The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1779-08-10 00:00:00, page 2

H .lK 1 fOK D, AuguU to.
General Wayne's Orders, previous to the attack
on Stony-Pont.
15 h July, 17^9.
WATCH WORD. " TheFoRTS OUR OWN."
HE troops will march a. 1 1 o'clock and move
4 by tre right, making ash >rt halt at the ceek
orrun, next on this fide Clement's. Every officer,
and non corm Aimed officer will remain with, and
b & anfweraoie for every mtn in their platoons. No
soldier to be permuted to quit the ranks 01 any pre
tence w:a;ev :r until a general halt is made, and hen
to be attended by one of the officers of the platoons.
W:en ' eval of .he troops arrive in tie rear of the
hiLZ Ci. Ftbegtr will form his regiment into a
fouc column i.fa # a!f platoon in front as faft asthey
come up C! Mrigs will form in the rear of
Frbeger, a^d M. H. lin the rear of Meiggs, which
will form he riht column.
Col. Buder will form a column on the left us Fe
biger and Maj. Murphy in his tear. Every officer
and fidier is then to fix a piece of white paper in
the ra?ft confp cudus part of nis hat or c^p, to dif
tin^u sh dm from the enem . Atthe word, march,
Cui. F^ary will take charge of one hundred and
fifty dete^m ned and picked men, property officer
ed, and with their mufquets unloaded, placing the
Whoe dependence upon the bayonet, will move
about twenty paces in f ont of the right column by
the rou. No. 1 and enter the Sally Port 6; he is
to detach an offi er and twenty men a little in front,
whefe business it will be to fecu e the centries, and
remove the abbatis and other obAruAion#, for the
column to pass through.
Tne column will follow close in the rear with
{hon!d^,d maq lets, under C.L Febiger, with Ge
neral Wayne in per fan. Ween the works are forc
ed and not before, the v.d rious trot ps will enter,
'and give the watch word, with repeated, and loud
voice, and d^ve the enemy firm their works and
guns, which will favor he pass of the whole.
Should the enemy reuse to surrender, or attempt to
make their efupi: by water o othet%ife, vinous
means must be used to fee them to the former and
prevent their accomplishing the latter. Col. Butler
will move by the rout No. 2, proceeded by one
hundred men with unloaded arms, and fixed bay
onets under the command of M.j. Steward, who
will obf^ve a diflance of twenty yards in front of
the column, which will immediately follow under
the command of Col Butler, with Shouldered muf
quets, aad enter the SJly Ports Cor D. The offi
cer commanding the above named one hundred men
Will alio detach a proper officer and twenty men a
little in front, to remove the obfiruAions ; as soon
as they gain the works they are also to give and
continue the watch-woid, which will prevent con
fufion and mistake Maj. Murphy will follow Col
Barter to the fcfl figure 3, when he will dividealit
tle to the right and left, and wait the a^ck on the
tight which will be his filial to begin; and to keep
up a perpetual and calling fire, and endeavor to en'
ter between and possess the works aa. Jf any fol
which have repeatedly engaged eongrefs, for diy s
" n d weeks together, during the last important fix or
eight months, I should il a volume; and mi^ht,
with grea propriety, entitle it, " the Book of
lamentations," But to lament, is to no purpose ;
and uiilef. d fferent measures are pursued, I dread the
co,fequenc%.
" Gov, Jhnftone, you muff remember; openly
declared in pari ament, that he had mxde use (when
in America) cfother means than those of perluafion
and argument, to eff:& the purposes of hi# comni.ffi
on. Wnat those means were, the parent times de
monstrate- -they already begin to have theit dread
ful eflfe&s -Anarchy is now labouring to rear her
tattered but bloody standard, in this capital. --In a
Word, unlcfs this party and faction can be broke (for
until it is, the fame measures will be pursued) we
Hull be in danger at lead cf being ruined, and that
suddenly, bg ourselves.
