Trumbull, Jonathan (1740-1809) [Details on British standards (flags) captured at Yorktown]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00866 Author/Creator: Trumbull, Jonathan (1740-1809) Place Written: Yorktown, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: [24 October 1781] Pagination: 1 p. ; 15.6 x 20.3 cm. Order a Copy
The "Standards" cited were the 18 German and 6 British regimental flags captured at Yorktown. Date inferred from content.
Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., son of the governor of Connecticut, brother of painter John Trumbull, and himself a future governor of Connecticut , served as Washington's aide de camp during the Yorktown campaign.
Washington presented the captured flags to Congress, via aide David Humphreys, on 3 November 1781. (Washington's letter to Congress, delivered with the flags, is dated October 27/29, 1781. The draft, dated October 26, is in the hand of Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.) At least one of the standards captured at Yorktown was given to Washington by Congress. That flag, and several others taken at Yorktown, are now in the artillery museum at West Point. (See GLC02437.01274 for an inventory listing these captured standards.)
Head Quarters 24th -
D Sir
The Standards - are
18 German - without any Distinction know to us
6 British - as follows -
80th - 2.
76th - 2 -
43 - 2 -
Yours Jn Trumbull Secty
Genl Knox -
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