Siege of Yorktown

On December 20, 1780, Benedict Arnold sailed from New York with 1,500 British troops to Portsmouth, Virginia. He first raided Richmond, defeating the defending militia, from January 5–7 before falling back to Portsmouth.^[7]Admiral Destouches, who arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, in July 1780 with a fleet transporting 5,500 soldiers, was encouraged by Washington and French Lieutenant General Rochambeau to move his fleet south, and launch a joint land-naval attack on Arnold's troops.^[7] The Marquis de Lafayette was sent south with 1,200 men to help with the assault.^[8] However, Destouches was reluctant to dispatch many ships, and in February sent only three. After they proved ineffective, he took a larger force of eight ships in March 1781, and fought a tactically inconclusive battle with the British fleet of Marriot Arbuthnot at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Destouches withdrew due to the damage sustained to his fleet, leaving Arbuthnot and the British fleet in control of the bay's mouth.^[8]

On March 26, Arnold was joined by 2,300 troops under command of Major General William Phillips, who took command of the combined forces.^[8] Phillips resumed raiding, defeating the militia at Blandford, then burning the tobacco warehouses at Petersburg on April 25. Richmond was about to suffer the same fate, but Lafayette arrived. The British, not wanting to engage in a major battle, withdrew to Petersburg on May 10.^[8]

On May 20, Charles Cornwallis arrived at Petersburg with 1,500 men after suffering heavy casualties at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. He immediately assumed command, as Phillips had recently died of a fever.^[8][9] Cornwallis had not received permission to abandon the Carolinas from his superior, Henry Clinton, but he believed that Virginia would be easier to capture, feeling that it would approve of an invading British army.^[8]

コーンウォリスの到着とニューヨークからの増援により、イギリス軍は7,200人となった。^{[ 4 ]}コーンウォリスは、バージニア民兵の到着により3,000人となったラファイエットを追い詰めたいと考えていた。^{[ 4 ]} 5月24日、彼はリッチモンドから撤退したラファイエットを追撃し、シュトイベン男爵とアンソニー・ウェインの指揮下の部隊と合流した。^{[ 4 ]}コーンウォリスはラファイエットを追撃しなかった。代わりに、彼は襲撃部隊をバージニア中部へ送り込み、そこで補給基地や補給輸送隊を攻撃したが、6月20日に呼び戻された。その後、コーンウォリスはウィリアムズバーグに向かい、4,500人となったラファイエットの部隊が彼に続いた。^{[ 10 ]}クリントン将軍は、混乱した一連の命令で、コーンウォリスにまずポーツマス、次にヨークタウンへ向かうよう命じ、そこで深水港の要塞を建設するよう指示した。^{[ 11 ] [ 12 ]}

ロシャンボー伯爵率いる5,500人のフランス軍遠征隊が、 1780年7月10日に海路でロードアイランド州ニューポートに到着した。 ^{[ 13 ]} 1781年7月6日、フランス軍とアメリカ軍はニューヨーク市の北にあるホワイトプレーンズで遭遇した。 ^{[ 14 ]}ロシャンボーは40年近く戦争経験があったにもかかわらず、ワシントンの権威に異議を唱えることはなく、ワシントンに、自分は指揮するためではなく、奉仕するために来たのだと告げた。^{[ 15 ]}

ワシントンとロシャンボーは共同攻撃の拠点について話し合った。^{[ 16 ]}ワシントンは、アメリカ軍とフランス軍がイギリス軍の防衛兵を3対1で上回っているため、ニューヨークへの攻撃が最善の選択肢だと考えた。ロシャンボーはこれに反対し、ド・グラス提督率いる西インド諸島の艦隊がアメリカ沿岸に向かう予定であり、ニューヨーク攻撃よりも容易な選択肢があると主張した。^{[ 16 ]}

7月初旬、ワシントンはマンハッタン島の北部を攻撃することを提案したが、彼の将校たちとロシャンボーは全員反対した。^{[ 17 ]}ワシントンは8月14日までニューヨーク周辺を偵察し続け、その日にド・グラスから、28隻の軍艦と3,200人の兵士を率いてバージニアに向かっているが、10月14日までしかそこに留まれないという手紙を受け取った。 ^{[ 17 ]}ド・グラスはワシントンに南下して共同作戦を開始するよう促した。ワシントンはニューヨークを占領する計画を放棄し、バージニアへの南下行軍の準備を始めた。^{[ 18 ]}

