26 September 1782

Winnot, W., fl. 1782

Letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Gives General Smallwood an "account of the present situation of the two armies in this [southern] quarter with their principal maneuvers since the capture of L'd Cornwallace." Provides a detailed description of activities by generals Nathanael Greene, Anthony Wayne, Alexander Leslie, and others. Comments on the raising of troops. Indicates he received news of a British mission against French troops in Boston. A note on the address leaf explains the "Import of sending this to Annapolis." Written from Camp Ashley Hill, in Charleston County, South Carolina.

GLC06508.08

[29] April 1862

Dodge, Nelson E., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter

Title: to Esther Ann Kinney

re: He describes marching through the mud during the Peninsula and Valley campaign in Virginia [Spring 1862]. He describes his location near the revolutionary site of Yorktown on the James River and reports that the "Rebbles are leaving and going back in to ther back intrenchments."

GLC02162.01

March 22, 1781 - February 16, 1782

Manuscript document

Title: Extrait de Journal [in French]

Extract of a journal pertaining to the French naval campaign during the American Revolution. Briefly lists actions and movement of the French navy under Comte de Grasse. Covers period from French leaving Brest, France, up until shortly before the defeat of de Grasse's forces at the Battle of the Saintes. Includes fighting in Chesapeake Bay, Battle of Yorktown, French capture of Saint Kitts, and other events.

GLC04323.01

23 April 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother and sister

The author writes that he expects to leave Winchester on the following Friday to go to 70 or 80 miles South to Gordonsville. He reports that there are currently only nine companies of his regiment still in Winchester, as six of the companies left for Strasburg on April 21st. He further explains that Union men are still in pursuit of [Stonewall] Jackson, who has retreated towards Staunton. His company plans to meet a Brigade at Gordonsville to reinforce General Shields' Division before entering Staunton. He reports that "Jef Davis," in command at Yorktown, has been completely surrounded by…

GLC03523.40.09

23 April 1862

Higgins, Patrick, fl. 1859-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fannie Schoonmaker

Printed with a red white and blue stamp of a woman clad in the American flag. Received her letter a day ago. Many have been wounded since he last wrote. Will give a short account of what has happened. Rebels spotted two miles from camp. When they closed to within a few hundred yards from the rebel fort his company engaged them. One of his comrades was nearly hit in the head by two bullets. Two of their captains were shot. Found a small church to use as cover. Every few moments they could hear the sound of enemy shots being fired. The men were very eager and took a shot every chance they could…

GLC02164.08

10 April 1862

Norton, Levi W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to wife

Envelope has free frank signature of Reuben Eaton Fenton. Tells his wife that he will send his resignation request to the Colonel this week and hopes that it will be accepted in a week or two. Mrs. C has dyspepsia. Went to the Paymaster today but was told that he could not be paid for one week. Wishes to be at home with all his dear ones around him. There is great anxiety there about the Battle of Yorktown (April 5 - May 4, 1862) but they all "hope that McClellan will be more than victorious." Tells his wife to take good care of herself and make sure that she is in good health.

GLC09006.11

6 December 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses a short visit from their brother George who was in good health but had to return to his ship after one day. Also mentions another brother named Ralph, whose "fate you have learnt four days ago" (Ralph, captain of the Bonetta, was captured by the French at the Battle of Yorktown, see GLC03676.05). Notes that "no official accounts from Cornwallis" had arrived. Claims that the French did not expect this victory, citing as evidence "a Merchant who signed a Contract w. the Fermiers Generaux 6 weeks ago for...half a Million of Tobacco annually. upon the presumption that the Southern…

GLC02549.19

8 January 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Notes that he has not informed their mother and father about their brother Ralph, captain of the Bonetta, who had been captured by the French at the Battle of Yorktown (see GLC03676.05). Discusses a possibly scandal involving Ralph and his effort to clear his name. Comments on investigating information in a newspaper article (and getting it retracted) and asking one of George Germain's clerks for information, who told him that they had received a complaint about Ralph and were investigating. He also wrote Commodore Symmond who expressed sympathy with David's effort, but could not help…

GLC02549.20

20 November 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses some family news, commenting on his separation from his wife. Thanks James for his work on a seal (also discusses in GLC025490.16), but asks him not to send it until after the lottery, fearing it might be stolen. Comments on the status of their brother Ralph Dundas, Captain of the H. M. S. Bonetta, in America. Notes that in his last letter, Ralph was at Yorktown preparing for battle. By the time he is writing this he expects the battle to have been decided but does not know the outcome. Indicates that "people here differ much in opinion about what may be expected. I rather…

GLC02549.18

24 October 1781

Castellane Majastre, Henri César, marquis de, ?-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

French commander's description of the victory at Yorktown, surrender of Cornwallis' army

GLC08100

17 April 1862

Berry, Hiram Gregory, 1824-1863

Header Record

Title: [Hiram Berry materials].

Berry's eyewitness report of the Battle of Yorktown and a carte de visite of Berry.

GLC08240

17 April 1862

Berry, Hiram Gregory, 1824-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. H. Sawyer

Brigadier General Hiram Berry writes to Captain R. H. Sawyer to tell him of the Battle of Yorktown, where he was commander, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac.

