n the river, and it was
not till daylight that they returned to York town. The plan being
frustrated, the boats were sent to bring back the soldiers, and they
were relanded on the south side during the forenoon. At about ten
o'clock in the forenoon of the seventeenth, the British beat a parley,
and by a flag requested a cessation of hostilities for twenty-four
hours, to settle terms for the surrender of the posts. Washington
granted a suspension of hostilities for two hours for the reception of
his lordship's proposals in writing. These having been received, the
suspension was prolonged. The commissioners for adjusting the terms of
the capitulation were the Viscount De Noailles and Lieutenant-Colonel
Laurens, in behalf of the allies; and Colonel Dundas and Major Ross, in
behalf of the British. The place of meeting was Moore's House, at Temple
Farm, in the rear of the first parallel. A rough draft of the articles
of capitulation was made on the eighteenth, to be submitted to the
respective generals. Washington sent a fair transcript of the articles
to Lord Cornwallis early on the morning of the nineteenth, together with
a letter restricting the interval allowed for signing the capitulation
to eleven o'clock, and that for the actual surrender to two o'clock in
the afternoon of that day. His lordship acquiesced, and on the 19th of
October, 1781, the British army surrendered. At about twelve o'clock the
combined army was drawn up along a road in two lines, about twenty
yards apart, and extending more than a mile, the Americans on the
right, the French on the left. At the head of the American line
Washington appeared on horseback, surrounded by his aids and the
American staff; at the head of the French line and opposite to
Washington was posted Count Rochambeau, surrounded in the same way. At
two o'clock the captive army advanced between the allied lines in
column, slowly, and in exact order. Profound silence reigned during this
scene,[750:A] which recalled to mind the awful vicissitudes of human
fortune, awoke commiseration for the captives, and suggested the
consequences of this great event. Lord Cornwallis, under the pretext of
indisposition, declined being present, and his place was filled by
General O'Hara. This gallant officer, mounted on a fine charger, upon
reaching the head of the line, mistook Count Rochambeau, on his left,
for the commander-in-chief; but quickly discovering his error, flew
across the road to Washin