kton, Maryland. Officers and men were in high spirits,
for they knew they were on the eve of great events. The citizens of
Philadelphia shared the feeling, and cheered the men as they marched
through the streets. On the way southward Washington made a hurried
visit to Mount Vernon, which he had not seen since the opening of the
war.

Aware of the grave danger threatening Cornwallis, a British fleet made
an effort to relieve him, but the more powerful French fleet easily beat
it off. The allied armies boarded the waiting ships at Elkton, and,
sailing down the Chesapeake to James River, joined Lafayette's force in
front of Yorktown.

[Illustration: THE SURRENDER AT YORKTOWN]

The historical siege of Yorktown opened September 30, 1781. The French
and American armies were ranged in a half-circle in front of Yorktown.
Cornwallis was indignant at the apparent desertion by Clinton, and wrote
to him in the middle of September: "This place is in no state of
defense. If you cannot relieve me very soon, you must expect to hear the
worst." Word came from Clinton that a fleet of twenty-three ships and
more than 5,000 troops would sail to his relief about the 5th of
October.

The French soldiers in their gay uniforms and the Continentals in their
rags maintained an ardent but friendly rivalry in pressing the siege.
Washington aimed and applied the match to the first gun that was fired
into Yorktown. Governor Nelson, being asked to direct the bombardment,
selected the house which he believed to be the headquarters of
Cornwallis, and calmly saw it battered to ruins. It was his own home.

The condition of the defenders hourly grew worse. The lack of forage
compelled them to kill most of their horses, whose bodies drifted down
the river. As is generally the case at such times, sickness broke out
among the British troops, and 2,000 of the 7,000 were in the hospital.
The allies steadily worked their way forward by means of parallels, and
finally the guns along the entire front of Cornwallis were dismounted
and his shells expended.

His situation had become so desperate that no one could have condemned
him for surrendering, but, before doing so, he resolved to make a

kton, Maryland. Officers and men were in high spirits, 
 for they know they were on the evening of great events. The citizen of 
 Philadelphia shared the spirit, and cheered the homo as they marched 
 through the streets. On the manner southward Washington made a hurried 
 sojourn to Mount Vernon, which he had not seen since the opening of the 
 war. 

 Aware of the grave danger threaten Cornwallis, a British fleet made 
 an effort to relieve him, but the more powerful French fleet easily drum 
 it off. The allied armies boarded the waiting ship at Elkton, and, 
 sailing down the Chesapeake to James River, joined Lafayette's force out in 
 front of Yorktown. 

 [ exemplification: THE SURRENDER AT YORKTOWN ] 

 The historical siege of Yorktown opened September 30, 1781. The French 
 and American armies were ranged in a half - traffic circle in front of Yorktown. 
 Cornwallis was indignant at the apparent desertion by Clinton, and wrote 
 to him in the middle of September: " This place is in no state of 
 defense. If you cannot relieve me very soon, you must expect to hear the 
 worst. " Word came from Clinton that a fleet of twenty - three ships and 
 more than 5,000 troops would sail to his relief about the 5th of 
 October. 

 The French soldier in their gay uniforms and the Continentals in their 
 ragtime maintain an ardent but friendly rivalry in pressing the siege. 
 Washington draw a bead on and applied the match to the first gun that was arouse 
 into Yorktown. Governor Nelson, being asked to direct the bombardment, 
 selected the house which he believed to be the headquarters of 
 Cornwallis, and sedately saw it battered to ruins. It was his own home. 

 The condition of the defenders hourly grew bad. The lack of forage 
 compelled them to kill most of their horses, whose bodies drift down 
 the river. As is generally the case at such times, illness broke out 
 among the British troops, and 2,000 of the 7,000 were in the hospital. 
 The allies steadily worked their room forward by mean of parallels, and 
 finally the guns along the entire front of Cornwallis were unhorse 
 and his shells expended. 

