The guests leaped to their feet.
“Cornwallis is surrounded and doomed!” said they.
They grasped each other’s hands, and added:
“This is the end!”
The army, now confident of victory, marched toward Yorktown, under the command of Washington.
The inhabitants along the way hailed it as it passed—women, children. There were cheers from the doorsteps, fences, and fields, from white and black, the farmer and laborer. The towns uttered one shout, and blazed by night. The land knew no common night, every one was so filled and thrilled with joy. All flags were in air.
The morning of liberty was dawning, the sun was coming, the people knew it by the advance rays. The invader must soon depart.
“Cornwallis is doomed!” was the salutation from place to place, from house to house.
General Washington, with Knox and members of his staff, stopped one morning at a Pennsylvania farmhouse for breakfast.
The meal was provided. The officers partook of it, and ordered their horses, and were waiting for them when the people of the place came into the house to pay their respects to Washington. He stood in the simple room, tall and commanding, with the stately Knox beside him.