les of ruins, houses battered and blackened, the
remnant of the inhabitants wandering about looking for their lost
friends, maimed and wounded soldiers and seamen--gaunt, pale and
starved--others still unhurt, looking angry and sullen at the thought of
our defeat. Officers were standing about in groups, greeting each other
with vexed and sorrowful looks. I was suffering too much physically to
feel deeply on the matter, but my sensations were of a very mixed
character, and I do not feel that it was derogatory to my character, as
a loyal subject of his Majesty, or as a British officer, to say that I
heartily prayed that the war might be over, even though the proposed
humiliating surrender might be the last great event connected with it.
After I had been conveyed through several ruined, half-burned streets,
my bearers at length stopped at a house where O'Driscoll told me he
believed Colonel Carlyon was to be found.

Such was the case. Though sitting up, he was unable to walk. The
expression of sorrow and commiseration which lit up his countenance, and
the kind words with which he greeted me, gave me the assurance that I
was regarded by him in the light I desired. It was some time before a
surgeon could attend me--so many more urgent cases demanding the care of
the medical men in every direction. In the meantime notice was brought
us that a cessation of arms had been agreed on, and which time was
afterwards increased till the following day.

Like a father or a fond brother did Colonel Carlyon tend me all that
night, refusing to lie down till my wounds had been dressed, and I had
sunk into the slumber I so much needed.

19th.--The day--painful, though scarcely to be called humiliating, to
the brave army which had so heroically endured that desperate if not
protracted siege--at length arrived. Lord Cornwallis, finding that our
enemies had resolved to grant us alone the terms which they had
previously offered--that we had not as yet experienced the effect of the
fire from the flanking redoubts, armed with numerous pieces of heavy
artillery ready to open on us--that our garrison was now reduced to
scarcely three thousand effective men, in want both of provisions and
ammunition--felt that the only course open to him, to prevent the
horrors of an assault, and to save the lives of the remainder of his
troops, was to accept them. Accordingly, at noon, the army surrendered
prisoners-of-war to the United States of America,