Although their general was himself a Frenchman, the Americans saw not only without jealousy, but with pleasure, every preference given to their allies.] [Illustration: The Moore House at Yorktown, Virginia _Where the terms for the surrender of the British army were arranged between Washington and Cornwallis.

The actual drafting of the terms was done by the Viscount de Noailles and Lieutenant-Colonel Laurens, representing the French-American forces, and Colonel Dundas and Major Ross for the British._] During the same night, these redoubts were included in the second parallel; and, in the course of the next day, some howitzers were placed in them, which, by five in the afternoon, were opened on the besieged.
[Sidenote: October 16.] The situation of Lord Cornwallis was becoming desperate.

His works were sinking, in every quarter, under the fire of the besiegers.

The batteries already playing on him had silenced nearly all his guns, and the second parallel was about to open, which must in a few hours render the town untenable.

To suspend a catastrophe which appeared almost inevitable, he resolved on attempting to retard the completion of the second parallel, by a vigorous sortie against two batteries which appeared to be in the greatest forwardness, and were guarded by French troops.