World turned upside down.(Siege of Yorktown, 1781)

A red-coated British drummer boy climbed alone to the top of a defensive wall. Standing in full view of his enemy, he began beating a slow, steady drum roll. The horrifying artillery barrage going on around him made it impossible to hear the drum. Fortunately, Continental Army soldiers could see and understand what they could not hear: The boy was beating the call to parley.

When the American artillery finally ceased, a British officer waving a white handkerchief climbed up from the trenches. He was blindfolded and taken to General George Washington's headquarters. It was 10 A.M. on October 17, 1781.

Earlier that morning, British general Charles Cornwallis had inspected his defenses, which were being assaulted by 100 cannon firing from close range. Cornwallis had realized these defenses could be demolished before the end of the day. He would have to surrender or see his army destroyed. He chose the former.

Cornwallis undoubtedly was …

World turned upside down.(Siege of Yorktown, 1781)

A red-coated British drummer boy climbed alone to the top of a defensive wall. Standing in full view of his enemy, he began beating a slow, steady drum roll. The horrifying artillery barrage going on around him made it impossible to hear the drum. Fortunately, Continental Army soldiers could see and understand what they could not hear: The boy was beating the call to parley.

When the American artillery finally ceased, a British officer waving a white handkerchief climbed up from the trenches. He was blindfolded and taken to General George Washington's headquarters. It was 10 A.M. on October 17, 1781.

Earlier that morning, British general Charles Cornwallis had inspected his defenses, which were being assaulted by 100 cannon firing from close range. Cornwallis had realized these defenses could be demolished before the end of the day. He would have to surrender or see his army destroyed. He chose the former.

Cornwallis undoubtedly was …