" You w& communicate the contents of this to
whom you think pre per; but I fear, at this time that
the public at lar^e should know even the truth injts
full extent ; and yet it is cruel to k*ep them in fuf
pence and ignorance, whUft accumulated ruin is
preparing to burst on them from every quarter.
'' I will give you one infta.ee with what indus
try this party, this fele& phalanx, conduct their
manoeuvres : Tne night before it was expected the
quection on Mr. Lie's recal was to be put, an express
was sent off into Jerfoy to call dr. W== —a, and
dr S- -r; dr. W ---was alarmed at three o'clock
in the morning, aid fe off athntly, to be in con
gress before the question fh)uld be put ; and dr.
S ---, who lived more remote, fallowed the fame day,
each of them with as much expedition as if they had
beeti flying before theenemy. They arrived in sea
son, and by the paper sent you herewith you will
fee h^w >-v v,H - OTempora ! O Mores !"
dier prefume# to take his mufquet from his Shoulder,
or attempts to fire, or begins the battle till ordered
by his proper officer, he Shall be inuantly put to
death by the officer next him, for the cowardice and
mifcondu& of one man is not to put the whole into
danger or disorder with impunity,
After the troops begin to advance to the works,
the ftriaeft Silence must be observed, and the greatest
attention paid to the commands of the officers.
As soon as the lines are carried, the officers cf ar
tillery, with the men under their command, will
take peffeffion of the cannon, to whe end that the
Flipping may be Secured, and the post at V^rpianhs
point annoyed as ranch as possible, to facilitate the
attack on that quarter.
Tne General has the fullest confidence in the bra
very and fortitude of the corps he has the happi
ness to command ; the distinguished honor conferred
on every officer and soldier who have been drafted
by his Excellency General Washington ; the credit
of the States they refpe&ively belong to, and their
own reputation, will be such powerful inducements
for each man to diftirguiSh bimfclf that the General
cannot have the least doubt of a glorious vi&ory ;
and further, he solemnly engages to reward the firft
man who enters the works wi.h five hundred dtl
lars and immediate promotion ; to the Second four
hundred ; to the third three hundred ; to the fourth
.two hundred; and to the fifth one hundred dollars;
and will represent the conduA cf every officer and
soldier who diftinguiSh^ himfelf on this ccafion,
in the most favorable point of view to his ExrtJ&i
cy, who receive# the greatest pleasure in rewarding
merit.
Bit Should there be any soldier so loft to every
feeling and fenfeof honor, a# to attempt td re reat
one Single foot, or Shrink 6o m the face of ca&%
the officer next liim is immediately t® put him to
death, that he may no longer disgrace the name cf a
folder, or the corps, or the State to which he he
longe.
As General Wayne is determined to Jhare in the
danger cf the night, so he washes to panic pa^e of
the glory of the day in common with h.s fellow
foldier#.
PHILADELPHIA, July 27.
H^d Quarters, New Wiadfor, July 21 1779,
SI R,
On tne i6ih inßan' J bad the honor to inform Gon
grafs of a facce^ai ^ ^ck upon the enemy's ^ ft at
Stony-Pomti on the proceed,ng night by 8.% dier
Gme, W ryne, and & corp, of Eght infa^ ^
dec hiscommand. The ulterior operations i? :,. ch
we have been engaged, have hitherto put it oqt:f t.y
power to transmit rhe paricWat of this ige ^ng
event. They will now be found in the n Iced re
port, which I have received tom Gme^i Wayie.