8月19日、ワシントンとロシャンボーは、現在ワシントン＝ロシャンボー革命ルートとして知られるルートを使って、ヨークタウンへの「有名な行軍」と呼ばれる行軍を開始した。^{[ 18 ]} 7,000人の兵士（フランス軍4,000人とアメリカ軍3,000人）がロードアイランド州ニューポートから行軍を開始し、残りの兵士はハドソン渓谷を守るために残った。ワシントンは目的地を完全に秘密にしておきたいと考えていた。^{[ 19 ]}そのため、彼はクリントンに届く偽の電報を送り、フランス・アメリカ連合軍がニューヨーク市を攻撃する予定であり、コーンウォリスは危険にさらされていないことを明らかにした。^{[ 20 ]}

9月2日から4日の間に、フランス軍とアメリカ軍はフィラデルフィアを行進し、ワシントンの大陸軍は、価値のない大陸紙幣ではなく硬貨で1か月分の給料を受け取るまでメリーランド州を離れないと宣言した。「ロシャンボー伯爵はチェスターで、エルク岬に2万硬​​貨を供給することに非常に快く同意した」 ^{[ 21 ]}。これはスペインの金貨の半分であり、大陸軍の兵士に給料が支払われた最後の機会となった。この支払いはフランスとアメリカの関係を強化した。^{[ 22 ]} 9月5日、ワシントンはバージニア岬沖にド・グラスの艦隊が到着したことを知った。ド・グラスはフランス軍をラファイエットに合流させるために上陸させ、その後、空の輸送船をアメリカ軍を迎えに送った。^{[ 18 ]}ワシントンはヨークタウンに向かう途中で、自宅のマウントバーノンを訪れた。 ^{[ 23 ]}

8月、トーマス・グレイブス提督はニューヨーク植民地の艦隊を率いて ド・グラスの艦隊を攻撃した。グレイブスはフランス艦隊の規模を認識しておらず、コーンウォリスも同様だった。^{[ 23 ]}イギリス艦隊は9月5日のチェサピーク海戦でド・グラスの艦隊に敗れ、ニューヨークへ撤退を余儀なくされた。^{[ 23 ]} 9月14日、ワシントンはバージニア州ウィリアムズバーグに到着した。^{[ 23 ]}

On September 26, transports with artillery, siege tools, and some French infantry and shock troops from Head of Elk, the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, arrived, giving Washington command of an army of 7,800 Frenchmen, 3,100 militia, and 8,000 Continentals.^[2] Early on September 28, Washington led the army out of Williamsburg to surround Yorktown.^[24] The French took the positions on the left while the Americans took the position of honor on the right.^[2][25] Cornwallis had a chain of seven redoubts and batteries linked by earthworks along with batteries that covered the narrows of the York River at Gloucester Point.^[2] That day, Washington reconnoitered the British defenses, and decided that they could be bombarded into submission.^[26] The Americans and the French spent the night of the 28th sleeping out in the open, while work parties built bridges over the marsh. Some of the American soldiers hunted down wild hogs to eat.^[27]

On September 29, Washington moved the army closer to Yorktown, and British gunners opened fire on the infantry.^[28] Throughout the day, several British cannon fired on the Americans, but there were few casualties. Fire was also exchanged between American riflemen and HessianJägers.^[28]

Cornwallis pulled back from all of his outer defenses, except for the Fusilier's redoubt on the west side of the town and redoubts 9 and 10 in the east.^[2] Cornwallis had his forces occupy the earthworks immediately surrounding the town because he had received a letter from Clinton that promised relief force of 5,000 men within a week and he wished to tighten his lines.^[2][29] The Americans and the French occupied the abandoned defenses and began to establish their batteries there.^[30] With the British outer defenses in their hands, allied engineers began to lay out positions for the artillery. The men improved their works and deepened their trenches.^[31] The British also worked on improving their defenses.^[31]

On September 30, the French attacked the British Fusiliers redoubt.^[32] The skirmish lasted two hours, in which the French were repulsed, suffering several casualties. On October 1, the allies learned from British deserters that, to preserve their food, the British had slaughtered hundreds of horses and thrown them on the beach.^[32] In the American camp, thousands of trees were cut down to provide wood for earthworks. Preparations for the parallel also began.^[33]

