THE BURNING OF NEW LONDON. upon sailed out to engage the British fleet and to draw them off so that in the meantime De Barras could pass into the bay. This project was carried to a successful conclusion, and it did not become necessary to open up a general engagement with the British fleet.* When Clinton finally became aware of the intention of the allies in the north, he attempted to create a diversion by attacking some city in his immediate vicinity. In September, therefore, he sent Benedict Arnold. against New London, Conn. Crossing the Sound, Arnold landed his troops in two divisions at the mouth of the Thames. One of these divisions marched toward New London, took Fort Trumbull, and then entered the town; while the other passed up the east side of the river to attack Fort Griswold. This fort was defended by a small garrison of militia under Colonel William Ledyard, and though they made a resolute resistance, they were finally overpowered by the superior British force. Upon surrendering, Colonel Ledyard was brutally killed by the commanding British general. Upon the capture of the fort, the garrison was indiscriminately murdered, as were also many of the inhabitants, nearly 100 being slain. * Bancroft, vol. v., p. 517; Fiske, American Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 278-279; Stedman, American War, vol. ii., pp. 400-402; Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., pp. 484-487; Lee's Memoirs, vol. ii., pp. 313-320; Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iv., pp. 181-184 (ed. 1788); Tower, Marquis de LaFayette, pp. 437-440. 271 Meanwhile New London had been burned to the ground and a number of richly laden vessels fell into Arnold's hands.* The Nero-like Arnold gazed upon the burning of New London with great exultation, and shortly after his return to New York completed his audacious villainy by reporting that the prisoners slaughtered after the surrender had been found dead in the fort.† This expedition, however, did not result in diverting Washington from his purpose as Clinton had expected, and the latter became convinced that he should put forth every effort to send Cornwallis relief. He dispatched a letter in cipher to Cornwallis, saying that he hoped by October 5 to be able to join him with his fleet and armies. Upon receiving this letter, therefore, Cornwallis withdrew his troops from the outer defences and concentrated them within the limits of the town. On September 25 the * Thacher, Military Journal, pp. 267-268; Arnold's report in Arnold, Life of Arnold, p. 348 et seq.; Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, pp. 628-629; Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iv., p. 178 (ed. 1788); Caulkins, History of New London, pp. 545-572; Johnston, Connecticut, pp. 312-314; Trumbull's letter of September 15 to Washington, in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. iii., pp. 403-405; Heath's Memoirs, pp. 282-285 (Abbatt's ed.); Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. i., pp. 610-613. In December, 1781, Arnold left New York and proceeded to England. Looked upon with scorn and contempt, he sank into obscurity, ending his unhappy career at London, June 14, 1801. On his career in foreign parts, see Arnold, Life of Arnold, p. 355 et seq. See the dispatches quoted in Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, pp. 631-633. See also 272 YORKTOWN INVESTED. allied troops to the number of 11,000 reached Williamsburg, and three days later began the march toward Yorktown. At the same time the allied army encamped before Yorktown, the combined French fleets anchored at the mouth of the river, so as to prevent the escape of the British by sea, as well as to prevent any supplies or reinforcements reaching them from that direction. Lauzun's legion together with a militia brigade, in all about 4,000 men, under command of General de Choisy and General George Weedon, took a position at Gloucester Point, and shut off escape on that side.* On September 30 Yorktown was invested. The left wing of the besieging troops was composed of the French, extending from the river above the town to a morass in front of it; the right wing was composed of the Americans who occupied the ground below the town between the morass and the river. On the extreme left of the besieging army were the West India regiments under St. Simon, and next to them were the French light infantry regiments under Antoine Charles du Houx, Baron de Vioménil, under whom were the Colonels Counts William Deuxponts, and Adam Philip De Custine. The French artillery occupied the Tower, Marquis de LaFayette, vol. ii., pp. 447448. * Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., p. 494; Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolu tion, vol. ii., p. 308. centre, and on the right across the marsh were the American artillery under Knox, assisted by Colonel John Lamb, Lieutenant-colonels Ebenezer Stevens, Edward Carrington, and Major Sebastian Bauman, the Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania troops under Steuben, the New York, Rhode Island and New Jersey troops under General James Clinton, the light infantry under Lafayette, and the Virginia militia under Governor Thomas Nelson, Jr. General Lincoln's quarters were on the banks of the Wormeley's Creek on the extreme right.