登陆注册
15394200000063

第63章 YORKTOWN(5)

As it was, a storm prevented the crossing to Gloucester.The defenses of Yorktown were weakening and in face of this new discouragement the British leader made up his mind that the end was near.Tarleton and other officers condemned Cornwallis sharply for not persisting in the effort to get away.Cornwallis was a considerate man."I thought it would have been wanton and inhuman," he reported later, "to sacrifice the lives of this small body of gallant soldiers." He had already written to Clinton to say that there would be great risk in trying to send a fleet and army to rescue him.On the 19th of October came the climax.Cornwallis surrendered with some hundreds of sailors and about seven thousand soldiers, of whom two thousand were in hospital.The terms were similar to those which the British had granted at Charleston to General Lincoln, who was now charged with carrying out the surrender.Such is the play of human fortune.At two o'clock in the afternoon the British marched out between two lines, the French on the one side, the Americans on the other, the French in full dress uniform, the Americans in some cases half naked and barefoot.No civilian sightseers were admitted, and there was a respectful silence in the presence of this great humiliation to a proud army.The town itself was a dreadful spectacle with, as a French observer noted, "big holes made by bombs, cannon balls, splinters, barely covered graves, arms and legs of blacks and whites scattered here and there, most of the houses riddled with shot and devoid of window-panes."On the very day of surrender Clinton sailed from New York with a rescuing army.Nine days later forty-four British ships were counted off the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.The next day there were none.The great fleet had heard of the surrender and had turned back to New York.Washington urged Grasse to attack New York or Charleston but the French Admiral was anxious to take his fleet back to meet the British menace farther south and he sailed away with all his great array.The waters of the Chesapeake, the scene of one of the decisive events in human history, were deserted by ships of war.Grasse had sailed, however, to meet a stern fate.He was a fine fighting sailor.His men said of him that he was on ordinary days six feet in height but on battle days six feet and six inches.None the less did a few months bring the British a quick revenge on the sea.On April 12, 1782, Rodney met Grasse in a terrible naval battle in the West Indies.

Some five thousand in both fleets perished.When night came Grasse was Rodney's prisoner and Britain had recovered her supremacy on the sea.On returning to France Grasse was tried by court-martial and, though acquitted, he remained in disgrace until he died in 1788, "weary," as he said, "of the burden of life." The defeated Cornwallis was not blamed in England.His character commanded wide respect and he lived to play a great part in public life.He became Governor General of India, and was Viceroy of Ireland when its restless union with England was brought about in 1800.

Yorktown settled the issue of the war but did not end it.For more than a year still hostilities continued and, in parts of the South, embittered faction led to more bloodshed.In England the news of Yorktown caused a commotion.When Lord George Germain received the first despatch he drove with one or two colleagues to the Prime Minister's house in Downing Street.A friend asked Lord George how Lord North had taken the news."As he would have taken a ball in the breast," he replied; "for he opened his arms, exclaiming wildly, as he paced up and down the apartment during a few minutes, 'Oh God! it is all over,' words which he repeated many times, under emotions of the deepest agitation and distress." Lord North might well be agitated for the news meant the collapse of a system.The King was at Kew and word was sent to him.That Sunday evening Lord George Germain had a small dinner party and the King's letter in reply was brought to the table.The guests were curious to know how the King took the news."The King writes just as he always does," said Lord George, "except that I observe he has omitted to mark the hour and the minute of his writing with his usual precision." It needed a heavy shock to disturb the routine of George III.The King hoped no one would think that the bad news "makes the smallest alteration in those principles of my conduct which have directed me in past time." Lesser men might change in the face of evils;George III was resolved to be changeless and never, never, to yield to the coercion of facts.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 邪帝独宠:废柴千金重生归

    邪帝独宠:废柴千金重生归

    谁说废柴不能翻身!她,阮清绻,千古难有废柴天生脉绝,九品丹王的品级不照样落在了她的手上?美男更是手到擒来,修罗邪帝不照样吃得死死的。她,阮清绻,佣场王者,任务的失足却未成为千古之恨。穿越重生却成为落魄千金,同名同貌,她让这个身体凤凰涅槃,摆脱废柴之名,千古流芳!
  • 烟染辰石,三生不离