As the allies began to put their artillery into place, the British kept up a steady fire to disrupt them.^[34] British fire increased on the 2nd and the allies suffered moderate casualties. General Washington continued to make visits to the front, despite concern shown by several of his officers over the increasing enemy fire.^[35] On the night of October 2, the British opened a storm of fire to cover up the movement of the British cavalry to Gloucester where they were to escort infantrymen on a foraging party.^[35] On the 3rd, the foraging party, led by Banastre Tarleton, went out but collided with Lauzun's Legion, and John Mercer's Virginia militia, led by the Marquis de Choisy. The British cavalry quickly retreated behind their defensive lines, losing 50 men.^[36]

10月5日までに、ワシントンは最初の平行線を開設する準備がほぼ整っていた。^{[ 37 ]}その夜、工兵と坑道掘り兵は湿った砂の上に松の枝を置いて塹壕の道筋を示した。この戦いの主な/初期の動きは徒歩と乗馬であった。^{[ 37 ]}

10月6日の日没後、部隊は嵐の中、最初の平行塹壕を掘るために出発した。厚い雲に覆われた空は欠けゆく満月を覆い隠し、大規模な掘削作業をイギリス軍の歩哨の目から隠した。^{[ d ]}ワシントンは儀式的につるはしで数回叩き、塹壕の掘削を開始した。塹壕はヨークタウンの先端からヨーク川まで、長さ2,000ヤード（1,800メートル）になる予定だった。 ^{[ 39 ]}塹壕の半分はフランス軍が、残りの半分はアメリカ軍が指揮することになっていた。フランス軍の最北端には、川にいるイギリス艦を砲撃できるように支援塹壕が掘られた。^{[ 39 ]}フランス軍は偽装攻撃でイギリス軍の注意をそらすよう命じられたが、イギリス軍はフランス軍の脱走兵から計画を知らされ、イギリス軍の砲撃はフュージリア連隊の堡塁からフランス軍に向けられた。^{[ 40 ]}  

10月7日、イギリス軍はマスケット銃の射程圏外に連合軍の新しい塹壕を発見した。^{[ 40 ]}その後2日間で、連合軍は砲の配置を完了し、砲兵隊を戦列に引きずり込んだ。連合軍が多数の砲を持っているのを見て、イギリス軍の砲撃は弱まり始めた。^{[ 41 ]}

By October 9, all of the French and American guns were in place.^[41] Among the American guns there were three twenty-four pounders, three eighteen pounders, two eight-inch (203 mm) howitzers and six mortars, totaling fourteen guns. At 3:00 pm, the French guns opened the barrage and drove the British frigate HMS Guadeloupe across the York River, where she was scuttled to prevent capture. At 5:00 pm, the Americans opened fire.^[41] Washington fired the first gun; legend has it that this shot smashed into a table where British officers were eating. The Franco-American guns began to tear apart the British defenses.^[42] Washington ordered that the guns fire all night so that the British could not make repairs.^[42] All of the British guns on the left were soon silenced. The British soldiers began to pitch their tents in their trenches and soldiers began to desert in large numbers.^[43] Some British ships were also damaged by cannonballs that flew across the town into the harbor.^[43]

On October 10, the Americans spotted a large house in Yorktown.^[44] Believing that Cornwallis might be stationed there, they aimed at it and quickly destroyed it. Cornwallis sank more than a dozen of his ships in the harbor. The French began to fire at the British ships and scored a hit on the British HMS Charon, which caught fire, and in turn set two or three other ships on fire.^[45] Cornwallis received word from Clinton that the British fleet was to depart on October 12, however Cornwallis responded by saying that he would not be able to hold out for long.^[46]

On the night of October 11, Washington ordered that the Americans dig a second parallel.^[46] It was 400 yd (370 m) closer to the British lines, but could not be extended to the river because the British number 9 and 10 redoubts were in the way. During the night, the British fire continued to land in the old line; Cornwallis did not suspect that a new parallel was being dug.^[46] By morning of the 12th, the allied troops were in position on the new line.^[46]

