The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

370 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1781.
was somewhat over seven thousand men; and the
British loss during the siege was between five and six
hundred. The combined army employed in the siege
consisted of about seven thousand American regular
troops, upwards of five thousand French, and four thousand militia. The loss in killed and wounded was
about three hundred. The land forces surrendered to
General Washington, and became prisoners to Congress; but the seamen, ships, and naval equipments,
were assigned to the French admiral.
The success was more complete, and more speedily.attained, than had been anticipated. The capture of
Cornwallis, with so large a part of the British army
in America, occasioned great rejoicings throughout the
country, as affording a decisive presage of the favorable termination of the war. Congress passed a special
vote of thanks to each of the commanders, and to the
officers and troops. Two stands of colors, taken from
the enemy at the capitulation, were given to General
Washington, and two pieces of field-ordnance to Count
de Rochambeau and Count de Grasse respectively, as
tokens of the national gratitude for their services. Congress moreover resolved to commemorate so glorious
an event by causing a marble column to be erected
at Yorktown, adorned with emblems of the alliance
between France and the United States, and an inscription containing a narrative of the principal incidents
of the siege and surrender.
General Washington, believing a most favorable opportunity now presented itself for following up this
success by an expedition against Charleston, wrote a
letter to Count de Grasse the day after the capitulation,
requesting him to join in it with his fleet. He also
went on board the admiral's ship, as well to pay his respects and offer his thanks for what had already been