Extract from the general orders of the Marquis Lafayette, July 8th, 1781,
near James River.

"The General is happy to acknowledge the spirit of the detachment under
General Wayne, in their engagement with the whole of the British army, of
which he was an eye witness. He requests General Wayne and the officers and
men under his command, to accept his best thanks. The bravery and
destructive fire of the riflemen, rendered essential service. The fire of
the light infantry checked the enemy's progress round our right flank. The
General was much pleased with the conduct of Captain Savage, of the
artillery, and is satisfied, that nothing but the loss of horses occasioned
that of the two field pieces. The zeal of Colonel Mercer's corps, is fully
expressed in the number of horses he had killed."

His conduct at the siege and capture of Cornwallis, at Yorktown, received
the particular approbation of the commander in chief. Perhaps no officer in
the American line, contributed more than he did to the success which
attended our arms on that memorable occasion. When the British General was
confident of seizing him and his little party by stratagem, or of
overpowering them by numbers, he was on his guard, and had the good fortune
to elude every effort to destroy him. And, during the immediate siege of
Yorktown, he occupied one of the most dangerous posts, and was among the
foremost in the many vigorous assaults made upon the British army, before
it was compelled to surrender. He had the honor to be ranked with Lincoln,
Greene, Knox, Wayne and others, in the glorious exploits, which convinced
the enemy of our persevering bravery, and induced them at last to sue for
peace.