THE TOWN OF YORKTOWN. 69 1 



Continentals. Col. Christopher Greene, was put in command ; a brave 

 officer who had accompanied Arnold in his rough expedition to Canada, 

 and fought valiantly under the walls of Quebec. "The post with which 

 you are intrusted," writes Washington in his letter of instructions, "is of 

 the utmost importance to America. The whole defence of the Delaware 

 depends upon it ; and consequently all the enemy's hopes of keeping 

 Philadelphia, and finally succeeding in the present Campaign." 



Col. Greene was accompanied by Captain Mauduit Duplessis, who 

 was to have the direction of the artillery. He was a young French en- 

 gineer of great merit, who had volunteered in the American cause, and 

 received a commission from Congress. The chevaux de frise, in the 

 river, had been constructed under his superintendence. 



Greene, aided by Duplessis, made all haste to put Fort Mercer in a 

 state of defense ; but before the outworks were completed, he was sur- 

 prised (Oct. 2 2d,) by the appearance of a large force from a wood 

 within cannon-shot of the fort. Their uniforms showed them to be 

 Hessians. They were, in fact, four battallions, twelve hundred strong 

 of grenadiers, picked men, besides light infantry and chasseurs, all com- 

 manded by Count Donop, who had figured in the last year's campaign. 

 CoL Greene, in nowise dismayed by the superiority of the enemy, form- 

 ing in glistening array before the wood, prepared for a stout resistance. 

 In a little while an officer was descried, riding slowly up with a flag, ac- 

 companied by a drummer. Greene ordered his men to keep out of 

 sight, that the fort might appear but slightly garrisoned. 



When within proper distance, the drummer sounded a parley, and, the 

 officer summoned the garrison to surrender ; with a threat of no quarter, 

 in case of resistance. 



Greene's reply was, that the post would be defended to the last ex- 

 tremity. 



The flag rode back and made report. Forthwith the Hessians were 

 seen at work throwing up a battery within half a mile of the outworks. 

 It was finished by four o'clock, and opened a heavy cannonade, under 

 cover of which the enemy were preparing to approach. 



As the American outworks were but half finished, and were too exten- 

 sive to be manned by the garrison, it was determined by Greene and 

 Duplessis, that the troops should make but a short stand there ; to gall 

 the enemy by their approach, and then retire within the redoubt, which 

 was defended by a deep intrenchment, boarded and fraised. 



Donop led on his troops in gallant style, under cover of a heavy fire 

 from his battery. They advanced in two columns, to attack the out- 

 works in two places. As they advanced, they were excessively galled 



