The Surrender of Earl Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of the British Army in North America) to General Washington & Count De Rochambeau, on the 19th of October, 1781

The Surrender of Earl Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of the British Army in North America) to General Washington & Count De Rochambeau, on the 19th of October, 1781

T. Thornton

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A group of British soldiers stand at left with an officer delivering a sword to American and French officers at right. Despite the print's title, the British commander Cornwallis pleaded illness and did not attend this ceremony, but send General O'Hara to act as his second. O'Hara initially attempted to surrender to the French general Rochambeau, who deferred to George Washington. Because Cornwallis has sent a second, Washington also declined and directed his own second, Benjamin Lincoln, to accept the sword. A British flag appears here at left and American and French flags at right, with army tents behind. The print was published to illustrate Edward Barnard's, "New, Complete & Authentic," or "New, Comprehensive and Complete History of England from the earliest period..., London 1781–83.

Drawings and Prints

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Surrender of Earl Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of the British Army in North America) to General Washington & Count De Rochambeau, on the 19th of October, 1781The Surrender of Earl Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of the British Army in North America) to General Washington & Count De Rochambeau, on the 19th of October, 1781The Surrender of Earl Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of the British Army in North America) to General Washington & Count De Rochambeau, on the 19th of October, 1781The Surrender of Earl Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of the British Army in North America) to General Washington & Count De Rochambeau, on the 19th of October, 1781The Surrender of Earl Cornwallis (Lieutenant General of the British Army in North America) to General Washington & Count De Rochambeau, on the 19th of October, 1781

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