charge of the cavalry scattered his loose column and put it to flight. The Americans were entirely victorious, losing but twelve men killed and about sixty wounded, while the British lost one Tarleton barely escaped capture at the battle of Cowpens. He was wounded by a blow from the sword of Colonel William A. Washington. Some time after this battle Colonel Tarleton remarked to a company of South Carolina ladies, "I have been told that Colonel Washington is very illiterate, and can scarcely write his name.' But, Colonel," replied one of the ladies, "he can at least make his mark." Tarleton rejoined that he would like very much to see Colonel Washington. Upon which the lady instantly replied, "You might have had that pleasure, Colonel, if you had looked behind you at the battle of Cowpens." hundred and twenty-nine killed and wounded, and six hundred prisoners. The capture of two cannon, eight hundred muskets, thirty-five wagon-loads of supplies, and one hundred horses was a timely acquisition to the patriot army. 357. Battle of Guilford Court House.— Greene slowly retreated into Virginia, and used every effort to recruit his little army. In March, at the head of a force of five thousand men, he advanced into North Carolina to meet the British under Cornwallis. On the fifteenth a bloody battle was fought at Guilford Court House. The loss in killed and wounded was about equal for the two armies; but Greene retired in order and took up his camp a few miles away. Cornwallis remained in possession of the field, and therefore claimed the victory. On the twenty-fifth of April another engagement took place at Hobkirk Hill, where each army lost about two hundred and fifty men, but Greene was finally compelled to leave the field. 358. Battle of Eutaw Springs. -After the battle of Guilford Court House, Cornwallis retired to Wilmington. On due consideration, he decided to march northward into Virginia, and thus, as he hoped, draw Greene out of the Carolinas. Greene, however, moved South at General Nathaniel Greene. (After a miniature on ivory.) once, and began the process of winning back the Southern States. Sumter and Marion kept up a continuous warfare during May and June, captured Orangeburg, Fort Mott, Fort Granby, Fort Cornwallis, Georgetown, Augusta, and besieged Ninety-Six. In September Greene fought the last battle of the war, in the far South, at Eutaw Springs. His attack upon the enemy was at first successful, but the men stopped for plunder and the British returned to the attack. The British retreated during the night, so that, in all its effects, the battle was a victory for the Americans. Mrs. Rebecca Mott was the owner of a large, new private mansion, around which a stockade, called Fort Mott, had been built. Here the British were defending themselves. Colonel Lee told Mrs. Mott, who at this time was living in a cottage without the fort, that if he could burn her fine house the British would be obliged to surrender. With quick decision this patriotic woman replied that she should be only too well pleased to perform any service for her country, and immediately furnished Lee with an East Indian bow and arrows, with which combustible matter was shot over the house, and the building was fired. The British garrison was then forced to surrender. 359. Cornwallis in Virginia. Cornwallis, after starting north from Wilmington, hastened his march, and on May 20th reached Petersburg, Virginia. Washington had sent Lafayette south, with about twelve hundred continentals. He took up his headquarters in Virginia. Cornwallis endeavored to force an engagement, but the prudent marquis would not hazard a battle with a force so superior to his own. The British army therefore continued its marauding Lafayette. (From the Bartholdi statue in Union Square, New York City.) expeditions, destroying property both public and private, until it had crossed the Virginia peninsula, and had gathered its whole force at Yorktown. 360. Washington's Plans. Meanwhile, Washington threatened New York, controlling all land approaches, and pressed so closely upon the British lines, by day and night, that Clinton sent messengers to Cornwallis to announce that he was in a state of siege, and must have immediate reinforcements. Washington determined to unite all available troops and crush Cornwallis. Still New York, he moved his main army keeping up appearances before through New Jersey, and even reached Wilmington on the Delaware before Clinton suspected his design. A French fleet under Count de Grasse was on its way to the Chesapeake. It arrived August 30th, and on the 3d of September, Count de St. Simon joined Lafayette with over three thousand troops. On the 14th of September the commander-in-chief reached Lafayette's headquarters at Williamsburg. 361. At Yorktown.-September 29th, the combined armies appeared before Yorktown. Cornwallis had fortified the town and also Gloucester Point, across the river. He was surrounded, and must surrender or fight his way out. De Grasse prevented his escape by sea. The situation was in every way favorable to the Americans. The real siege began by a bombardment, October 9th, and made a continuous advance. Yorktown. The spot where Cornwallis surrendered his army is sacred to American patriotism, and a monument has been erected there to commemorate the victory. Eighty years later Yorktown was again made famous by its Confederate fortifications under General Magruder, and its siege by the Federal army under McClellan. In 1881 there was an appropriate celebration at Yorktown of the one hundredth anniversary of the surrender of Cornwallis, at which the late Honorable Robert C. Winthrop of Massachusetts delivered the oration. from this time the combined army A hundred cannon were concentrated upon the British fortifications, with such effect as to dismount every gun. Finally, Cornwallis determined to transport his entire force across the river and retreat by way of Gloucester, breaking through the French forces stationed in the rear of that place, with the hope of reaching New York. On the night of the 16th of October, one division of his troops had crossed the river when a severe storm arose which dispersed his boats, and No alternative now remained but utterly thwarted his purpose. to capitulate. 362. The British surrender. Accordingly, on the 19th of October, 1781, the British army surrendered to Washington, and the fleet to De Grasse. The combined French and American armies numbered sixteen thousand men. The British force numbered seven thousand in addition to nine hundred seamen. The loss of the allies was two hundred and eighty-four, and that of the British, five hundred and fifty-two. The British force, under arms, marched to a plain in the rear of Yorktown to surrender. Cornwallis, worn out, mortified, and sick, deputed General O'Hara to tender his sword upon that occasion. It will be remembered that brave General Lincoln had been obliged a few months before to surrender his sword to a junior officer at Charleston (¶ 342). Washington deputed him to receive the sword of Cornwallis. This was a piece of poetic justice, doubtless not unappreciated by Lincoln. - 363. Clinton Too Late. Meanwhile Sir Henry Clinton had embarked a force of seven thousand men at New York to reinforce Cornwallis, but he was too late. The surrender took place five days before he made his appearance off Cape Charles. The news of this decisive victory was received with joyful exultation by the people from one end of the country to the other. Congress passed resolutions thanking the officers and soldiers, and proceeded in a body to church to offer thanks to Almighty God for the triumph. The 13th of December was also observed as a day of national thanksgiving. CHAPTER L. THE GREAT TREATY OF 1783. 364. The War must cease. Throughout the whole war a large party in England had favored the American cause, but they were in the minority. The people of England, however, were now determined that the war should cease. After the battle of Yorktown no further hostilities of importance took place. In the spring of 1782, the British House of Commons passed strong resolutions against a continuance of the war, and resolved that all persons who proposed its prosecution should be considered public enemies. Lord North, the prime minister, was obliged to resign. The new minister |