November 3

On November 3, 1781, The Boston Evening Post reported the death of "the gallant and truly amiable" Colonel Alexander Scammel, an American officer from New Hampshire.

The Evening Post also quoted a letter dated Oct. 26, 1781 reporting, "With Satisfaction," that British officer Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton was a prisoner "to the Arms of these States."

Tarleton's men were Tories notorious for slaughtering the wounded and disarmed. During the seige of Yorktown, Scammel found himself surrounded by a British patrol of Tarleton's men and was obliged to surrender. Perhaps not aware that Scammel had just surrendered, a British horseman shot the American in the back. The British released Scammel, who died days later from his wounds.