With this intensification of fire power reigning down on the British forces, General Cornwallis acted out in desperation and tried to evacuate his men across the York River to Gloucester Point. General Cornwallis believed that if his men could make it to Gloucester Point then they could escape Yorktown and head North to New York. The British were able to manage one boat load of troops across, but as they returned they ran into a squall and had to return making any further evacuations impossible to happen. As we increased artillery fire on the British by adding more artillery pieces to the line, General Cornwallis began to speak with his officers about the concerning situation they were finding themselves in and decided that it was hopeless to keep resisting the American and French forces. The morning of October 17, a British drummer emerged from the wrecked fort trailed by an British officer swaying a white handkerchief. Negotiations would begin on October 18 at the Moore House involving Major Alexander Ross, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Dundas, and Lieutenant Colonel