Copy of a Letter from Henry Knox to John Jay about the Siege of Yorktown, 21 October 1781

Book excerpt: Later copy of GLC02437.01253. Indicates that French ships are about to dispatch with official accounts of the Battle of Yorktown. Knox feels he should tell Jay what has occurred because an official account from Congress may not be immediately forthcoming. Although the British had less forces in America than in 1776 or 1777, the Continental Army was compelled to attack Yorktown or consider the southern states lost. The Comte de Grasse was of similar opinion, and plans to attack New York were abandoned in favor of a siege of Yorktown. A detailed, chronological explanation of the Allied forces' actions between 27 September 1781 and 19 October 1781 follows in the clerical copy. Knox's original indicates that the text should replicate that in a letter to John Adams (see GLC02437.01251 and GLC02437.01252). A postscript indicates that George Washington sent Jay authenticated copies of Lord Cornwallis' capitulation. GLC02437.01253 is the original copy of this letter and and this copy is a handwritten clerical copy made by Judge William Jay on 25 August 1856.