[Cornwallis Reports on the Yorktown Surrender]. The Providence Gazette. And Country Journal. Providence, Rhode Island; December 15, 1781. Printed by John Carter. Volume XVIII [18], number 937. Four pages of a bifolium, 10" x 15.5". Unpaginated and printed in three columns. British General Cornwallis reports back to Great Britain on the surrender at Yorktown. This newspaper features a complete letter from British General Charles Cornwallis, written several months after his defeat at Yorktown by Washington's forces. The letter comes by way of Oliver Delancey, Adj. General, who introduces it thus: "Sir, I am directed send you the inclosed [sic] letter from Lieut. Gen. Earl Cornwallis to his Excellency, the Commander in Chief, which you are desired to publish in your next gazette." Cornwallis' letter, dated November 23, 1781, reads in part: "Sir, I have the mortification to inform your Excellency that I have been forced to give up posts of York and Gloucester, and to surrender the troops under my command, by capitulation, on the 19th instant, as prisoners of war to the combined forces of American and France." The letter goes on to outline the circumstances of the attacked, noting that Cornwallis and his soldiers were neither comfortable with the post nor fully aware of the size and scale of the attack about to be launched upon them. Cornwallis quickly realized there was no safe means of escape, nor were they prepared to wait the siege out any longer, when he ultimately chose to surrender over 8,000 men and numerous ships, horses, and arms. His letter finishes with a note of gratitude to his officers and men, thanking them for their trust and support even in this dark hour, and closes with a list of those killed, wounded, or declared missing. The remainder of the paper conveys common war-era news of the time, including the movement of vessels, supplies, troops, and various political happenings. The surrender at Yorktown marked the last major land battle of the war, serving as the catalyst for American and British negotiations, but was by no means the end of the story. British troops and Loyalists began to depart from the U.S. in January 1782 and the Treaty of Paris, establishing Independence of the thirteen North American colonies, was ratified in September 1783. With accompanying steel engraving and modern print, both depicting the surrender at Yorktown. However, despite the nature of the most popular art and imagery related to this event, Cornwallis was not actually in attendance when the surrender was accepted. Condition: Rough edges with minor chipping, not affecting text. Stab holes from prior stitch binding in the left margin. Ink ownership to page [1]. Scattered foxing. Dampstaining with some evidence of mold. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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