifice to the sword..." with a bit more.
There is additional reporting on the Revolutionary War, particularly the events in Georgia & the Carolinas, including a letter signed by Nath. Greene, as well as an article on waterspouts with: "...the ingenious speculations of Dr. B. Franklin of Philadelphia..." on this topic.
Present is the foldout plate showing waterspouts, the only plate called for.
Complete in 52 pages, 5 by 8 1/4 inches, full title/contents page featuring an engraving of St. John's Gate, great condition.
AI notes: The surrender of British General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781, marked the decisive turning point in the American Revolutionary War. Trapped on the Virginia peninsula, Cornwallis’s army of roughly 8,000 men faced a coordinated siege by American forces under George Washington and French troops led by Rochambeau, while the French fleet under Admiral de Grasse controlled the Chesapeake Bay, cutting off British escape or reinforcement by sea. After weeks of bombardment and entrenchment, Cornwallis recognized his untenable position and arranged to surrender, but he did not attend the formal ceremony, citing illness; instead, he sent General Charles O’Hara to deliver his sword. In a symbolic gesture, Washington directed O’Hara to surrender it to Rochambeau, who returned it to Washington. This surrender effectively ended major military operations in the war and set the stage for the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which officially recognized American independence, cementing Yorktown as the pivotal victory that secured the United States’ freedom.
A very historic issue from the end of the Revolutionary War with a wide range of varied content. This was the first periodical to use the word "magazine" in its title, having begun in 1731 and lasting until 1907.
Category: Revolutionary War
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