Title
Document, 1781 October 21
Name
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 (Author)
Jay, John, 1745-1829 (Addressee)
Format
correspondence
Digital Project
Papers of John Jay
Date
1781 October 21
Physical Description
2
Subjects
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783; Jay, John, 1745-1829
Summary
ADftS. 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 Compte de Grasse was of similar opinion, and plans to attack New York were abandoned in favor of a siege of Yorktown. Knox indicates that much of the text should replicate that in his letter to John Adams. A post script indicates that George Washington sent Jay authenticated copies of Lord Cornwallis' capitulation.
Identifier
columbia.jay.90518