The Virginia Campaign and the Blockade and Siege of Yorktown, 1781: Including a Brief Narrative of the French Participation in the Revolution Prior to the Southern Campaign |
Common terms and phrases
action Admiral Graves allied armies American Army Arnold arrived artillery attack August Barras battery battle blockade British Army British Fleet camp campaign Cape Henry Charleston Chesapeake Bay Christian Majesty Clinton coast Colonel Commander in Chief conduct Congress Continentals Cornwallis's corps Count de Grasse Count de Rochambeau D'Estaing Delaware detachment dispatch division Elizabeth River embarked enemy engaged fire force France French Fleet frigates Gloucester Hampton Road harbor headquarters James River July June King Lafayette Lafayette's land Laurens letter light infantry Lord Cornwallis Marquis ment militia month naval Newport North Carolina North River October officers Old Point Comfort operations Philadelphia Phillips Portsmouth position reached rear received redoubt reenforcements Regiment Rhode Island Richmond road sail Sandy Hook second parallel sent September ships siege signal soon South squadron Tarleton tion United Vergennes vessels Virginia Washington West Indies Williamsburg wrote to Washington Yorktown
Popular passages
Page 11 - They told me, that it was their absolute design to take possession of the Ohio, and by G they would do it; for that, although they were sensible the English could raise two men for their one, yet they knew their motions were too slow and dilatory to prevent any undertaking of theirs.
Page 66 - Europe, and humiliating to the naval pride and power of Great Britain) ; the superiority of France and Spain by sea in Europe ; the Irish claims and English disturbances, formed, in...
Page 18 - France; the artillery then begins again and fires thirteen rounds; this will be succeeded by a second general discharge of the musketry in a running fire, and huzza, Long live the friendly European Powers.
Page 31 - The moment I heard of America, I loved her ; the moment I knew she was fighting for freedom, I burnt with a desire of bleeding for her ; and the moment I shall be able to serve her at any time, or in any part of the world, will be the happiest one of my life.
Page 15 - Take away for an instant that modest diffidence of yourself, (which, pardon my freedom, my dear General, is sometimes too great, and I wish you could know as well as myself what difference there is between you and any other man,) you would see very plainly that, if you were lost for America, there is nobody who could keep the army and the revolution six months. There are open dissensions in Congress ; parties who hate one another as much as the common enemy...
Page 31 - That Mr. President be requested to inform the Marquis de la Fayette, that Congress have a due sense of the sacrifice he made of his personal feelings in undertaking a journey to Boston, with a view of promoting the interest of these states, at a time when an occasion was daily expected of his acquiring glory in the field, and that his gallantry in going on Rhode Island when the greatest part of the army had retreated, and his good conduct in bringing off the pickets and out -sentries, deserves their...
Page 49 - Holston, that if they did not desist from their opposition to the British arms, he would march his army over the mountains, hang their leaders, and lay their country waste with fire and sword.
Page 191 - ... your Lordship wishes may be attended to, until they are more particularly described, nothing definitive can be settled. I have to add, that I expect the sick and wounded will be supplied with their own hospital stores, and be attended by British surgeons, particularly charged with the care of them. Your Lordship will be pleased to signify your determination, either to accept or reject the proposals now offered, in the course of two hours from the delivery of this letter, that commissioners may...
Page iv - The essential and direct end of the present defensive alliance is to maintain effectually the liberty, sovereignty, and independence absolute and unlimited, of the said United States, as well in matters of government as of commerce.
Page 123 - That much trouble was taken, and finesse used, to misguide and bewilder sir Henry Clinton, in regard to the real object, by fictitious communications, as well as by making a deceptive provision of ovens, forage, and boats in his neighborhood, is certain ; nor were less pains taken to deceive our own army ; for I had always conceived, where the imposition does not completely take place at home, it would never sufficiently succeed abroad.