And on October 16th he made a plucky attempt to retard the final blow, but he did not succeed.

That evening he thought of undertaking a last chance.

He would cross the York River in flatboats, land at Gloucester, and march up the country through Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Any one who knew the actual state of that region understood that Cornwallis's plan was crazy; but it is to be judged as the last gallantry of a brave man.

During the night he put forth on his flatboats, which were driven out of their course and much dispersed by untoward winds.

They had to return to Yorktown by morning, and at ten o'clock Cornwallis ordered that a parley should be beaten.