Elementary history of the United States . and renewed the attack. TheAmericans were taken by surprise, but Greene succeededin drawing off his men with some loss. The British hadsuffered so much, that the next day their commanderdestroyed his stores and returned to Charleston. 1781] SIEGE OF YORKTOWX. 131 4. Siege of Yorktown.—A French fleet, sent overto aid the Americans, arrived off the coast of Virginia inthe snmmer of 1781. Washington had been threateningthe British army in Kew York. ISow, however, hemarched rapidly to the sonth, to join the French insurrounding Cornwallis. General CHnton,
Elementary history of the United States . and renewed the attack. TheAmericans were taken by surprise, but Greene succeededin drawing off his men with some loss. The British hadsuffered so much, that the next day their commanderdestroyed his stores and returned to Charleston. 1781] SIEGE OF YORKTOWX. 131 4. Siege of Yorktown.—A French fleet, sent overto aid the Americans, arrived off the coast of Virginia inthe snmmer of 1781. Washington had been threateningthe British army in Kew York. ISow, however, hemarched rapidly to the sonth, to join the French insurrounding Cornwallis. General CHnton, who com-manded in l!^ew York, did not discover this movementtill it was too late to prevent it. La Fayettes divisionwas already in Virginia. Toward the close of September,the French and American annies invested Yorktown,and a heavy fire was openedfrom their batteries. 5. Breaches were soonmade in the British tried a sally, butwas driven back into hisfortifications. He thenattempted to convey hismen bv nio:ht across the. York Eiver, with the in- ^ /^^^,^^__ tention of forcing his waythrough the French linesat the opposite point, and hastening to join Clinton at Xew York. One divisioncrossed the river in safety; but a furious storm set in,and the rest were unable to join them. Those who hadlanded, after a severe drenching, were brought back inthe morning, and no further efforts to escape were Cornwalliss only hope now lay in aid from held out as long as he could; but the alHed aruiiesbrought their batteries closer and closer, and on the 19thof October he found it necessary to surrender. Over 132 END OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. [1781 seven thousand British soldiers laid doAvn their generously tried to avoid wounding the feel-ings of the enemy. Before they appeared on the field, herode up to his men, as they were drawn up in line, andsaid: My boys, let there be no insults over a conqueredfoe. When they lay down their arms, dont hu
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