GLC08240.01

30 August 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Stores with the army coming from Hudson's River.

Long list of Artillery supplies and their quantities on their way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania en route to support the siege of Yorktown.

GLC02437.10023

circa August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: Calculations relative to the intended operation in Virginia

Calculations regarding artillery for the operation to Yorktown, Virginia. Lists artillery by type and poundage, as well as their current location and whether provided by French or American forces.

GLC02437.09947

circa August 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: [List]

"Ordnance & stores necessary for the intended operations Southward, to be provided immediately at Philadelphia by the Commissary General of Military Stores." List includes 25 cannon, two mortars, one howitzer, tens of thousands of shells, shot, etc., and 140,000 pounds of powder. "Omitted-slow match" is written at the end of page two in Henry Knox's hand. See GLC02437.01156 and .01160-.01163 for related documents.

GLC02437.09885

1862

Gottshall, Samuel G., 1841-1902

Diary

Title: [Diary of Samuel G. Gottshall]

Leather bound autograph manuscript signed. Describes activity at Fort Donelson (the Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from 11 February to 16 February 1862), Yorktown (Siege of Yorktown took place from 5 April to 4 May 1862, as part of the Peninsula Campaign), the Peninsula Campaign withdrawal (March through July 1862), Second Bull Run (28-30 August 1862), and South Mountain (Battle of South Mountain was fought on 14 September 1862), and being wounded by a cannonball. This cannonball is found in GLC04564.02. Writes of his recuperation in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent the rest of…

GLC04564.03

1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Thoughts on military action] [incomplete]

Discusses the [pending?] arrival of "C.G." [the Comte de Grasse], and potential British troop placements in New York and Virginia, and how this would impact a proposed American operation. See GLC02437.08176 for a related document.

GLC02437.08161

5 September 1781

Beckwith, George, 1753-1823

Manuscript document

Title: [British spy report]

Reports on George Knox "formerly a Capt. in the Continental Army" who had resigned his commission in April 1780 and resumed farming in Newark. Informs that Knox turned himself over to loyalist refugees at Bergen and sought to join the British service. Relays that Knox reported that General George Washington is below Philadelphia and the troops with him are the Jersey Brigade of about 600 or 700, the Congress Regiment, a detachment of light infantry formed from York troops, and the French troops. Knox also reported that the New England troops are at the Hudson Highlands under General…

GLC05224.01

10 September 1781

Beckwith, George, 1753-1823

Autograph document signed

Title: [British spy report]

Reports on intelligence given by Jesse Sturges, "Washington's army passed that place on his march to Virginia, in order to form a Junction with the French." Informs that Washington has 5000 French and 2000 Continental troops. States that any boat in the Chesapeake that could carry men was used. Reports that the French fleet is in Lynnhaven Bay, Virginia.

GLC05224.02

1819/01/28

Various

Print

Title: The British surrendering their Arms to Gen: Washington...at York Town

Large black and white engraving. Title: "The British surrendering their Arms to Gen: Washington after their defeat at York Town in Virginia October 1781." Copper engraving by Tanner, Vallance, Kearny & Co. and William Allen after a drawing by John Francis Renault. Renault is supposed to have been a participant at Yorktown, although the scene is highly allegorical.

GLC05861

1781/10/26

Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805

Broadside

Title: Important Intelligence! [announcing the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown]

"A gentleman who arrived this morning, from Providence, has favoured us with the following Importance Intelligence! [....] This Moment an Express arrived... announcing the glorious Intelligence of the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, and his Army..." Small broadside printed by M. Willis, Boston.

GLC05504

1862/03/07

Moms, Joseph W., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: George M. Morris.

Joseph's division is close to the Confederate forts which have fired at the camp but have not hit anyone yet. The soldiers "holler[e]d over to them if they co[ul]d not dew any better than that they had better quit." They are two miles of Yorktown where "Cornwallis gave oup [up] his sword to Washington." General McClellan, who "was dressed verry common," is with the division and "has sent a flag of truse to General McGruder." Joseph assumes "the ball will be opened this afternoon if they dew not surrender." He was on picket 300 yards from the forts while the Confederates, "belching and…

GLC06451.027

1862/05/01

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Much Esteemed Friend."

Wilmor reports that "Niggerdom is a question that is talked over in camp verry much." The men think Congress had better find a way to pay the soldiers at the appointed times. He describes their line of defense, which is within a mile of the Confederates, on "the same ground that Washington had his armey on before the sur[r]ender of Cornwallis." He thinks the Confederates will be surprised when the Union cannons "open the[i]r mouthes an[d] begin to bark at them think of 2000 ball[s] an[d] shells per minut[e]" flying through the air. Written at Camp Winfield Scott.

GLC06451.047

1781, reprint Philadelphia 1807

Map

Title: Plan of the investment and attack of York in Virginia [from Life of Washington]

Plate IX. Shows Yorktown. Published by C. P. Wayne; engraved by Francis Shallus.

GLC04760.02

1862/05 ca.

Photograph

Title: Federal Battery No. 1 in front of Yorktown, May 1862 ca.

The battery well entrenched and six large Parrot rifles peek out above the fortifications. A river appears to run through the far background.

GLC05111.01.0540