By October 14, the trenches were within 150 yd (140 m) of Redoubt Nos. 9 and 10.^[47] Washington ordered that all guns within range begin blasting the redoubts to weaken them for an assault that evening.^[48] Washington planned to use the cover of a moonless night to gain the element of surprise.^[e] To reinforce the darkness, he added silence, ordering that no soldier should load his musket until reaching the fortifications; the advance would be made with only "cold steel." Redoubt No. 10 was near the river and held by only 70 men, while redoubt 9 was a quarter-mile inland, and was held by 120 British and Germans.^[48] Both redoubts were heavily fortified with rows of abatis surrounding them, along with muddy ditches that surrounded the redoubts at about 25 yd (23 m).^[47] Washington’s officers devised a plan in which the French would launch a diversionary attack on the Fusiliers redoubt, and then a half an hour later, the French would assault Redoubt No. 9 and the Americans Redoubt No. 10.^[48][50] Redoubt No. 9 would be assaulted by 400 French regular soldiers of the Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment under the command of the Count of Deux-Ponts and redoubt 10 would be assaulted by 400 light infantry troops under the command of Alexander Hamilton.^[50] There was a brief dispute as to who should lead the attack on Redoubt No. 10. Lafayette named his aide, Jean-Joseph Sourbader de Gimat, who commanded a battalion of Continental light infantry. However, Hamilton protested, saying that he was the senior officer. Washington concurred with Hamilton and gave him command of the attack.^[51][f]

午後6 時 30 分 、銃声がフュージリアーズの堡塁への陽動攻撃を告げた。^{[ 52 ]}戦線内の他の場所では、ヨークタウン自体への攻撃の準備をしているかのように動きがあり、イギリス軍はパニックに陥った。^{[ 52 ]}銃剣を装着したアメリカ軍は、第 10 堡塁に向かって行進した。ハミルトンは、イギリス軍の逃走を防ぐため、ジョン ローレンス中佐を堡塁の裏側に回らせた。^{[ 53 ]}アメリカ軍は堡塁に到着し、斧でイギリス軍の木製の防御を切り裂き始めた。イギリス軍の歩哨が挑戦を叫び、アメリカ軍に発砲した。^{[ 53 ]}アメリカ軍は銃剣を構えて堡塁に向かって突撃することで応じた。彼らは障害物を切り裂き、溝を渡り、胸壁を登って堡塁に入った。^{[ 54 ]}アメリカ軍は要塞に突入し、準備砲撃によってできた巨大な砲弾の穴に落ち込んだ。イギリス軍の砲火は激しかったが、アメリカ軍は圧倒した。^{[ 54 ]}前線で誰かが「突撃だ、みんな！要塞は我々のものだ！」と叫んだ。イギリス軍はアメリカ軍に手榴弾を投げつけたが、効果はほとんどなかった。^{[ 54 ]}塹壕の兵士たちは仲間の肩に乗って要塞に登った。銃剣による戦闘でイギリス軍は要塞から一掃され、要塞の指揮官であるキャンベル少佐を含むほぼすべての守備隊が捕虜となった。^{[ 55 ]}この攻撃で、アメリカ軍は9人の死者と25人の負傷者を出した。^{[ 55 ]}

フランス軍の攻撃は同時に始まったが、砲撃で損傷を受けていない障害物によって阻止された。^{[ 55 ]}フランス軍は障害物を斬りつけ始め、ヘッセン歩哨が出てきて、そこに誰がいるのか尋ねた。応答がなかったので、歩哨は胸壁上の他のヘッセン兵と共に発砲した。^{[ 56 ]}フランス兵は応戦し、その後、堡塁に突撃した。ドイツ軍は壁を乗り越えてフランス兵に突撃したが、フランス軍は一斉射撃を行い、ドイツ軍を押し返した。^{[ 56 ]}ヘッセン兵はその後、樽の後ろに防御陣地を取ったが、フランス軍が銃剣突撃の準備をしたため、武器を捨てて降伏した。^{[ 56 ]}

With the capture of Redoubts Nos. 9 and 10, Washington was able to have his artillery shell the town from three directions and the allies moved some of their artillery into the redoubts.^[57][58] On October 15, Cornwallis turned all of his guns onto the nearest allied position. He then ordered a storming party of 350 British troops under the command of Colonel Robert Abercromby to attack the allied lines and spike the American and French cannon (i.e., plug the touch hole with an iron spike).^[59] The allies were sleeping and unprepared. As the British charged, Abercromby shouted "Push on my brave boys, and skin the bastards!"^[58] The British party spiked several cannons in the parallel and then spiked the guns on an unfinished redoubt.^[60] A French party came and drove them out of the allied lines and back to Yorktown. The British had been able to spike six guns, but by the morning they were all repaired.^[60] The bombardment resumed with the American and French troops engaged in competition to see who could do the most damage to the enemy defenses.^[58]

On the morning of October 16, more allied guns were in line and the fire intensified.^[60] In desperation, Cornwallis attempted to evacuate his troops across the York River to Gloucester Point.^[58] At Gloucester Point, the troops might be able to break through the allied lines and escape into Virginia and then march to New York.^[61] One wave of boats made it across, but a squall hit when they returned to take more soldiers, making the evacuation impossible.^[62]

