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I78i] The capitulation of Yorktown. 231 of reinforcements, and this was renewed on the 24th. In the meantime the united American and French force closely invested Cornwallis' position at Yorktown. The disaster of Saratoga was about to repeat itself under slightly varied conditions. On October 11 an attack was made on two redoubts, from which the British were inflicting annoyance on the enemy. Washington sagaciously divided his force, entrusting the capture of one redoubt to the French, the other to the Americans. Each was carried by a resolute assault at night, and none among the American officers won more glory than Alexander Hamilton, afterwards the ablest and most trusted of Washington's political supporters. Five days later Cornwallis made a resolute sortie, inflicting considerable loss on the French and doing some injury to their works, but in no way changing the main situation. It was clear that no reliance could be placed on any aid from New York. One faint chance remained for Cornwallis to make his escape by water. With this view he embarked a portion of his troops, intending to cross the York river, surprise a detachment of French cavalry posted at Gloucester and, with the help of the horses thus captured, make his way northward to join Clinton. The enterprise was well-nigh desperate, but it was not fated to be tried. A storm that arose in the river, after a few of the boats had crossed, made the passage of the rest impossible. Cornwallis' defences were now battered to pieces by the American artillery, while his men were too much weakened by illness and privation to resist an onslaught. Accordingly on October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered his land-force to the Americans, his seamen and ships to the French. Five days later the British fleet arrived. The delay in departure was due to the extensive repairs rendered necessary by the action with de Grasse and the storm which accompanied it. With the surrender at Yorktown, the war might be regarded as practically at an end. Charleston and Savannah were evacuated ; New York was the only important port which remained in British hands ; and no attempt was made to carry on hostilities. The reception of the news by the Ministry and by Parliament clearly showed that the end was at hand. Lord George Germain, the one minister who really shared the King's conviction that the war was just and politic, resigned ; among North's followers there were signs of general disaffection. If the United States had been the only enemy of Britain, peace would in all likelihood have been soon made. But America could not make terms independently of her allies ; and the war between France and Great Britain was still raging in the West Indies, while a Spanish force was blockading Gibraltar. Never did the whole fabric of the British empire beyond seas seem so near to total downfall. But by the end of 1782 the great victory of Rodney in the West Indies, and the gallant and successful defence of Gibraltar by