“On the 28th of September, 1781, General Washington put the combined army in motion, at five o’clock in the morning, in two columns, (the Americans on the right and the French on the left,) and arrived in view of the enemy’s lines at York about four o’clock in the afternoon.
“29th. Completed the investiture. The enemy abandoned their advanced chain of works this evening, leaving two redoubts perfect within cannon-shot of their principal fortifications.
“30th. The allied troops took possession of the ground vacated by the British, and added new works.
“1st October. The enemy discovering our works commenced a cannonade, continuing through the day and night with very little effect.
“2d. Two men killed by the enemy’s fire.
“3d. A drop-shot from the British killed four men from the covering party.
“4th. The redoubts were perfected; the enemy’s fire languid.
“5th. Two men killed by rocket-shot.
“6th. Six regiments, viz., one from the right of each brigade marched at six o’clock, P. M., under the command of Major General Lincoln and Brigadier Generals Clinton and Wayne, and opened the first parallel within five hundred and fifty yards of the enemy’s works and their extreme left, which was continued by the French to the extreme right.
“7th. The parallel nearly complete, without any opposition, except a little scattered fire of musketry, and a feeble fire of artillery, by which a few of the French troops were wounded and one officer lost his leg.