one o'clock
-- The day -- painful , though scarcely to be called humiliating , to the brave army which had so heroically endured that desperate if not protracted siege -- at length arrived . Lord Cornwallis , finding that our enemies had resolved to grant us alone the terms which they had previously offered -- that we had not as yet experienced the effect of the fire from the flanking redoubts , armed with numerous pieces of heavy artillery ready to open on us -- that our garrison was now reduced to scarcely three thousand effective men , in want both of provisions and ammunition -- felt that the only course open to him , to prevent the horrors of an assault , and to save the lives of the remainder of his troops , was to accept them . Accordingly , at noon , the army surrendered prisoners-of-war to the United States of America , while the navy became prisoners by arrangement to the Compte de Grasse . At one o'clock a regiment of American troops , followed by one of French , took possession of the works , with drums beating and colours flying , when the British flag was struck , and that of America displayed in its stead . At three o'clock the British troops marched out , with drums beating and colours cased , towards the enemy 's lines . There in a wide field were drawn up the armies of the allies , with the generals ready to receive them . Proud and happy , indeed , must Washington and his brethren-in-arms have felt at this , to them , glorious termination of the struggle .