October 19

October 19, 1781, the British surrendered at Yorktown.  The war was effectively over. Cornwallis had fought the American guerillas throughout the South, and they had worn his army out, then won decisively at Cowpens.  The American commander at Cowpens was my great grandfather 7 generations ago and he was worn out too.  After the battle he handed over his command and painfully got on his horse and rode home, unable to continue.  Cornwallis decided to retreat to Yorktown, a small seaport in southern Virginia hoping to be reinforced by fresh troops and supplies from the British navy.  But the French, who had waffled for a long time, had finally sent a fleet to bottle up Chesapeake Bay and Washington, who had fought a rearguard action since the start of the war, decisively rushed south and besieged Cornwallis.  Thomas Nelson, governor of Virginia, who had signed the Declaration of Independence told a cannoneer to fire on a fine-looking brick home.  “It is my home, he explained, “best in town, so that is where the British have headquarters.”  Sure enough, the first cannon ball went through a window and blasted a table where the officers were having lunch.

Cornwallis had no choice but to surrender. The Yankees had finally become a powerful and well-trained army, and they stormed the ramparts.  After Cornwallis surrendered his ceremonial sword and Washington handed it back,  the British soldiers filed past the Americans laying down swords and rifles.  The big innovation of 18^th century warfare was to keep your army well-supplied with arms and boots and uniforms.   The Americans were barefoot or wore rags, and most had no uniforms.  Cornwallis supposedly said, “They are undefeatable.  They fight like dogs.”  Bands on the American side played “Yankee Doodle”, a tune that British regulars had made up to poke fun of the colonists during the French and Indian War, 20 years earlier.

Washington seemed worn out too.  When, a short time later, an insurrection of his officers, confronted him with demands for pay from Congress they’d never seen, he reached into his coat to fish out a pair of glasses to read what they had written.  “I’m sorry, this war has ruined my eyes,” he apologized.  Glasses were rare in those days and considered a sign that your eyesight really was shot.  The officers who had come to the meeting angry at Washington and Congress, suddenly were overwhelmed with emotion, some openly weeping.  They took back their letter and shook hands with their general, and bid him good-bye to return home.

  Long war.  America had won it's independence and freedom.