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PROPERTY OF THE LATE COMTE LOUIS DE CHASTELLUX
SIEGE OF YORKTOWN – Manuscript, "Journal du Siege d'york en Virginie", "Fait au Camp D'york," 20 October 1781.
Details
SIEGE OF YORKTOWN – Manuscript, "Journal du Siege d'york en Virginie", "Fait au Camp D'york," 20 October 1781.
In French, eight pages, 315 x 202mm, 3 bifolia stabbed and sewn with blue ribbon, blindstamped "ARCHIVES DE CHASTELLUX" at top right.
An official French account of the Siege of Yorktown, dated the day after Cornwallis surrendered his forces. Following a brief introduction, summarizing the movements of the French and American armies from the head of Chesapeake Bay to Williamsburg, the journal provides a day-by-day report on the siege, which formally began on 6 October 1781. The journal opens on 28 September 1781, observing that "[translated] On the 28th the Americans, between 4,000 - 5,000 men from the Continental Army, and Rochambeau's troops, consisting of seven regiments of infantry and one battalion of artillery, marched on York." The report continues, by describing the initial positions of both armies to surround Yorktown with a general description of the town's geography and fortifications including "a great star-shaped redoubt buttressed by the river". The journal describes the digging of the first and second parallel lines of trenches, both by the Americans on the right, and St. Simon's sappers on the left, and the opening of the bombardment of Yorktown. Interestingly, when describing the storming of redoubts nine and ten on the evening of 14-15 September, the journal makes no mention of Alexander Hamilton's role in the affair, rather crediting the Marquis de Lafayette. Redoubt No. 10, located close to the York River, was in Lafayette's sector. "He selected Gimat, his former A.D.C. and now a battalion commander, to lead the operation. Alexander Hamilton claimed the honor on grounds of seniority, however, and Washington ruled in his favor" (Boatner). The last entry, dated 19 October, gives a summary of the forces that marched onto the field of surrender: "The two garrisons [Cornwallis in Yorktown, and Tarleton at Gloucester Point] approximately 8,000 men, including two thousand wounded and sick, and the contents of the armories were taken and driven to different quarters in the hinterland. The artillery consisted of approximately 200 cannon of various types and calibers. the French losses do not exceed 90 men, in combat or from their wounds," and the "American losses are even less". Provenance: François-Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux (1734 -1788) – by descent to the consignor.
In French, eight pages, 315 x 202mm, 3 bifolia stabbed and sewn with blue ribbon, blindstamped "ARCHIVES DE CHASTELLUX" at top right.
An official French account of the Siege of Yorktown, dated the day after Cornwallis surrendered his forces. Following a brief introduction, summarizing the movements of the French and American armies from the head of Chesapeake Bay to Williamsburg, the journal provides a day-by-day report on the siege, which formally began on 6 October 1781. The journal opens on 28 September 1781, observing that "[translated] On the 28th the Americans, between 4,000 - 5,000 men from the Continental Army, and Rochambeau's troops, consisting of seven regiments of infantry and one battalion of artillery, marched on York." The report continues, by describing the initial positions of both armies to surround Yorktown with a general description of the town's geography and fortifications including "a great star-shaped redoubt buttressed by the river". The journal describes the digging of the first and second parallel lines of trenches, both by the Americans on the right, and St. Simon's sappers on the left, and the opening of the bombardment of Yorktown. Interestingly, when describing the storming of redoubts nine and ten on the evening of 14-15 September, the journal makes no mention of Alexander Hamilton's role in the affair, rather crediting the Marquis de Lafayette. Redoubt No. 10, located close to the York River, was in Lafayette's sector. "He selected Gimat, his former A.D.C. and now a battalion commander, to lead the operation. Alexander Hamilton claimed the honor on grounds of seniority, however, and Washington ruled in his favor" (Boatner). The last entry, dated 19 October, gives a summary of the forces that marched onto the field of surrender: "The two garrisons [Cornwallis in Yorktown, and Tarleton at Gloucester Point] approximately 8,000 men, including two thousand wounded and sick, and the contents of the armories were taken and driven to different quarters in the hinterland. The artillery consisted of approximately 200 cannon of various types and calibers. the French losses do not exceed 90 men, in combat or from their wounds," and the "American losses are even less". Provenance: François-Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux (1734 -1788) – by descent to the consignor.