Correspondence between Cornwallis and Washington prior to the surrender at Yorktown.

The article presents the text of correspondence between American General George Washington and British General Lord Cornwallis which took place in October 1781, just before the British surrender at Yorktown. The letters, written and exchanged in York, Virginia, discuss the terms of an armistice and the eventual surrender of the British forces which led to the end of the American Revolutionary War. The request of a cease fire by Cornwallis so that surrender could be discussed was accepted by Washington. A letter by Washington includes the conditions on which British surrender would be accepted, including the status of prisoners of war, and the capture of ships and weapons by American forces. Cornwallis's reply to Washington approves of the conditions of surrender, and an agreement is made for representatives to meet and negotiate a formal treaty.