Resource Center OLLibrary
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30. We left
Cornwallis1 Wilmington. He soon set out to
invade Virginia, and, May 20, effected a 
junction
with General Phillips, who had been ravaging the state.
Lafayette2 had two thousand militia, in addition to the
troops he had brought from the north. Cornwallis endeavored to
bring him to an engagement, but the prudent marquis would not
hazard an encounter with the vastly superior 
force
of the enemy. For some time the English general employed himself
in destroying stores of public and private property, but at length
collected his troops at Yorktown, which he began to
fortify. He also took possession of Gloucester Point nearly
opposite.
31. Meanwhile Washington had
concentrated his own immediate command, and the French under
Roechambeau,3 near New York, for an attack upon that
city; but this plan was suddenly changed, on learning that a
French fleet, under the Count de Grasse, would soon reach the
Chesapeake. To destroy Cornwallis now became the object of the
American commander, and, September 29, the combined forces
appeared before Yorktown. De Grasse had already arrived, and
blocked up the James and York Rivers.
32. Washington concealed his
design from Clinton, in New York, till the allied armies were some
distance on their way to Virginia. When, however, Sir Henry
Clinton divined that Yorktown was the object of attack, hoping to
draw away a part of the American forces, he sent the traitor
Arnold, with a body of Tories and Hessians, into Connecticut.
New London4 was pillaged and burned. Fort
Griswold, on the opposite side of the river, was taken by
assault, and the commander, Colonel Ledyard, and half the
garrison, were butchered in cold
blood.5
1 See p. 142, ¶ 26. 2 See p. 141, ¶ 23. 3 See p. 139, ¶ 19.
4 ArnoId had been recalled, some months before, from Virginia (see p ¶ 23). It is said that he watched, from a church tower, the burning of New London almost in sight of Norwich, his native place.
5 After the fort had been carried, a British officer, entering, inquired who commanded. "I did", replied Colonel Ledyard, approaching, and presenting his sword, "but you do now." The officer seized the sword, and plunged it into the brave colonel's bosom. This was the signal for an indiscriminate massacre.
QUESTIONS. -- 30. What did Cornwallis do after leaving Wilmington? Why did Lafayette avoid all engagement? Where did Cornwallis at length collect his troops? 31. What had Washington done meanwhile? Why did he change his plan? What now became the object of the American commander? 32. Why did Clinton send Arnold into Connecticut? What was done by Arnold's troops?
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33. Yorktown
was soon completely invested. The American and French troops
numbered sixteen thousand. Cornwallis, with his garrison of less
than eight thousand, could not hope to break through this
formidable force: there was no escape by land. De Grasse had
control of the river: there was no escape by sea. No alternative
remained but to capitulate. Accordingly, October 19, the British
army surrendered to Washington, the shipping to De
Grasse.1
34. The bombardment began on the evening of October 9, and from that time the besiegers made a continuous advance. Two of the outposts were carried by assault. A hundred pieces of heavy ordnance poured their terrible contents upon the fortifications with such effect as to level them and dismount nearly every gun. Cornwallis now determined to
1 "The combined army was drawn up in two lines, more than a mile in length. the Americans the right side of the road, the French on the left. About two o'clock the British garrison sallied forth, and passed through with shouldered arms, slow and solemn step, colors eased and drums beating a British march. They were led by General O'Hara, on horseback, who, riding up to General Washington, apologized for the non-appearance of Lord Cornwallis, on account of indisposition." Washington pointed to General Lincoln, who had given up his sword to Cornwallis at Charleston, as the officer appointed to receive the surrender of the British troops. By him they were conducted to a field, where they were to ground their arms.
QUESTIONS. -- 33. What is said of the investment of Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis? 34. Give a more particular account of the siege of Yorktown.
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cross the river, and attempt to retreat by way of Gloucester,
hoping to break through a body of French stationed in the rear of
that place, and reach New York; but a storm arose on the night of
the 16th, -- the time appointed for the attempted escape, and
dispersed his boats, after one division had crossed the river.
During the siege the English lost between five and six
hundred men, the allies about three hundred. Five days after the
surrender of Cornwallis, Sir Henry, Clinton made his appearance
off the Capes of Virginia, with a reënforcement of seven
thousand men; but receiving intelligence of his lordship's fate,
he returned to New York.
35. At the news of this
victory exultation broke forth from one extremity of the
country to the other. To the unanimous acclaim of the people
Congress joined the authority of its resolves. It addressed thanks
to the officers and soldiers, and went in procession to church to
offer thanks to God for the recent triumph. The 13th of December
was appointed as a day of national
thanksgiving.
36. Events of 1782 and 1783. -- The
surrender of Cornwallis may be considered as substantially closing
the war: occasional skirmishes alone indicated its continuance.