The fire on Yorktown from the allies was heavier than ever as new artillery pieces joined the line.^[63] Cornwallis talked with his officers that day and they agreed that their situation was hopeless.^[64]

On the morning of October 17, a drummer appeared, followed by an officer waving a white handkerchief.^[65] The bombardment ceased, and the officer was blindfolded and led behind the French and American lines. Negotiations began at the Moore House on October 18 between Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Dundas and Major Alexander Ross (who represented the British) and Lieutenant Colonel Laurens (who represented the Americans) and Marquis de Noailles (who represented the French). To make sure that nothing fell apart between the French and Americans at the last minute, Washington ordered that the French be given an equal share in every step of the surrender process.^[65]

At 2:00 pm on October 19, the allied army entered the British positions, with the French on the left and the Americans on the right.^[66] The British had asked for the traditional honors of war, which would allow the army to march out with flags flying, bayonets fixed, and the band playing an American or French tune as a tribute to the victors. However, Washington firmly refused to grant the British the honors that they had denied the defeated American army the year before at the siege of Charleston.^[67] Consequently, the British and Hessian troops marched with flags furled and muskets shouldered, while the band was forced to play "a British or German march."^[g] American history books recount the legend that the British band played "The World Turn'd Upside Down", but the story may be apocryphal.^[69][70]

Cornwallis refused to attend the surrender ceremony, claiming that he had an illness. Instead, Brigadier General Charles O'Hara led the British army onto the field. O'Hara first attempted to surrender to Rochambeau, who shook his head and pointed to Washington. O'Hara then offered his sword to Washington, who also refused and motioned to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, his second-in-command. The surrender finally took place when Lincoln accepted the sword of Cornwallis's deputy.^[71][72][73]

The British soldiers marched out and laid down their arms in between the French and American armies, while many civilians watched.^[74] At this time, the troops on the other side of the river in Gloucester also surrendered.^[75] The British soldiers had been issued new uniforms hours before the surrender and until prevented by General O'Hara some threw down their muskets with the apparent intention of smashing them. Others wept or appeared to be drunk.^[76][77] In all, 8,000 soldiers, 214 artillery pieces, thousands of muskets, 24 transport ships, wagons, and horses were captured.^[72]

Malaria was endemic in the marshlands of eastern Virginia during the time, and Cornwallis's army suffered greatly from the disease; he estimated during the surrender that half of his army was unable to fight as a result. The Continental Army enjoyed an advantage, in that most of their members had grown up with malaria, and hence had acquired resistance to the disease. As malaria has a month-long incubation period, most of the French soldiers had not begun to exhibit symptoms before the surrender.^[78][79]

The articles of capitulation, outlining the terms and conditions of surrender for officers, soldiers, military supplies, and personal property, were signed on October 19, 1781.^[65] Signatories included Washington, Rochambeau, the Comte de Barras (on behalf of the French Navy), Cornwallis, and Captain Thomas Symonds (the senior Royal Navy officer present).^[80] Washington declined to approve Article Ten of the fourteen articles in the draft sent to him for approval by the negotiators for both sides, as further noted with the summary of the article below. Conditions, methods of compliance or reservations were put on five other articles. Under the articles Cornwallis's men were declared prisoners of war and promised good treatment in American camps, and officers were permitted to return home after taking their parole.^[65] Washington refused to allow the British soldiers to be paroled and returned to England.^[80] Washington also required the "same honors will be granted to the Surrendering Army as were granted to the Garrison of Charleston." British general Clinton refused to give the garrison of Charleston the privilege of surrendering under the "customary honors of war." These including flags flying and drums beating and playing a "tune of the conqueror" as if to demonstrate those surrendering were equal in bravery.^[81] Instead of a tune of the conqueror, Washington required the British to beat a British or German march and to ground their arms at a place to be specified.^[82]

Article I provided for the surrender of the British land forces to the Americans and of the British naval forces and other mariners to the French as prisoners of war.^[80][83][84]

Article II required the delivery of British artillery, arms, accoutrements, military chests and public stores to heads of American departments appointed to receive them.^[83]

Article III provided that the two redoubts on the left flank of York were to be delivered, one to a detachment of American infantry, the other to a detachment of French grenadiers. The procedure of the surrender was specified. The British were required to ground their weapons and return to encampments until they could be marched off.^[83]

