Gratuitous Historickal Posting (TM) - Bad Day To Be A Tory Division
October 17, 1781 - British General Cornwallis offers to surrender to American General Washington (the final papers were signed two days later), ending the Siege of Yorktown and, effectively, the Revolutionary War.
Well, what can one do other than sing an extra chorus of "God Save the Queen" just to keep morale up?
YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND GENIE YIPS from Steve-O:
You asked for it:
What, there's another version of God Save the Queen?
UPDATE: In the comments, RP mentions the trivia fact that the Brit fifes and drums played "The World Turned Upside Down" at the Yorktown surrender. I rattled off the lyrics that I remembered from an old National Geographic record of Revolutionary War musick, and then went and found this link giving the full version, some history and a midi arrangement of the tune.
Posted by: Robert at 10:17 AM
Comments
1
Didn't the Brits play "The World Turned Upside Down" as they marched off to their ships following the surrender?
Did you know that this battle followed a forced march by the American troops from their encampment in Dobbs Ferry, NY? I just went to a lecture about this.
Did you know that this battle followed a forced march by the American troops from their encampment in Dobbs Ferry, NY? I just went to a lecture about this.
Posted by: rp at October 17, 2007 12:05 PM (op1yW)
2
They played that tune, indeed. I've heard some words put to the tune:
If buttercups buzzed after the bees,
If ships were on land and churches on seas,
If ponies road men and the grass ate the cows,
If cats would be chased into holes by the mous'
If mammas sold their babies to gypsies for half a crown,
If summer were spring and the other way round,
Then all the world would be upside down.
Dunno anything about the origin of these lyrics.
Also, I believe Cornwallis was so ashamed of himself that he skulked off and left the face to face surrender to one of his aides.
If buttercups buzzed after the bees,
If ships were on land and churches on seas,
If ponies road men and the grass ate the cows,
If cats would be chased into holes by the mous'
If mammas sold their babies to gypsies for half a crown,
If summer were spring and the other way round,
Then all the world would be upside down.
Dunno anything about the origin of these lyrics.
Also, I believe Cornwallis was so ashamed of himself that he skulked off and left the face to face surrender to one of his aides.
Posted by: Robbo the LB at October 17, 2007 12:16 PM (0JsTF)
3
Yes, Cornwallis did have a tummyache that morning. His aide tried to surrender to the French, but they pointed at Washington. As it wasn't Cornwallis himself, the good general refused, and instead had Lincoln accept the sword.
Poor sportsmanship on Corny's part.
BTW, the vat of tar is bubbling nicely. Still need to find the feathers and a rail though.
Poor sportsmanship on Corny's part.
BTW, the vat of tar is bubbling nicely. Still need to find the feathers and a rail though.
Posted by: rbj at October 17, 2007 01:52 PM (UgG6+)
4
Boy, now is that service, or what? And it proves that the Llamas clearly read the comments.
Thanks, Rob! Nice hunting!
Thanks, Rob! Nice hunting!
Posted by: rp at October 17, 2007 02:01 PM (op1yW)
5
Steve-O - I immediately heard the Sex Pistols in my head as well. I'm still a bit frightened when my free associating lands me next to yours.
Posted by: tdp at October 17, 2007 04:22 PM (7CsBg)
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