most vigilant and active; and by the 9th several batteries were prepared to
open upon the town, in which the British General was besieged. General
Washington himself put the match to the first gun, and a furious cannonade
immediately followed, which was a serious salutation to Cornwallis.

From the 10th to the 15th the siege was prosecuted with great vigor; an
incessant fire was kept up by the allied armies; and the enemy were not
backward in returning it. The Americans made further approaches to the town
and threw up other batteries in a second parallel. Many of our men were
killed and wounded in these operations. The enemy had two redoubts, several
hundred yards in front of their principal works, which greatly impeded the
approaches of the Americans. It became important to obtain possession of
them by assault. The one on the left of the enemy's garrison was given to
General Lafayette, with a brigade of light infantry of American troops. The
other redoubt was attacked by a detachment of French troops under commanded
of Baron de Viominel. The assailants, both on the right and left, exhibited
the greatest ardor and bravery. Powerful resistance was made by the enemy;
but was soon overcome by our gallant troops, inspirited by their still more
gallant officers; though with the loss of many of our men. Two field
officers were wounded in this affair; one of whom was Major Gibbs from
Massachusetts, who then belonged to the guard of the commander in chief.
The advanced corps of the detachment on the left, under General Lafayette,
was led on to the assault by the intrepid Colonel Hamilton, who during this
campaign had command of a regiment of light infantry. Our troops entered
the redoubt with charged bayonets, but without firing a gun. The Marquis
was indefatigable in pushing forward his men, and was constantly in
situations of great peril. Some of the American soldiers were ready to take
the lives of the captured after they had possession of the fort, in revenge
for the barbarous conduct of the British towards many of our men, and
especially for the mortal wound inflicted upon the brave and amiable