n degree of duty and fatigue, which the nature of
the service required from the officers of engineers and artillery
of both armies, obliges me particularly to mention the
obligations I am under to the commanding and other officers of
those corps.

I wish it was in my power to express to Congress how much I feel
myself indebted to the Count de Grasse, and the officers of the
fleet under his command, for the distinguished aid and support
which has been afforded by them, between whom and the army the
most happy concurrence of sentiments and views have subsisted,
and from whom every possible co-operation has been experienced
which the most harmonious intercourse could afford.

Returns of the prisoners, military stores, ordnance, shipping and
other matters, I shall do myself the honour to transmit to
Congress as soon as they can be collected by the heads of
departments to which they belong.

Colonel Laurens and the Viscount de Noailles, on the part of the
combined army, were the gentlemen who acted as commissioners for
forming and settling the terms of capitulation and surrender,
herewith transmitted, to whom I am particularly obliged for their
readiness and attention exhibited on the occasion.

Colonel Tilghman, one of my aids-de-camp, will have the (p. 088)
honour to deliver these despatches to Your Excellency; he will be
able to inform you of every minute circumstance which is
particularly mentioned in my letter. His merits, which are too
well known to need any observations at this time, have gained my
particular attention, and I could wish that they may be honoured
by the notice of Your Excellency and Congress.

Your Excellency and Congress will be pleased to accept my
congratulations on this happy event, and believe me to be, with
the highest respect and esteem,

Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,
Geo. WASHINGTON.

P.S. Though I am not possessed of the particular returns, yet I
have reason to suppose that the number of prisoners will be
between five and six thousand, exclusive of seamen and others.

_____

_General Washington to the President of Congress._

To His Excellency Headquarters, near York,
THE P