On 19 October, the British troops at Yorktown and Gloucester Point formally offered their surrender. Cornwallis claimed to be sick and did not attend. Instead, he sent his second in command Brig. Gen. Charles O’Hara. Washington gave Gen. Lincoln the honors of accepting the surrender.
"There Flag was struck, and Major Hamilton, with 100 men (Americans) took possession of one work and planted our flag, and a French major, with 100 men (French) another. Then the Allied Army and the American Army was drawn up opposite to each other, and, I assure you Sir, they made a most elegant appearance. About 3 o’clock P.M., the British & Foreigners marchd out to a place assignd, & was ordered by General Lincoln to ground their Arms. The same was done on the side of Gloster and the whole marchd off this day for the places assignd for their residents during Captivity … Their stores are immense, there are about 70 pieces of Brass ordinance, be side ship-guns, with a great quantity of ammunition, & arms almost innumerable … The surrender, what the effect may be, God knows, but I hope it will bring a speedy peace... I think I may with propriety now congratulate you, my friend, and country in general, with certain Independence and the pleasing approach of Peace."
Col. Butler to Gen. Irvine, 22 October 1781Henry Phelps Johnston. “The Yorktown Campaign and the Surrender of Cornwallis, 1781.” De Capo Press, 1971, p. 202.