The Commander-in-chief was highly gratified with the active courage displayed in this assault.  Speaking of it in his diary, he says—­“The bravery exhibited by the attacking troops was emulous and praiseworthy.  Few cases have exhibited greater proofs of intrepidity, coolness, and firmness, than were shown on this occasion.”  The orders of the succeeding day, congratulating the army on the capture of these important works, expressed a high sense of the judicious dispositions and gallant conduct of both the Baron de Viominel and the Marquis de Lafayette, and requested them to convey to every officer and man engaged in the enterprise, the acknowledgments of the Commander-in-chief for the spirit and rapidity with which they advanced to the attack, and for the admirable firmness with which they supported themselves under the fire of the enemy without returning a shot.  “The general reflects,” concluding the orders, “with the highest degree of pleasure, on the confidence which the troops of the two nations must hereafter have in each other.  Assured of mutual support, he is convinced there is no danger which they will not cheerfully encounter, no difficulty which they will not bravely overcome."[86]

[Footnote 86:  General Lafayette states a fact which proves in an eminent degree the good feelings of the American soldiers towards their allies.  While encamped together under his command at Williamsburg, the Americans, who were bivouacked, saw their allies under tents without a murmur; and saw them supplied regularly with rations of flour for three days from the American magazines, while corn meal was measured out very irregularly to themselves.  The superior officers lent their horses to those of France and walked themselves.  Although their general was himself a Frenchman, the Americans saw not only without jealousy, but with pleasure, every preference given to their allies.]

[Illustration:  The Moore House at Yorktown, Virginia

Where the terms for the surrender of the British army were arranged between Washington and Cornwallis.  The actual drafting of the terms was done by the Viscount de Noailles and Lieutenant-Colonel Laurens, representing the French-American forces, and Colonel Dundas and Major Ross for the British.]

During the same night, these redoubts were included in the second parallel; and, in the course of the next day, some howitzers were placed in them, which, by five in the afternoon, were opened on the besieged.

[Sidenote:  October 16.]

The situation of Lord Cornwallis was becoming desperate.  His works were sinking, in every quarter, under the fire of the besiegers.  The batteries already playing on him had silenced nearly all his guns, and the second parallel was about to open, which must in a few hours render the town untenable.  To suspend a catastrophe which appeared almost inevitable, he resolved on attempting to retard the completion of the second parallel, by a vigorous sortie against two batteries which appeared to be in the greatest forwardness, and were guarded by French troops.  The party making this sortie was led by Lieutenant Colonel Abercrombie, who attacked the two batteries with great impetuosity about four in the morning, and carried both with inconsiderable loss; but the guards from the trenches immediately advancing on the assailants, they retreated without being able to effect any thing of importance.