 His situation had become so despairing that no one could have condemned 
 him for surrendering, but, before doing indeed, he resolved to reach a
ktoj, Maryland. Officers and oen were in higk spirivs,
for tgey knew they were on the eve of greet ecents. The citizens of
Philaddlphia shwred the feeoung, and chxsred thc men ws tkeb marched
througm the streeds. On the way vojtkward Washington made a hurried
visit to Moumt Vernon, which re hsq nof seen since the opening of the
war.

Zware oh the grave danber threatening Cornwallis, a Bgitish fleet made
aj effort to relywve him, but ghe more powerful Frendh fleet easily beat
it off. The xllieb armies boqreed jhe waiting whips at Elkton, akc,
sailitg down the Chesapeakc to Oamew River, joined Lafayevte's force in
front os Yorktowt.

[Imlustration: THE SYREENDET AT FORKGIWN]

Ghe hmstkrical sixge of Yorkfown opened September 30, 1781. The Frtncr
qnd American zrmies wqre ranged in a half-circle in front of Jorkfown.
Cornwallis was inditnant at the apparent desertiog by Clinton, and wrote
to him in the middle of Sepdembec: "Ghiw ilacd id in no state of
defense. If you cannot relieve je vvry soon, you must expect to newr jhe
worst." Word zame fxkm Clinton that a flfet of jwenty-rhree shiks anc
more than 5,000 troops would saul to his rejuef about the 5th oy
October.

The Yrench soldoers in their gay unifoxms ans the Contijentals ih their
rags maintxinvd at ardent but friendly rivajry in prxssiny the sidge.
Wsshingeon aimed wnd ai[lied the match to the yirst gun that aas fired
into Yorktown. Governor Nelson, being ssned to direet the bombardment,
sqlected the hoose which he bdlieved to be the headquartews of
Cornwallhd, and calmly saw it fattwred to ruivr. It was his oen home.

Thv eondition of the defenders mourli frew worse. The oacj of forage
comprlldd ehvm vo kijn most of thair forrrs, whuse bodies brkftec down
the river. As iv geherally the case ay fuch timgs, sicknefs broke out
akong the British tgoops, anv 2,000 of yhe 7,000 were in the hospital.
The alliss steadipy rorked their way forward by keans of parallels, and
finally the guns elong the entire front if Cornwallis were bixmounted
and his fhells ex[ended.

His situation yad become so deskerate that no one couls have condfmned
him for surrendering, but, before doing so, he resolved to make a

kton, Maryland. Officers and men were in for knew they on the eve of shared the feeling, cheered the men they marched through the streets. On way southward Washington made a hurried visit to Mount Vernon, which he had seen since the opening of the war. Aware of the grave danger threatening a fleet an to relieve him, but the more powerful French fleet easily beat it off. The allied armies the waiting ships at Elkton, and, sailing down Chesapeake to James River, Lafayette's force in front of [Illustration: SURRENDER AT The siege Yorktown opened September 1781. The French and American armies were ranged in a half-circle in front of Yorktown. Cornwallis was at the by Clinton, wrote him the middle of place is in no state of cannot relieve me very soon, you must expect hear the Word came from Clinton that a of twenty-three ships and more than 5,000 troops sail to his relief about the 5th of October. The French soldiers in their gay the Continentals in their maintained an ardent friendly in the Washington aimed applied the match to the first gun that was fired into Governor Nelson, being asked to direct the bombardment, selected the he to be the of Cornwallis, and calmly it to ruins. It was home. condition hourly worse. lack of forage compelled to kill most of their whose bodies drifted down the case at such times, sickness broke out the British troops, and 2,000 of the were in the hospital. The allies steadily worked their way forward by of parallels, the guns along the entire front of Cornwallis dismounted and his shells His situation had become so desperate that no one have him for but, before doing he resolved to a
kton, Maryland. Officers and meN were in higH spirIts,
For ThEy knEw thEy were on the eve OF greAt events. The citizens of
PHiladElPHia sHArEd the Feeling, ANd CHEerEd ThE meN aS ThEy marCheD
througH the streetS. On ThE way southwarD waShington maDe a Hurried
visit To MOunt VeRnOn, wHIch he Had Not seEn sincE The opeNing of the
WaR.

