_Oct. 15._--I have just said we were ordered yesterday to the trenches. The French grenadiers were ordered out the same time, and all for the purpose of storming two redoubts on the enemy’s left. Our division arrived at the deposite of the [copy defective.--J.] a little before dark where every man was ordered to disencumber himself of his pack. The evening was pretty dark and favored the attack. The column advanced, Col. Guinot’s[10] regiment in front and ours in the rear. We had not got far before we were discovered, and now the enemy opened a fire of cannon, grape shot, shell and musketry upon us, but all to no effect. The column moved on undisturbed and took the redoubt by the bayonet without firing a single gun. The enemy made an obstinate defense (but what cannot brave men do when determined?). We had 7 men killed and 30 wounded. Among the latter were Col. Guinot, Maj. Barber and Capt. Olney. Fifteen men of the enemy were killed and wounded in the work, 20 were taken prisoners besides Maj. Campbell, who commanded, a captain and one ensign. The chief of the garrison made their escape during the storm by a covered way. Captain Duncan’s diary, it will be observed, closes with the record of October 15. The failure to complete it for the remaining days of the siege is to be accounted for by the fact that he and his command were so actively employed in military operations that neither time nor opportunity to write was afforded him. Fortunately, we are enabled to complete the record by referring to the “Military Journal of the Revolution,” written by Dr. James Thacher (born in Barnstable, Mass., Feb. 14, 1754, died in Plymouth, Mass., May 24, 1844), who as Surgeon’s Mate and Surgeon served in the Revolutionary War. As Surgeon of a Massachusetts regiment he was present at the siege of Yorktown. His diary very appropriately supplements Captain Duncan’s record. What follows is a condensation: _Oct. 16._--Early in the morning, Col. Abercrombie with about four hundred men, made an attack on two unfinished French redoubts, and succeeded in spiking seven or eight pieces of cannon. The French advanced and recaptured the redoubts. _Oct. 17._--From the American line of works at least a hundred pieces of heavy ordnance were playing upon the British lines, and doing great destruction. The whole peninsula trembled under the incessant thunderings of the immense field pieces. Great destruction was the result. The great havoc upon Cornwallis’s position was apparent to his besiegers, compelling him to ask for suspension of hostilities with a view to capitulation.