LAST DAYS OF THE SIEGE.
Immediately following the capture of the two key redoubts, troops moved up to resume work on the second siege line. Before morning, this line was extended all the way to the York River and incorporated the formerly held British Redoubts No. 9 and No. 10. Communicating trenches were opened to the First Allied Siege Line and, adjacent to Redoubt No. 9, a large American Battery was begun. On October 15, Ebenezer Wild recorded: “The works were carried on last night with such spirit that at daylight we found the parallel [line] extended quite to the river on our right and nearly completed. Batteries are erecting with great expedition.”
With this turn of events, Cornwallis knew that he must act and act quickly or all would be lost. The web had tightened; and the destruction of his positions, plus sickness and casualties among his troops, made his situation critical, even perilous. Against the fully operating allied second line, he would be unable to hold out for 24 hours.
On the night of October 15-16, Cornwallis ordered an attack against the second line. This was launched, 350 strong, under Lt. Col. Robert Abercrombie at a point near the center of the line. It was a gallant sortie, yet it accomplished little, for, within a few hours, the guns which had been spiked by the British were again firing upon Yorktown.
On the night of October 16-17, Cornwallis ordered all of his effectives moved across the river to Gloucester Point. This, he thought, might enable him to make a breakthrough, which could be followed by a quick march north toward New York. The effort was futile. He was handicapped by a shortage of small boats, and a storm about midnight further interfered with the operation.
Early on the morning of the 17th he recalled those who had crossed the river. Later that morning he held a council with his officers, and at 10 o’clock a drummer in red, accompanied by an officer, was sent to a point on the parapet on the south side of Yorktown to beat a “parley.”
Cornwallis’ situation was hopeless. Casualties (killed, wounded, and missing) during the siege, it seems, numbered about 552 for the British, 275 for the French, and 260 for the Americans. Of these totals, more than one-fourth were killed in action. Yorktown was surrounded at close range, relief had not yet come, and the enemy was superior in men and firepower. In short, his position was untenable. Surrender was now the only alternative. Cornwallis himself reported: “We at that time could not fire a single gun.... I therefore proposed to capitulate.”
YORKTOWN BATTLEFIELD
COLONIAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
VIRGINIA
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1. VISITOR CENTER 2. REDOUBT NO. 9 3. AMERICAN BATTERY NO. 2 (SECOND ALLIED SIEGE LINE) 4. REDOUBT NO. 10 5. AMERICAN SECTOR (FIRST ALLIED SIEGE LINE) 6. AMERICAN APPROACH ROAD 7. MOORE HOUSE 8. MOORES MILL DAM 9. LINCOLN’S HEADQUARTERS SITE 10. LAFAYETTE’S HEADQUARTERS SITE 11. SURRENDER FIELD 12. SURRENDER ROAD 13. ENCAMPMENT DRIVE A. VON STEUBEN’S HEADQUARTERS SITE B. ROCHAMBEAU’S HEADQUARTERS SITE C. WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS SITE D. FRENCH CEMETERY E. FRENCH ARTILLERY PARK F. FRENCH ARMY ENCAMPMENT G. BRITISH OUTER WORKS 14. GRAND FRENCH BATTERY 15. NATIONAL CEMETERY 16. SECOND ALLIED SIEGE LINE 17. YORKTOWN A. SITE OF SECRETARY NELSON’S HOUSE B. VICTORY MONUMENT C. CORNWALLIS CAVE D. NELSON HOUSE 18. FUSILIERS REDOUBT
The restored Moore House where the Articles of Capitulation for the British Army were drafted.