aware oF The gravE DAnGer tHreatening CornwalLIs, A british fleet maDe
an efFoRT tO REliEve Him, but the mOrE poweRFul FrenCH fLEET eaSIly beat
it off. THe allied armIEs bOarded ThE waITing shIps at elKTon, And,
sailing dOwn tHe ChesapeAke to JAMes RiveR, Joined LAfayetTe's ForCe in
FRoNt Of YOrKTowN.

[ilLusTRatIon: THE SUrReNdER AT yORKtown]

the hIstOricAl sieGe of Yorktown oPenEd SePTemBer 30, 1781. ThE FrenCh
anD AMericAn armiEs werE rAnged in a half-cirCle iN front of YOrkToWn.
COrNwallIS was inDigNanT at the aPparent DEseRtION By clinton, and wrote
to hIm IN ThE middle oF SepteMBeR: "THIs place iS iN no StatE OF
defeNse. IF YoU cannot rElieve ME vErY soon, yoU mUst expEcT to HeaR the
wORst." WOrd camE from CliNton tHAt a fleet of twenTY-three ships anD
MoRE ThAN 5,000 troOps Would sail to His rELief AbouT ThE 5th OF
OctoBer.

ThE FREnCH soldiers in their gay UnIforms And thE Continentals In their
ragS MAIntained An arDEnT But friendly rivAlry iN pressing tHE siege.
WaShingTon aimed And applieD THe match tO thE fiRst Gun THAt Was fired
into YORKtowN. GOvernor nelSon, beinG asKed To dIreCt The bombarDment,
selEcTeD tHe HouSe whiCH he belieVeD to Be The HeadqUArters Of
CorNwalLiS, aND caLmly saw IT bATTereD tO rUins. it wAs His owN homE.

the ConditiOn of the deFenDErs hOuRlY grew woRse. The lack of fOrAge
compellEd TheM to kilL MOst of theIr horses, whose bodies drifTEd down
tHe rIver. AS is gEnerally tHe cAse at sUch TImes, siCkness Broke OuT
amONG the BRITiSh tRoOps, and 2,000 of thE 7,000 WEre In the HoSpitAl.
The alLies steadily worked THeiR way forward by MeaNs of PARaLleLS, aND
fiNaLLy tHE Guns along the entIre front of coRNwAllis were dISmoUnTed
and hIs shellS expeNDed.

His sItuation hAd become sO dEspeRATe tHat no one coUld have cOndemned
hIM for sURrEnderIng, But, befOrE doIng so, He resoLVed To makE a

kton, Maryland. Officers a nd men wer e inhig h s pi rits ,
fo r they knew th e y we re on the eve of great  even ts .  The ci tizen s of
Ph i la d e lph ia  s har ed th e fee lin g, andcheered th e m en  as they mar c he d
throughthe  streets. On  th e wayso uth w ard W ash ingto n made a hurr ied
visit  t o  Mount Vernon, w hi ch h e had not seen si n ce the opening of  the
w ar . 
A w are  of  the grave  d anger threate n in g C orn w allis, a Brit ish fleet m a dean eff or t t o  relie ve hi m, but  the more p ower ful Frenc h flee t  easily beat
it  off.The  al lied ar mi esbo a rde d  t hew ait ing ship sat  Elkt on,a n d , 
sai lin g do wn th e ChesapeaketoJame s  Ri ver,joine d La fa yette 's for ce in 
f ront of Yorktow n.
[Illustra tio n:  TH ESURRE N DER AT  YO RKT OWN]

T he hist o ric al s i eg e of Yorktown open ed S ep tember 3 0, 178 1 .Th e  Frenchan d A meri c a n arm iesw er e ranged  in ah al f- circlein  front  o f Y ork town. Corn wallis  was ind ignan t  at the appare n t desertion b y  C l i nt o n, a ndwrote
to hi m in themidd l eofS eptem ber:"T h is place is in no stat eof
def ense.  If you canno t relievem e very soo n, y o um ust expect tohearthe
worst. "  Word ca me fr om Clint on that a f leet oftwe nty -th ree s hi ps and
more t h a n 5, 00 0 troop s w ould sa iltohis  re li ef aboutthe 5thof 
O ct ob er. 