    烟染辰石,三生不离

    一次偶然的遇见,扯出了一段不可明说的爱情,他始终都是他,而她却为了她不惜牺牲一切,换取他的平安。
  • 九世轮回,意乱之巅

    九世轮回,意乱之巅

    上帝赋予了她完美无瑕的一切,但是唯一少了的就是心,她冷血无情,只用鲜血伴舞,她甜美一笑,是死亡的预兆,恨是她所拥有的一切,当天使来救赎她时,她又是否取回了自己该拥有的一切?
  • 快穿之打造专属女神

    快穿之打造专属女神

    系统!1!11!!任务~~~~~~~!!!!!,挺起够刺激,"咳咳~男主男配们听好了,快来拜倒在姐的石榴裙底下吧~~~~(づ ̄3 ̄)づ
  • 云泽天下

    云泽天下

    公元2020年,五个位面球突然出现在北半球,随机把一部分人带到了未知的神域,在这里人们可以充分开发自己的潜能,使用魔法驾驭一切。某些人民逐渐忘却了以前法律和道德的束缚,任由贪婪和杂念丛生,也有相信人类最原始的文化和繁荣……这个大陆从此沉沉浮浮,随着人们忘却过去,自我生存、信仰冲突……为了神秘力量开始战争、讨伐……最终形成五个国家或者部落,开始诉说他们的劫难和传奇……终究谁将主宰世界,谁将创建家园抑或铸造魔窟?谁将得到那种神秘力量?让我们共同开启一界神域,他的名字被称为云泽大陆,或者我们暂且这么叫她。
  • 契约甜宠:帝少,请放手

    契约甜宠:帝少,请放手

    “求求你帮帮我!只要你肯帮我,无论什么事情我都愿意去做!”他盯着她苍白的小脸,抬手轻轻抚过她的脸颊,饶有深意地重复了她的话:“无论什么事情你都愿意去做?”她已被逐出穆家,如今孓然一身,只有查清楚家姐死去的这一真相支撑着她活下去,为了达成这一目的,她当然什么都愿意做。“钱、权、人,你想要什么我都可以提供给你。”他垂下眼眸,遮住其间的情绪,嘴角的笑容似是而非,“至于报酬嘛……”他俯身,在她诱人的唇瓣上落下蜻蜓点水的一吻。“我们慢慢算。”
  • 你是我的独家记忆

    你是我的独家记忆

    新浪、腾讯、搜狐、重庆电视台、《华西都市报》《武汉晚报》《成都晚报》……2009年青春文学畅销黑马,校园杂志人气女王,独木舟,《深海里的星星》两月狂销10万开后,百万粉丝振臂:我们就等独木舟的合集!写作生涯首次结集,最经典作品-朝尽数发布。独家曝光全新中篇:描摹时光不敌的年少倾情,跨越五年的青春秘录盛大哀伤的绯色记忆。
  • 驱邪女生:鬼魅校草

    驱邪女生:鬼魅校草

    【天马行空,异度空间】他的身上有着不同于一般人的气息,邪魅诡异。她,蔷薇系驱邪师,与他,注定的宿敌,却甘愿违反天意的为他付出。神话少年驱邪师的出现,一场不可逃离的战斗。姐妹情深,邪魂至尊,驱邪师与邪魂的爱情,挣扎与执着,亲情,友情,爱情,终为宿命!
  • 新的一天

    新的一天

    本书汇集了许立志2010年以来所写的近200首诗,其中大部分诗作是在富士康打工期间内完成的。在艰辛的打工生活中,在劳碌的流水线生产操作之余,他一直坚持颇具水准的诗歌创作。他的诗朴素、斩截而又强烈,兼具抒情性与批判性,常以荒诞的或令人震惊的笔触书写悲辛的底层生活与幽深的死亡诗意,以此来为两亿多命运的同路人立言,为底层的生存作证。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)