After arriving at Portsmouth, Cornwallis received
counter-orders, and retained the whole of his army.
He was to occupy and fortify Old Point Comfort and,
if he considered it expedient, some other situation on
the peninsula, suitable for a naval station. The
engineers having reported adversely on Old Point Comfort,
Cornwallis, in the first week in August, occupied
Yorktown, and the small village of Gloucester, opposite to
it. Here he soon collected his whole force, and went
busily to work fortifying his position, while Lafayette
waited and watched him.
Just at this time Washington was informed that the French fleet, under Count de Grasse, was preparing to assist in the operations near Chesapeake Bay. Preparations were quickly and secretly made to move the American and French armies from New York to Virginia. We have seen that on the 18th of August it was already reported in the city of New York that the allies were crossing the North River. There were so few boats that this operation lasted a week. Sir Henry Clinton, although warned of Washington's design, was still under the impression that an attack on Staten Island might be intended. It was not until the 29th that he was undeceived. Leaving less than four thousand men under General Heath to guard the Highlands, Washington and Rochambeau were in full march against Cornwallis.
The allied army which was crossing New Jersey,
