Ground Your Firelocks!

On October 19, 1781, the British garrison marched out between lines of American troops and laid down their arms, ending the siege in a ceremony remembered by participants from both sides. British and German witnesses recalled tears, reluctance, and amazement at the size and power of the forces that had besieged them, while American and French observers remembered British soldiers and officers as chagrined, sullen, and in some cases apparently drunk, with some throwing down their weapons violently. One French witness also noted the poor, ragged condition of many Americans as the British passed between the two armies, and a German officer later recalled that after surrendering their muskets and weapons, the troops returned to their lines and tents with their knapsacks and equipment.

Virginia · United States