[92] For the text of the articles of capitulation, and the general return of the officers and privates surrendered, see Harper’s Encyclopædia of United States History, X.
[93] A detailed description of the topography and events of the Yorktown campaign is afforded in Lossing’s Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, II, chap. xii. An elaborate and authoritative study from a military point of view is provided in The Yorktown Campaign, by Henry P. Johnston. Both histories are published by Harper & Brothers.
[94] Annual Register, XXV, 252–257.
[95] Two Centuries of Irish History, 91.
[96] Treaties and Conventions, 370, 375.
[97] Journals of Congress, January 13, 14, 1784.
[98] For the complete history of the American struggle for independence, see Professor Van Tyne’s The American Revolution, IX, in The American Nation. Harper & Brothers.
[99] “The destruction of the British fleet gave the United States supremacy on Lake Erie and compelled the abandonment of Malden and Detroit; it recovered Michigan, and made a real invasion of Canada once more a possibility, for by means of the control of the lakes thus given Harrison was enabled to enter at once upon an aggressive campaign on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. His men were easily transported to the north side, and his line of communication was no longer threatened by a British fleet. Its effect, too, upon the American people was decidedly important; for the first time an American fleet had met a British fleet and defeated it. Nor was it fair to discount the significance of the victory by saying that the vessels were small and of hasty construction. The charm of British invincibility had been broken in the great ship duels which made the names of Decatur, Bainbridge, and Hull household words. To this list was now added the name of Perry, who was looked upon by the Americans as a hero of the same class as Nelson.”—Prof. Kendric Charles Babcock in The Rise of American Nationality.
[100] “The decisiveness of this battle was evident at once to the British. Hardly was the result known, when measures were taken for the retreat of Prevost’s army into Canada. At best, Prevost’s assault upon the land forces had been so poor as to give little aid to the fleet; and for this failure and his prompt retreat Prevost was ordered to trial by court-martial, but died before the trial could take place. The war was practically ended by this retreat of the British army from Plattsburg into Canada. It would seem as though the persistent mismanagement of the American forces in northern New York, the incompetency of Dearborn and Wilkinson, the strange interference of Secretary Armstrong, the diversion of the forces of Izard from the front of Prevost’s army, were all atoned for by the brilliancy of the accomplishment of Commodore Macdonough and his handful of sailors and soldiers on Lake Champlain.”—Prof. Kendric Charles Babcock in The Rise of American Nationality.
[101] For the whole correspondence beginning with this letter, see Senate Docs., 28 Cong., 1 Sess., I, No. 1, pp. 25–48.