New York, Charleston, and Savannah were the only places of
importance still held by the enemy.
Soon after the capture of Cornwallis, a
part of the French army reëmbarked, Count de Grasse
sailed for the West Indies. Count Rochambeau cantoned his army,
for the winter, in Virginia; and the main body of the
Americans returned to their former position near the
Hudson. Difficulties with the Indians continued about a
year longer -- with the Creeks and Cherokees on the frontiers of
Georgia and South Carolina, and with other tribes on the
Ohio.
37. The people of England had
grown tired of the war, and the following spring Parliament took
measures for putting an end to it. The command of his majesty's
forces in America was taken from Sir Henry Clinton, and given to
Sir Guy Carleton, who was instructed to promote the wishes of
Great Britain for an accommodation with the United
States.1
38. Commissioners2 on
the part of the United States were appointed to meet others on the
part of England at Paris, where, November 30, 1782, provisional
articles of peace were signed.
1 In accordance with these instructions. Carleton endeavored to open a correspondence with Congress: but that body would enter into no negotiations except in concert with France.
2 The commissioners on the part of the United States were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson did not serve. On the part of England, Richard Oswald signed the provisional articles, David Hartley the definitive treaty.
QUESTIONS. -- What is said of the attempt to succor Cornwallis? 35. Effect of news of this victory? 36. How may the surrender of Cornwallis be regarded? What were the only important places held by the enemy? -- What is said of the French army? Of the Americans? Of difficulties with the Indians? 37. What was done by Parliament to put an end to the war in America? -- What endeavor did Carleton make? 38. When were the provisional articles of peace signed, and when was the definitive treaty signed?
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The definitive treaty was signed, September 3,
1783, and at the same time Great Britain concluded treaties
with
France and Spain. The independence of the United States was
acknowledged. The boundaries assigned were, on the east and north,
essentially the same as at present; on the West, the Mississippi;
on the South, Florida, which then extended west to the
Mississippi, having, at that river, parallel 31o for
its northern limit. Florida was reconveyed to Spain.1
39. The cessation of
hostilities was formally proclaimed to the army, April 19,
1783, the eighth anniversary of the battle of Lexington.
New York was evacuated by the British November 25, 1783, a
day still celebrated in that city as Evacuation Day. Savannah and
Charleston bad been evacuated the previous year, the former in
July, the latter in December. Arrangements had already been made
for the exchange of prisoners. During the war the English
treated with the most revolting cruelty the Americans they had
captured. They kept them in unwholesome prisons, or in crowded,
filthy, ill-ventilated prison ships, where thousands of them died
from want of air, exercise, and proper
food.
40. The 3d of November was assigned
for disbanding the army2 of the United States.
On the day previous Washington issued his farewell orders, and
bade an affectionate adieu to the soldiers who had fought and bled
by his side. Soon after,
1 see p. 12, § III., ¶ 1; p. 13. ¶¶ 3,4; p. 68, ¶ 1; p 80, ¶ 4; p. 94. ¶ 13; p. 162, ¶ 15, and note 5
2 The disbanding of the army involved considerations of the deepest interest. Thousands were to be thrown out of service -- and what could they do? Neither officers nor soldiers, for a long time, had received any pay; and the state of the public finances rendered present payment impossible. In December, the officers in camp at Newburg, in behalf of the army sent a memorial to Congress, representing the hardships of the case, and proposing that a specific sum should be given them for the money actually due, and in commutation of the half-pay for life, which Congress had promised to officers who should serve to the end of the war. The winter passed away, and Congress had taken no satisfactory action upon the memorial. In this state of the case, March 10 1783, a very exciting appeal was made to the officers, in an anonymous letter, afterwards avowed by Major John Armstrong at that time an aide-de-camp to General Gates. The writer recommended measures of redress or a refusal to disband. It was an artful and eloquent address and but for the firmness and prudence of Washington would have had its designed effect. The influence of that great man, however, prevailed. The officers decided, at a meeting which Washington called, and at which Gates presided that they would do nothing which should tend to sully the glory they had acquired in their country's service. The subject was again taken up in Congress, and happily adjusted. Many of the officers at one time doubted that the states would ever be able to form an efficient government, and at their instigation Colonel Lewis Nicola wrote to Washington, urging the establishment of a monarchy, and offering him the crown. Washington indignantly repelled the offer.