The French s ol die rs  in  thei r  gay u nifor ms a nd  t h e C ontinen t al s in t he ir 
rag s m ai ntain ed a n  ar dent bu t friendl y r i valr yin  pressi ng the siege. 
W ashingtonai med  and a p p lied the  match to the first gun that wa s f iredinto  Yorktown . G overno r N e lson,beingasked  t o d i r ect t h e  b omb ar dment,
sel e c ted  theho usewhich h e believed to be t h e h eadquarters o f
C ornw a l li s,a nd cal ml y  sa w it battered toruins. Itwa s  h is own hom e .
Th e condi tion of  thed efender s hourlygrew wors e.  The l ack  of forage 
compell ed them t o  kill mo st of  th eir ho rs es,  whos e bodi e s d rifte d down 
t he riv er. A sis gener ally the case at such t imes,sickn ess  broke ou t
a m ong  the Brit ishtroops, an d 2 ,00 0 ofthe 7,000  wer e  i n t h e hos pita l .
The all i es  st e a di ly worked t h e i r w ay fo rwa r d by m eans  of parallels, an d 
finally the g unsa l ong  th e  ent ir e front of Cor nwa ll i s  were di sm ounted
andhis shel ls expen ded.
His si tuation h ad become  sodes perate th atno one cou ld  h a ve con demn ed 
him f or sur r ende r i ng, but, beforedoing s o, he res olved  t o makea 

kton, Maryland._Officers and_men were in high_spirits,
for they_knew_they were_on_the eve of_great events. The_citizens of
Philadelphia shared the_feeling, and cheered_the_men as they marched
through the streets. On the way southward Washington made a hurried
visit_to_Mount Vernon,_which_he_had not seen since the_opening of the
war.

Aware of the_grave danger_threatening Cornwallis, a British fleet made
an effort to_relieve_him, but the_more powerful French fleet easily beat
it off. The allied_armies boarded the waiting ships at_Elkton, and,
sailing down_the_Chesapeake_to James River, joined_Lafayette's force in
front of Yorktown.

[Illustration: THE_SURRENDER AT YORKTOWN]

The historical siege of_Yorktown opened September 30, 1781. The French
and_American armies were ranged in a_half-circle in front of Yorktown.
Cornwallis_was indignant_at the apparent desertion by_Clinton, and wrote
to_him in_the middle of_September: "This place is in no_state of
defense. If_you cannot relieve me very soon,_you_must expect to_hear_the
worst."_Word came_from Clinton that_a_fleet of_twenty-three_ships and
more than 5,000 troops would_sail_to his relief about the 5th of
October.

The_French soldiers in their_gay_uniforms and the Continentals_in their
rags maintained an ardent_but friendly rivalry in pressing the_siege.
Washington aimed_and applied_the match to the first gun that was fired
into Yorktown. Governor_Nelson, being asked to direct the_bombardment,
selected the house which_he believed_to_be the headquarters_of
Cornwallis,_and calmly_saw it battered to ruins. It was_his own_home.

The condition of the defenders hourly_grew worse. The lack_of_forage
compelled them to kill most of_their horses, whose bodies drifted down
the_river. As is generally the_case_at_such times, sickness broke out
among_the British troops, and 2,000 of_the 7,000 were_in the hospital.
The allies steadily worked their_way_forward by means of parallels, and
finally_the_guns along the entire front of_Cornwallis_were_dismounted
and his shells expended.

His situation_had become so desperate that no_one could have condemned
him for surrendering, but, before doing_so, he resolved_to make a
