The allied army was twelve thousand strong; Cornwallis had about seventy-eight hundred men.  The British commander was intrenched in the village of York Town, the main body of his troops encamped on the open grounds in the rear.  York Town is situated on a peninsula formed by the rivers York and James, and into this narrow compass Cornwallis had been driven by the masterly tactics of Lafayette.  The arrival of De Grasse’s fleet cut off all hope of retreat by water.  He made but a show of opposition during the eight days employed by the Americans in bringing up their ordnance and making other preparations.  On the 9th the trenches were completed, and the Americans began the bombardment of the town and of the British frigates in the river.  It continued for nearly twenty-four hours, and so persistent and terrific was the cannonading, that the British, being unfortunate in their embrasures, withdrew most of their cannon and made infrequent reply.  On the night of the 11th new trenches were begun within two and three hundred yards of the British works.  While they were completing, the enemy opened new embrasures, from which their fire was far more effective than at first.  Two redoubts flanked this second parallel and desperately annoyed the men in the trenches.  It was determined to carry them by assault, and the American light infantry and De Viomenil’s grenadiers and chasseurs were ordered to hold themselves in readiness for the attack.  Laurens, with eighty men, was to turn the redoubt in order to intercept the retreat of the garrison, but Hamilton, for the moment, saw his long-coveted opportunity glide by him.  Washington had determined to give it to our hero’s old Elizabethtown tutor, Colonel Barber, conceiving that the light infantry which had made the Virginia campaign was entitled to precedence.  Hamilton was standing with Major Fish when the news of this arrangement was brought to him.  He reached the General’s tent in three bounds, and poured forth the most impetuous appeal he had ever permitted himself to launch at Washington.  But he was terribly in earnest, and the prospect of losing this magnificent opportunity tore down the barriers of his self-possession.  “It is my right to attack, sir!” he concluded passionately, “I am the officer on duty!” Washington had watched his flushed nervous face and flashing eyes, which had far more command in their glances than appeal, and he never made great mistakes:  he knew that if he refused this request, Hamilton never would forgive him.

“Very well,” he said.  “Take it.”

Hamilton ran back to Fish, crying:  “We have it.  We have it;” and immediately began to form his troops.  The order was issued to advance in two columns, and after dark the march began, Hamilton leading the advance corps.  The French were to attack the redoubt on the right.