(Yorktown Campaign) | A day-by-day journal of the Yorktown Campaign, from the papers of the Marquis de Chastellux

(Yorktown Campaign)

"Journal du Siege de York"

Manuscript, title-page and 19 text pages (271 x 202 mm), in French, written in a fine clerical hand on six quired bifolia, [Virginia, October 1781], each page bordered in red ink. Stab-sewn with blue ribbon. Half blue morocco slipcase gilt.

A significant French account of the Siege of Yorktown, evidently transcribed for Chastellux from the holograph of a French officer. "The journal opens with a summary of the French and American preparations for the siege between 28 September and 5 October, describing the march from Williamsburg to Yorktown, the establishment of the French and American camps, and an analysis of the British fortifications and troop dispositions. From 6 October onwards, following the commencement of formal siege operations, the journal offers even greater detail. For each day, the journalist records the "marechal de camp de Jour" (Chastellux was given this honor on 7-8, 12, 15-16 October), together with guard assignments as well as the all-important 'Travalleurs de Nuit' and the 'Travilleurs de Jour'—the soldiers assigned digging the trenches (or parallels). Not surprisingly, more soldiers were placed on this fatigue duty at night—ranging from 600 to 900 men, as opposed to 300 to 400 during the daylight hours. The journal recounts the action during the storming of Redoubt Nos. 9 & 10 on the night of 14 October as well as [Lieutenant Colonel Robert Abercrombie's] desperate attack on several unfinished batteries located at the junction of the French and American sectors in the pre-dawn hours of 16 October. The journal closes with a detailed list of French and American casualties as well as the surrendered British and German forces: 'Etat des prisonniers fait tant à york qu'a Glochester le 19 octobre 1781.' Of the surrendered British garrison the journalist first records the numbers of officers, descending by rank, the numbers of infantrymen and artillerymen, the sick ('Malades'), numbering a staggering 1,875, as well as a cache of 7,320 muskets. A most important account of the Yorktown campaign, from the papers of the French second-in-command, the Marquis de Chastellux" (Celebration).

PROVENANCE

François-Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux, by descent discreet blindstamp of the Archives de Chastellux and shelfmark 39 EE) to — Comte Louis de Chastellux (Christie's New York, 5 December 2017, lot 11)

REFERENCE

Celebration of My Country 91