* Until October 6 the American and French troops were occupied in disembarking the artillery and military stores, and in conveying them to the scene of action;† but on that night, the first parallel was begun about 600 yards from the British works. Because the night was dark and rainy, the operations of the besiegers were not discovered and probably not suspected by the besieged until daylight disclosed them in the morning, but by that time the trenches had been so far advanced that the workmen were covered from the fire of the garrison. Three days later the batteries were completed and fire was immediately opened on the town. Thenceforth shot and shell were unceasingly * Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 309-311. Ibid, p. 311. For a statement of the force of artillery, see Brooks, Life of Knox, p. 154 et seq. Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, pp. 636637; Brooks, Life of Knox, p. 160. AMERICAN AND FRENCH APPROACHES.-B. First parallel. C. American battery of three 18 and three 24 pounders, two howitzers and two 10" mortars. D. American battery of four 18 pounders. E. Bomb battery of four 10" mortars. F. French battery of four 12 pounders and 6 mortars and howitzers. G. Three French batteries of sixteen pieces 18 and 24 pounders and 9" howitzers. H. French bomb battery of six 13" mortars. I. Part of second parallel. K. Redoubt stormed by Americans. L. Bastion redoubt stormed by French. M. Remainder of second parallel. N. Three French batteries in second parallel- of sixteen pieces 18 and 24 pounders. O. French bomb battery designed for ten 13" mortars. In redoubt K the Americans opened with two 8" howitzers and two 18 pounders, and in redoubt I, with two 10" mortars. P. American battery of four 18 pounders. Q. American battery designed for seven 18 and three 24 pounders, four howitzers, eight 10" and ten 51⁄2" royal mortars; not mounted when garrison capitulated. R. Two French men of war sent to take charge of British marines. BRITISH FORTIFICATIONS.-A. British outworks. No. 1. Battery of two 6 pounders and one 51⁄2" howitzer. 2. Three 18 pounders. 3. Four 18 and five 9 pounders. 4. Five 18, one 9 and two 6 pounders. 5. One 18 and three 9 pounders. 6. One 18 and four 9 pounders. 7. Two 18 and two 12 pounders. 8. Two 18 and one 9 pounders. 9. Two 18 and two 12 pounders. 10. Three 18, two 12 and one 6 pounder and one 16" mortar. 11. One 24 and two 9 pounders. 12. Two 12 pounders and two 8" howitzers. 13. Two 18 and one 12 pounders. 14. Five 9 pounders. 15. Ten 18 and one 12 pounders. 16. Two batteries of eight guns, different calibers. 17. Part of British shipping. 18. Frigate Guadaloupe sunk. Frigate Fowey. 20. Sloop of War Bonetta. 21. British ships as they appeared sunk. 22. The Charon, a 44-gun ship, and two transports set on fire by hot shot. 274 ASSAULT ON BRITISH FORTIFICATIONS. hurled against the fortifications. The unfinished works on the left of the town were soon demolished by the continuous discharge from the 24 and 18 pounders and the 10 inch mortars, and the guns mounted on these unfinished works were silenced. Some of the shot from the American batteries passed completely over the town and struck the ships in the harbor. The Charon, a 44, and several transports were set on fire by the hot shell and entirely destroyed.* A second parallel between 200 and 300 yards from the British works was now begun,† but the progress of the Americans was much hindered by two redoubts on the left of the British works. Washington therefore determined to capture these by storm, the reduction of one being left to the French, while the other task was committed to the Americans. Lafayette was in command of the American troops and Vioménil in charge of the French detachment. Late in the afternoon of the 14th, the assault was begun. Alexander Hamilton led the advance-guard of the Americans,+ and Colonel John Laurens at the head of 80 men turned the redoubt. Without firing a gun, the troops Thacher, Military Journal, p. 274; Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 311–312; Cooke, Virginia, p. 468; Irving, Life of Washington, vol. iv., pp. 397-399. Lossing, p. 312. Knox and Irving say 300 yards. See Brooks, Life of Knox, p. 160; Irving, Life of Washington, vol. iv., p. 399. Johnson, General Washington, pp. 257-258; Irving, p. 401. rushed to the assault, and so impetuous was their charge that the redoubt was captured with very inconsiderable loss. Major Campbell and 17 privates were made prisoners.