The states had furnished during the war the following number of soldiers for the regular army, reckoned in annual terms of service (from Nile's Register, July 31, 1830):--
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New Hampshire, |
12,497 |
Delaware , |
2,386 |
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Massachusetts, |
67,907 |
Maryland, |
13.912 |
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Rhode Island, |
5,908 |
Virginia, |
26, 678 |
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Connecticut, |
31,939 |
North Carolina, |
7,263 |
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New York, |
17,781 |
South Carolina, |
6.417 |
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New Jersey, |
10,726 |
Georgia, |
2,679 |
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Pennsylvania, |
25,678 |
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Total, |
231,771 |
QUESTIONS. -- With what other nations did Great Britain conclude treaties? What boundaries were assigned to the United States by this treaty? 40. When was the cessation of hostilities proclaimed to the army? When was New York evacuated? When Savannah? When Charleston? What is said of the treatment of prisoners by the English? 41. What date was assigned for disbanding the army? What is said of Washington's farewell to his soldiers?
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in New York, he took a final leave of his
officers, greatly endeared to him by common sufferings and
dangers. December 23, he appeared in the hall of Congress, at
Annapolis, and resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of
the armies of the United States.
The next morning he
left Annapolis, and hastened to his home at Mount Vernon, a
private citizen of the country whose liberties he had secured,
bearing with him the love, devotion, and gratitude of his
countrymen, and the admiration of the world.
CHAPTER III.
THE ADOPTION OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
1.
THE war of the Revolution was now closed.
The colonies were free and independent; but it soon became
apparent that the central government did not possess the requisite
power, under the Articles of Confederation,1 
to
administer the affairs of the nation. In May, 1787, delegates from
all the states, except Rhode Island, convened in Philadelphia, and
framed a constitution,2 which was submitted to the
several states, with the condition that in the states adopting it,
it should go into effect after its adoption by nine states.
1 See p. 128, ¶ 25. 2 See Appendix, p. 8.
QUESTIONS. -- What is said of Washington's farewell to his officers? Of the resignation of his commission? What more is said of Washington? Chap. III. 1. What soon became apparent? When, where, and for what purpose did a convention assemble? What states were represented? What was framed by this convention? When was the new constitution to go into effect?
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2. By the
Articles of Confederation, Congress had power to declare
war and to contract debts. It had already contracted debts to a
vast amount,1 but it had no power to pay its debts. It
could not raise money by taxation. It could advise the states to
pay their respective shares of the national liabilities, but it
could do no more. Some of the states attempted, in accordance with
the advice of Congress, to bear their proportions of the public
burdens, and to support their credit. This, in Massachusetts,
produced, in the winter of 1786-7, the 
outbreak
called Shays's Insurrection, from its leader, Daniel Shays,
formerly a captain in the continental army. In the western
counties the courts of law were closed by armed mobs, the object
being to prevent legal measures for the collection of debts and
taxes. To suppress the insurrection, the governor called out four
thousand militia, to serve under the command of General Lincoln.
The insurgents were soon dispersed. Fourteen of the ringleaders
were found guilty of treason and condemned to death, but all were
ultimately pardoned.
3. Virginia
advised a convention of delegates from the states, to meet
at Annapolis, in September, 1786, to establish a better
system of commercial regulations. Only five states were
represented, and the convention adjourned, after having
recommended that another convention be called to revise the
Articles of Confederation. Accordingly, the next May a
convention, in which all the states but Rhode Island were
represented, met in the State House2 in
Philadelphia. This assembly was composed of the ablest men
of the nation. General Washington, one of the delegates from
Virginia, was chosen president. It was soon perceived that a mere
revision of the Articles of Confederation would not suffice, and
the convention addressed itself to the task of preparing a
constitution. The convention came near dissolving without
accomplishing its purpose; but at length the spirit of mutual
compromise and concession prevailed, and after a session of four
months, the instrument was adopted, and signed September
17.3
4. The new
constitution met with a strong opposition. Many thought it
gave too much power to the central government. The people were
quickly divided into two parties, the Federalists, the
supporters of the constitution, and the Anti-Federalists,
its opponents. The opposition to it called forth an able defence,
in a series of papers called the Federalist,
1 It is not possible to ascertain with certainty the expense of the Revolutionary War. It has been estimated to have mounted, in speicie, to about $135,000,000. But the advances made from the treasury were principally in a paper medium, called continental money and which, in a short time, depreciated (see p. 136, 11, and note 3). These advances have been estimated to have amounted to near $360,000,000, in nominal value. Part of the continental money was funded at an immense depreciation, part of It became worthless in the hands of its holders.
2 See p. 119, ¶ 2. 3 See Appendix, p. 15.
QUESTIONS. -- 2. What is said of the power of Congress under the Articles of Confederation? How was Shays's insurrection produced? How suppressed? 3. For what purpose did Virginia advise a convention to meet at Annapolis? What did this convention recommend'? How was the assembly which met at Philadelphia composed? Its president? In what spirit was the new constitution agreed upon? After how long a session? 4. How were the people divided in regard to the new constitution? Names of its supporters and its opponents? What series of papers was written in defence of the constitution? By whom written?
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