and did much damage to the British. Morgan had been compelled, by rheumatism and fever, to cease his active and brilliant part in the war. Rawdon, leaving Colonel Stuart in command at Orangeburg, proceeded to Charleston, and afterward, pretending sickness, sailed for England, but was captured by the French on his way. But before he went he sanctioned the execution of Isaac Hayne, who, after the fall of Charleston, had obtained British protection, though he afterward led a regiment of American militia. This deed awakened the most bitter enmity to English rule among all humane and fair-minded per

sons.

In the latter part of August Greene left his position on the hills of the Santee and marched against Orangeburg. The British retired to Eutaw Springs, but Greene followed, and there, on the 8th of September, occurred one of the fiercest contests of the Revolution. At first the Americans were successful and routed the British, but in a second engagement, which occurred immediately, a rash attack on the enemy was made and the Americans were defeated. In the whole day the Americans lost 554 men. The British lost nearly 1,000, including about 500 prisoners.

Stuart retreated to Monk's Corner, and later on to Charleston. Wilmington was soon evacuated, and in all the country south of Virginia the British retained only Savannah and Charleston.

The first of these was evacuated July 11th and the latter December 14th of the next year. Greene had met with several defeats in battle, but by his genius in retrieving himself and his persistence in continuing the struggle with the forces at his disposal, he had, during his command of less than ten months, practically recovered the three southern states. From this time on we shall hear of no more British ravages in this quarter.

The final campaign of the Revolution was carried on in Virginia. Cornwallis, who arrived there and took command in the latter part of April, 1781, commenced operations by ravaging the country along the James and destroying much valuable public and private property. Tarleton was sent on a rapid sally to Charlottesville, where the Virginia assembly was in session, but he accomplished little more than the capture of seven members of the legislature. Lafayette, meanwhile, who commanded the troops for the defense of Virginia, was not

strong enough to attack Cornwallis.

Clinton was fearful that the Americans meditated an attack on New York, and he ordered Cornwallis to take a strong position and to act on the defensive. The British commander in Virginia proceeded down the James till he came to Green Springs, near Jamestown. There he was attacked on the 6th of July by General Wayne, who was led to suppose, by false informa

CORNWALLIS.

tion, that the main body of the enemy had crossed the stream. Wayne soon discovered his mistake, and though he fought with bravery, would have been overwhelmed but for the timely arrival of reenforcements under Lafayette. The French general plunged into the thick of the battle at the peril of his life and saved the Americans from utter rout. Each side lost about 120 men.

Cornwallis now proceeded to Portsmouth, but orders from Clinton forced him against his judgment to transfer his army in the first week of August to

Yorktown. This small village, situated on the southern bank of the York River a few miles above its mouth, and Gloucester, on the opposite side of the stream, were fortified. Lafayette followed and took position. about eight miles distant. He urged Washington to send re-enforcements, and foresaw the doom that threatened Cornwallis when the expected French fleet should arrive to complete his investment on the water side. Meanwhile Clinton had been led to believe, by letters written for the purpose of falling into his hands, that New York was to be attacked on the 2d of September. He at last realized that Washington was moving southward with Rochambeau and the allied forces of French and Americans.

In the meantime, on the 30th of August, De Grasse, with the French fleet of twenty-eight ships of the · line bearing 4,000 soldiers, arrived from the West Indies and blockaded the York River. The English admiral, Graves, sailed from New York to break up the blockade, but his fleet was so roughly handled by De Grasse on the 5th of September that he was obliged to return whence he had come. De Barras had arrived from Newport by this time with eight more French ships of the line and ten transports carrying heavy guns for the siege.

The

On September 28th the siege of Yorktown was commenced in earnest by the allied forces, who outnumbered the British, under Washington and Rochambeau. Cornwallis withdrew his advanced posts, and Tarleton was hemmed in at Gloucester. latter attempted a sally but was driven back. On the night of the 5th of October trenches were opened 600 yards from the works of Cornwallis. The Americans on the right and the French on the left worked with zeal. In three days the first parallel was completed, and a heavy cannonade was kept up on the fortifications of the enemy. On the night

Two

of the 11th the second parallel was commenced. advanced redoubts were carried on the night of the

14th by storm. Early in the morning of the 16th the British made a sally, but were driven back with

out having accomplished anything of value to their side.

Cornwallis now felt the hopelessness of further resistance. He was opposed by a superior force and able generals. His escape was cut off on all sides, by land and by water. On the 17th he proposed to surrender. The next day the terms of capitulation were drawn up, and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon of October 19, 1781, Major-General O'Hara marched the British army into an open field, where they laid down their arms. Cornwallis remained in his tent.

The prisoners numbered 7,247 soldiers and 840 sailors. Two hundred and forty-four pieces of cannon, seventy-five of them brass, besides other accouterments and stores, also fell into the hands of the allied forces. It was a glorious victory for the patriot cause, but it must not be forgotten how much France had aided in the siege. Nine thousand of the troops were Americans, but France furnished 7,000, besides thirty-six ships of the line.

The surrender was felt to be virtually the close of the war, and was everywhere received with the profoundest emotions of joy and exultation. When the news reached Philadelphia the city was illuminated, and Congress marched in a body to the Dutch Lutheran church to give thanks. France and the continental nations of Europe rejoiced at the victory.

In England the king and the ministry heard the news with bitter disappointment. But the people were glad at the prospect of the cessation of war. Finally, on March 20, 1782, Lord North announced the resignation of himself and his colleagues in the ministry. The new ministry sent Sir Guy Carleton, who looked kindly on America, to take Clinton's place in command of the British forces.

After the surrender of Cornwallis Washington returned to his old positions in the neighborhood of