That's a stretch. There had been no hostilities or military action in about two years. Negotiations were ongoing in Paris toward a peace treaty, which was agreed to about 6 months after Washington's eyeglasses speech.
Don't get me wrong - this was a great and effective speech by Washington, but the Times is acting the part of a drama queen here. The issue wasn't fear of the war moving forward, but the mistreatment of the military forces WRT to pay and such.
Well, here is a list of battles AFTER Yorktown:
Revolutionary War Battles for the Year 1782-1783
JANUARY
3rd, Videau’s Bridge, SC
12th-15th, New Cut/Johns Island, SC
14th, Dorchester, SC
FEBRUARY
11th, Deep River, NC
14th, Wambaw Creek, SC
24th, Durant’s Plantation/Wambaw Creek, SC
24th, Beaufort, SC
25th, Tydimon’s Plantation, SC
MARCH
4th, Morrisania (Third), NY
8th, Gnaddenhutten, OH
15th, Middleton Plantation, SC
19th, HMS Alligator captured
31st-April 1st, Farrow’s Station, SC
??, Lower Settlements, SC
APRIL
2nd, Bryant’s Mills, SC
4th-17th, Beaufort, SC
9th-12th, Saintes Passage, West Indies
12th, Altamaha River, GA
21st, Dorchester, SC
24th, Dorchester (Third), SC
MAY
8th, New Providence, Bahamas
8th, Orangeburgh, SC
20th, Ogeechee Ferry/Harris’s Bridge, GA
21st, Ogechee Road, GA
24th, Sharon, GA
24th, Dean’s Swamp, SC
28th, Dorchester, SC
JUNE
1st, Amelia Township, SC
4th, Sandusky, OH
23rd, Ebenezer, GA
JULY
11th, Savannah, GA
13th, Hannastown, PA
25th, Skidway Island, GA
??, James Island, SC
AUGUST
7th, Badge of Military Merit (Purple Heart) medal established
19th, Blue Licks, Ky.
27th, Combahee Ferry, SC
29th, Fair Lawn, SC
29th, Wadboo, SC
??, Whitehall, SC
SEPTEMBER
2nd, Port Royal Ferry, SC
11th-13th, Fort Henry, VA
??, Edisto Island, SC
OCTOBER
20th, Cape Spartel, Tangier
??, Saltketcher Swamp, SC
NOVEMBER
4th, Johns Island, SC
10th, Chillicothe, OH
14th, James Island, SC
27th, Peace Talks begin
30th, Paris, France (Provisional Treaty)
DECEMBER
14th, Charlestown, SC
1783
.......... JANUARY
20th, Preliminary Articles of Peace signed
.......... FEBRUARY
4th, England proclaims a Cessation of Hostilities with United States
.......... APRIL
11th, Congress proclaims a Cessation of Hostilities
15th, Congress ratifies Treaty of Peace .......... SEPTEMBER
3rd, Paris, France (Treaty of Paris)
.......... NOVEMBER
3rd, Continental Army troops discharged
25th, New York City, NY
.......... DECEMBER
4th, Last British troops leave
There were plenty of skirmishes. Yes it was being worked on, but no guarantees.
As for what the issue was, I think it’s very plain in the article that the point was GW helped avert military control of the government.