Article IV allowed British officers to retain their side-arms. Both officers and soldiers were allowed to keep their private property of every kind. No part of their baggage or papers were to be subject to search or inspection. The baggage and papers of officers and soldiers taken during the siege also were to preserved for them. This article was conditioned on any property obviously belonging to the inhabitants of the States that was in the possession of the garrison be subject to being reclaimed.^[83][85]

Under Article V, the British soldiers who were taken prisoner were to be kept in Virginia, Maryland, or Pennsylvania, and as much by regiments as possible, and supplied with the same rations of provisions as are allowed to soldiers in the service of America. A field-officer from each nation, British, Anspach, and Hessian, and other officers on parole, in the proportion of one to fifty men were to be allowed to reside near their respective regiments, to visit them frequently, and to be witnesses to their treatment. The officers would be allowed to receive and deliver clothing and other necessities for the prisoners. Passports were to be granted when the officers applied for them to make these deliveries.^[83][86] Washington rejected the provision that British or German soldiers could be returned to their native countries.^[84]

Under Article VI, the general, staff, and other officers not employed as mentioned in Article V, and who choose to do so, were to be permitted to go on parole to Europe, to New York, or to any other American maritime posts at present in the possession of the British forces, at their own option. Proper vessels were to be granted by the Count de Grasse to carry them under flags of truce to New York within ten days, if possible. They were required to reside in a district to be agreed upon later, until they embark. The officers of the civil department of the army and navy were included in this article. Passports to go by land to New York were to be granted to those to whom vessels for the trip could not be furnished.^[83]

Under Article VII, officers were to be allowed to keep soldiers as servants, according to the common practice of the service. Servants who were not soldiers were not to be considered as prisoners, and were allowed to attend their masters.^[83]

Under Article VIII, the sloop-of-war HMS Bonetta was to be equipped, and navigated by its present captain and crew, and left entirely at the disposal of Lord Cornwallis from the hour that the capitulation is signed, for an aid-de-camp to carry dispatches to Sir Henry Clinton. Cornwallis would be permitted to send such soldiers as he may think proper to send to New York, would be permitted to sail on the ship without examination. When his dispatches were ready, Cornwallis would deliver the ship to the Count de Grasse, if the ship escapes the dangers of the sea. The ship was not permitted to carry off any public stores. Any part of the crew that may be deficient on her return, and the soldiers passengers, were to be accounted for on her delivery.^[83] This loosely written article containing the words "without examination" allowed Cornwallis to include Tories and American deserters, "which Washington probably realized."^[87]

Under Article IX, the original terms were that traders were to preserve their property, and to be allowed three months to dispose of or remove them; and those traders were not to be considered as prisoners of war. This was modified so that the traders would be allowed to dispose of their effects, but the allied army having the right of preemption. The traders were to be considered as prisoners of war upon parole.^[83][88]

Under Article X, as written by the negotiators, natives or inhabitants of different parts of “this country”, at present in York or Gloucester, were not to be punished on account of having joined the British army. Washington refused to agree to this. The response was “This article cannot be assented to, being altogether of civil resort.”^[83][89] The outcry against the Tenth Article was vociferous and immediate, as Americans on both sides of the Atlantic proclaimed their sense of betrayal."^[90][88] On the other hand, Washington had allowed at least a partial loophole in Article VIII by allowing the Bonetta to sail without examination.^[91]

Under Article XI, proper hospitals were to be furnished for the sick and wounded British and allied soldiers. They were to be attended by their own surgeons on parole; and they were to be furnished with medicines and stores from the American hospitals. The following modifications were required. The hospital stores now at York and Gloucester were to be delivered for the use of the British sick and wounded. Passports were to be granted for procuring further supplies from New York, as occasion may require. Proper hospitals would be furnished for the reception of the sick and wounded of the two garrisons.^[83]

Under Article XII, wagons were to be furnished to carry the baggage of the officers attending the soldiers, and to surgeons when travelling on account of the sick, attending the hospitals at public expense. This was modified by the addition: “They are to be furnished if possible.”^[83]

Under Article XIII, the shipping and boats in the two harbors (Yorktown and Gloucester), with all their stores, guns, tackling, and apparel, were to be delivered in their present state to an officer of the French navy appointed to take possession of them. The article gave permission for the unloading of private property, part of which had been on board for security during the siege, before the ships were transferred.^[83]

Under Article XIV, no article of capitulation was to be infringed on pretense of reprisals. If there were any doubtful expressions in the articles, they were to be interpreted according to the common meaning and acceptance of the words.^[83]