...him. John Parke Custis, an only son of Mrs. Washington, by a former husband, was aide to the commander-in-chief at Yorktown, at the beginning of the siege. Seized with camp-fever, he retired to Eltham , the seat of Colonel Bassett, a kinsman, where he died. At the conclusion of the ceremonies at the surrender of Cornwallis, Washington hastened to the bed- side of his dying step-son. He...