* Much to the credit of the American troops, not an act of barbarity was committed, although at this time information had just been received of the massacre of Fort Griswold. Some state that Lafayette, with Washington's consent, ordered every man in the redoubt to be put to the sword, but this statement was positively contradicted by Colonel Hamilton and Lafayette.† The French experienced considerable difficulty in capturing the redoubt against which they had marched, as it was defended by a large number of men. Nevertheless, they succeeded in the project, killed 18 of the 120 men defending the redoubt, and captured 42 others. The loss of the French was about 100. Washington was greatly pleased at the conduct of both forces, and in his orders of the following day expressed his approval of the conduct of Vioménil, Lafayette, and the other offi * Tower, Marquis de LaFayette, vol. ii., p. 449 et seq.; Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, pp. 638-639. See also Lafayette's letter in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. iii., pp. 425-427; Thacher, Military Journal, p. 275. Marshall, Life of Washington, vol. iv., p. 486; Hamilton, Life of Hamilton, vol. i., chap. xiv.; Tower, Marquis de LaFayette, vol. ii., pp. 452-453. Bancroft, vol. v., p. 521; Thacher: Military Journal, p. 276; Ford's ed. of Washington's Writings, vol. ix., pp. 380-388. CORNWALLIS ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE. cers in command of the two detachments. Cornwallis's situation was now becoming desperate. Clinton had been unable to send the reinforcements as early as he had expected, and informed Cornwallis that they could not leave New York before October 12. It was therefore useless to expect that Cornwallis could hold out until they arrived. He thereupon determined to make a vigorous sortie so as to retard the progress of the American works. Early in the morning of the 16th, a party of British troops under command of Colonel Abercrombie succeeded in capturing a portion of the works in the second parallel, but before any great advantage had been secured, they were driven back.* The batteries of the allied armies now contained nearly 100 pieces of heavy ordnance, and so destructive was their fire that the British works contained scarcely a mounted cannon. Writing to Clinton, Cornwallis said: "My situation now becomes very critical; we dare not show a gun to their old batteries, and I expect that their new ones will open tomorrow morning. The safety of the place is, therefore, so precarious, that I cannot recommend that the fleet and army should run great risk in endeavoring to save us." So alarming had become his position, that Cornwallis decided to cut his way through the besieging Thacher, Military Journal, pp. 276-277. 275 forces and to set out for New York. He planned to cross the river in the night to Gloucester Point, where a small garrison of the British under command of Tarleton were being watched by the French under De Choisy. Having dispersed this French force, he intended to mount the infantry, and by forced marches to join Clinton. Cornwallis therefore left his baggage and the sick and wounded to the care of the enemy, and embarked his army in three divisions. A part of it had crossed and landed at Gloucester Point; another part were still on the river; while the third division had not embarked, when a sudden and very violent storm arose and drove the boats down the river, so that when day appeared the troops were in a bad way. Discovering the predicament of the British, the besiegers opened up a destructive fire on them and finally compelled them to return to the town.* Cornwallis now abandoned all hope. He realized that it was impossible any longer to resist the Americans, and that any further operations might result in a large loss of valuable lives. On October 17, therefore, he wrote to General Washington asking a suspension of hostilities for 24 hours so that commissioners might Thacher, Military Journal, pp. 277-278; Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., pp. 498-499; Johnston, Yorktown Campaign, p. 191; Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., 314. p. |