22 March 1781 - 16 February 1782

Unknown

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

22 July 1781

Dundas, Ralph (b. 1732)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Dundas, captain of the H. M. S. Bonetta, writes from the Elizabeth River to his brother James. Reports that he was sent to the James Islands "to cover the Boats of Earle Cornwallis's Army who were ordered away from the Pursuit of the Marquis Fayette." Praises Cornwallis. Discusses details of continued battles and skirmishes occurring between December 1780 and July 1781, as the Marquis de Lafayette pursued Cornwallis to Yorktown. Mentions the activities of Colonel Robert Abercrombie and the Edinburgh Regiment.

GLC03676.04

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

10 September 1781

Beckwith, George, Sir (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

3 September 1781

Washington, George (1732-1799)

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Woodbridge

Indicates that he has referred Woodbridge's letter about finalizing a cannon purchase to Robert Morris because he (Washington) has to march southward (for the Yorktown campaign). See also GLC06427 on the cannon purchase.

GLC06428

5 September 1781

Beckwith, George, Sir (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.

GLC05224.01

22 September 1781

Wayne, Anthony (1745-1796)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Major General Wayne writing shortly before the siege of Yorktown, looks forward to the arrival of Admiral François de Grasse and praises the French forces. Predicts victory over Lord Cornwallis. Expects that the arrival of George Washington "will enable us to complete the investiture immediately." Comments on the Marquis de Lafayette's illness and his own wound. Describes the British fortifications at Yorktown and Gloucester and expresses his "fervent hope to see the American Colours...displayed upon the British lines."

GLC06691

1 October 1781

Unknown

Autograph document

Title: Monthly Return of the Corps of Artillery.

Chart enumerating various types of ordnance held by several regiments, including Colonel John Lamb's 2nd Artillery. The ordnance was needed for the siege of Yorktown, which began that month. Henry Knox's copy.

GLC02437.10495

19 October 1781

Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis (1738-1805)

Manuscript document

Title: [Articles of capitulation settled at Yorktown]

List of articles dictating the surrender of Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of Britain) to George Washington, the Count de Rochambeau (Lieutenant General of the French army), and the Comte de Grasse (Lieutenant General of the naval armies of France). Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Henry Knox's aide de camp. Shaw has penned the signature "Thomas Symonds." Shaw apparently also attempted to create with the same pen a look-alike signature of Cornwallis. Symonds was the commander of British naval forces in the York River.

GLC02437.09555

19 October 1781

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: [Return of prisoners taken at the surrender of the British garrisons of Yorktown and Gloucester, Virginia]

Lists numbers of prisoners taken 19 October 1781 in the British surrender of Yorktown (excluding marine prisoners). Docketed by Knox's aide-de-camp, Samuel Shaw: "Prisoners of War under [Earl] Cornwallis."

GLC02437.10665

circa 26 October 1781

Frothingham, Richard (1748-1819)

Manuscript document

Title: [Return of Ordnance & Military Stores Taken at York & Gloucester in Virginia by the Surrender of the British Army]

This is a copy, in the hand of Samuel Shaw, of a "Return of Ordnance & Military Stores Taken at York & Gloucester in Virginia by the Surrender of the British Army," which Washington enclosed in his letter to Congress of October 27-29, 1781. (See Papers of the Continental Congress, NARA M247, Item 152, Vol. 10, pp. 336+. Note that their copy appears to be missing the final page(s).

GLC02437.10031