Ground Your Flintlocks!
October 19, 1781
Under the British Flag (Left of Marker):
The garrison marched out between the two lines of American troops reluctantly enough, and laid down their arms. A corporal next to me shed tears, and embracing his flintlock, threw it down, saying, “May you never get so good a master.”
Captain Samuel Graham, 76th Regiment of Foot, October 19,1781
We marched in procession through the enemy and the drummers beat a march …. We observed all these troops with amazement and were staggered by the multitude of them who had besieged us …. They could have eaten us up with their power.
Stephan Popp, Anspach-Beyreuth Regiment, October 19, 1781
As soon as we laid down our muskets and weapons, we returned again with our knapsacks and equipment back to our lines and quartered in our tents.
Lieutenant Jacob Kling, Hesse-Cassel Regiment, November 14, 1781
Under the crossed American and French Flags (Right of Marker):
The British army marched out and grounded their arms in front of our line. Our whole army drew up for them to march through …. The British prisoners all appeared to be much in liquor.
Lieutenant William Feltman, Pennsylvania Battalion, October 19, 1781
Some of the British platoon officers appeared to be exceedingly chagrined with giving the word “ground arms,” and I am a witness that they performed this duty in a very unofficer-like manner; and that many of the soldiers manifested a sullen temper, throwing their arms on the pile with violence, as if determined to render them useless.
Surgeon James Thacher, M.D., Continental Army, October 19, 1781
In passing between the two armies, [the British] showed the greatest scorn for the Americans … for many of these unfortunate persons were clad in small jackets of white cloth, dirty and ragged, and a number of them were almost barefoot.
Captain Baron Ludwig von Closen, Aide-de-Camp to General Rochambeau, October 19, 1781
Marker can be reached from Historical Tour Road, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
