Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Anonymous American soldier, journal, September 15-October 17, 1781, of the battle of Yorktown
CWF Rockefeller Library Special Collections. SCMS1981.5

Septmr 14th 1781	General. Arrived at Williamsburgh
15	Recd the Marquis's Command & Count St. Simmons Troops, who Arrived on the 30th August with Count Degrassy and Landed at James Town the 3rd Instant.
21	First Division of the Northern Army Arrived in James River
23 and 24	Almost the whole got on and Landed
27	Whole Army Moved & Encamped in a Line, ¾ Miles Advanced of Williamsburgh distant from York Town 11 Miles.
28	The whole Moved at day Light after two Halts Arrived within one & half Mile of the Enemies work Displayed and Lay on our Arms all Night Beaver pond Creek and Morass in our Front over which Bridges were built that Night of Genl Mulenburgs Brigade of L.I. formed a Requette in Advance.
29	About Sunrise moved to within ¾ Mile of the Enemies out works and Displayed in two Lines a Ravine in Front to View our Ground Advanced Small parties in Front to Cover our Recon= =nitring parties at 4 P.M. Moved to our Ground on the Right & Encamped within Range of the Enemies Artillery in two Lines Advanced a Line of Rquetts in Front & Increased our Camp Guards.
30	The Enemy fearing we Should turn their Left & Get Between there out works & the Town Abandoned the whole of them & Retired to Town a Little before day Light Leaving a few Light Horse to protect there Rear Coll. Seammel being Offcr. of the day Advanced to Rconitr & Report Accordingly when he was Intercepted Wounded and taken Prisoner (Died in 6 Days of his Wounds) by a few Light Horse who lay concealed._ Both Lines were put in motion and Advanced with Caution to their works Suspecting some fient of the Enemy lay on our Arms all Day that Night the L. I. Remained on the Ground as a Covering party to the Fatigued Men Bruised in Erecting a Chain of Redoubts to Guard our Camp & Cover our working parties Occupied in procuring Materials for the Siege.
31	L. I. Relieved by Waynes Division this evening and the Redoubts Completed this Night & fitted with a proper No of Men from 1st to 6th Employed in preparing Materials Getting up our Artillery & at 6 o Clock moved on the Ground & Oppened our first Parralell about 600 yards for the Enemies works under Cover by day Light no Accident, Continued working till Morning when the Light Troops
7	Entered in Line Reversed with Drums Beating & Colours Flying planted our standards on the top of the Line of the Paralell continued working on the Batterys which were Completed about 5 o Clock.
9	P. M. when the Enemy Recd. the first shot from us which was Continued with a Spirit from Cannon & Mortars the Enemies five Slacken'd several of their Guns were Dis= mounted and they were Obliged to fill up their Ebrasures.
10	L. I. Mounted & the Charon of 44 & two Smaller Vessels were Burnt by some Hot Shot from the Left of the Line Commanded by St. Simon this Happened About 8 o Clock in the Evening the Weather being Serene & Calm and offered a Grand pleasing Melancholly Sight the Charron was on fire from the Waters Edge to her Truck at the same time I never saw any thing so Magnificent.
11	In the Morning the 2d. Paralell opened by B. Stubends Division the Men Covered before Day Light this Paralell was Carried on with Amazing Rapidity at 360 yards distance from the Enemies Batterys under a very heavy fire the Enemies shot & shells Directed at the work, Men our shot and shells going over our heads in a Continual Blaze the whole Night the Light was Beautifully Tremendous we Lost but one Man shot by our own Men the Gun not Being sufficiently Elevated or being fired with a bad Cartridge.
12.13.14	Continued Compleating the Batteries of the Second Paralell and wounding their Abaties & Frize works with our shot and shells when About 2 o Clock P.M. the out Defences of two Redoubts that were Advanced on their Left 250 yards in there Front were thought sufficiently weakened to attempt them that evening by storm the L.I. were Relieved and directed to Refresh themselves with dinner & a Nap and About dusk moved on Under the Marquis & were in Posession of one in 9 Minutes the other by the French Granadeurs & L.I. under the Barron Visminic was Carried near About the same time when the 2nd Paralel was Continued on & Enveloped these two Redoubts & finished a Line of Communication Between the Rights of the first and second Paralel before day light the next Morning a Line of upwards of a Mile; the whole of this was performed under a very Incessant and heavy fire from the Enemy with Amazing Steadiness and Expedition
15	Employed in Repairing the Redoubts & Erecting Battries now within Reach of the Enemies Grape Riffles and wall Pieces.
16	This Night a Timid ill Conducted Sortie was Attempted under Lieut. Coll. Abercrombie with About 600 Men they Entered the Paralel about the Centre nearly Between the French & American Troops at a Battery Erecting by the Americans not Completed they killed a Serg't and 2 Privates of Captn. Savages Compy of Artillery spikd 6 Guns with the Ends of there Bayonets which they Broke Of in the Vent Holes turned About & went of with the Utmost Precipitation in there Retreat they were pursued Lost 12 Men 6 killed & 6 wounded & taken prisoners the L.I. in the Trenches_ Lord Cornwallis in his Accnt. of this Matter says our Loss was upwards of 100~
17	L.I. still in the Trenches Between 10 & 11 A.M. Chamade Beat & Propositions for Surrender sent out by his Lord- ship and Recd by the Marquis forwarded to Head Quart a Cessation of firing About 20 Minutes till flag was safely Returned within their works on our Beginning the fire a second Chamade Beat & the Officer Returning was told the Answer as soon as Recd. from head Quarters would be forwarded the firing on Both sides Returned & went on as Usual only small Intermission during the passing of two or three Letters from Each side_ L.I. Relieved by the Barron Stubends Division and the Bussiness being Concluded that Evening the firing Ceased about 5 o clock P.M. the 18th and part of the 19th taken up in Adjusting Matters (viz.) Articles of Capitulation publick Letters & 19th P.M. they Marched out & Laid down their Arms the whole of the Things Troops Including Sailors & Marines Consisting of 8054 officers Included this Ended this Bussiness in 9 Days Com= =pleat from our Breaking Ground the whole of our Strength Including every Person that drew provisi- =ons by the Comissary Generals Return Amounting to 12.200 our Loss was 324 Killed Wounded and died in Hospital. Sick in Hospital about 600 unfit for Duty About 850 so that when the Necessary detail of the whole Army was Completed his Lordship was never opposed by more than an Equal No. & very Frequently from our strong Fatigue partico at a Great Distance from Camp & Trenches two Miles often if he had Come out to us we Could not have Opposed him with but very Little more than two thirds his No. this I Believe will be Allowed by any Officer of Decernment who was Acquainted with the Details of the Victorious Combined Army.