To the encomiums he has def& v^y bestow ed o the
officers and men under bis command, it ^.v^ me
pleasure to add that his ewne nd^d .Lrou^oufr
whole of this ard iou# entetprze men , he'w^meß
approbation of Congress. He m/uveo tpm ce
plan recommended by me, and ex cl ed i. a., a man
ner that does filial honor to his jud m^t a.id;a his
bravery. In a critical moment ouhe affauk.he te
ceived a flJh wound in the head with a .u Ik t hill
but continued leading on his men with unShaken
firmnefs,
I now beg leave for the private fati?fA 01 cfCcn
grefs, to explain the motives winch induced me to
dire& the attempt. —
It has been the unanimous fen^iment to evacua e
the captured post a Stoney Point, remove the cannon
and faxes. .and destroy the works, wnisu was accem
pi fh:d on the ^get of the iß;h, cue p ece qf heavy
c^ non on yex ~ ed. For want of proper tackling
within reacts to tr^.fport the cannon by laud, we
were obliged to fend them to the fort by water,
ace movement# of the enemy's vessels created Some
uneafiAcGoo theti \.r Jutland induced me to keep
one cf cue p^ f : :hm proteaion. which finally
could ^ot be be.ught eff, without risking more for
iu p^f vxian thanit was wor& We also loft a
galley, whic^ was ordered down to c.ver the boats.
She got under way the as moon cf the 18th. The
enemy oe^an a S ^eard continued cannonade upon
her, from wiiii having received forae injury, which
disabled her from procetd-ng, She was run aShore
Not being able to get her afl>at ,ill hue in the fl sod
tide, and one or t^ oof ths e<emy's vtffels un^cr fa,
vour cf thenig ht, having palled above her. She was
set on fire and blown tip.
It is probable Cong ^ will phase 'o b^ftow feme
marks of consideration uprn thofeefficers whodid-n
guifhed themfeive# upon rir uccafion. Every offi
cer and man of the co.p defer ver great credit, but
there were pvticr.hr o ^ s w . c fe fi uauon placed
them foremoft in dap; % a ^ n ft their co^dra most
confp^ious. Lieut. Ch. Fleury anti Mfo S ewart
commanded t^e two afos. Leu^avs Gibbon#
and Knox ^emmaaded tie advanced putic# or fob
lorn *opes, and all acquitted themfelvr# as well
as it was pcffible. These officers have a claim to be
more particularly noticed.
Mr. Archer, who will have the honor cf delivering
these dapatches; is a volunteer Aid to General Wayne,
a ? d a gentleman of merit. Hrs zeal, adiviy and
spirit, are conspicuous upon every occaficn.
I have the honor to be,
With the greatest refpea and efteern,
Your Excellence's m^fl obedient humble Servant;
G. WASHINGTON.
I forgot to mention, that two flags and two flan
dards were taken, the former belonging to the garri.
son and the latter to the 1 7th regt. These Shall be
sent to Congref# by the fitft convenient opportunity
SI R, Stoney Point, July 17, 177'9,
I :.ave the honor of giving you a full and particu
lar relation of the reduAion of this point, by the light
infantry under my command,
On the i§ r h inst. at twelve o'clock, wo took up
our line cf march, from Sandy Beach, distant four
teen miles from this place ; the roads being exceed
iLg:y bad and rarrew, and having tc pafi over high
mountains, through deep morasses and difficult d'e
we were obliged to move in finglefiles the
greateh part of the way. At eight o'clock in the e
veorngtne van arrived at Mr SpringftedV ^thia
one and a half mile# of the enemy, and formed in
to columns as f a ft a# they came E p agreeable to the
order of battle annexed, v z. Colonel#' F e bi£et's and
Miegas regiments, with Major Hull's detachment,
formed the r@t column; Colonel Butki's regiment
ana MajurM^fu , ; WD companies the left. The
trot p. remaned in this pofiuon until several cf the
principal ffiers, wi ,h hi, felt, had returned from re
co^oucft th* works. Half after eleven o'clock,
being the^our fixed on, the whole moved forward,
tee van ct tne r @ confining of one hundred and sis.
ty vJunft propedy^ffi ttd who advanced with
w so a^d sod bayonets, under the com
ra.d ci Lieut.C . Fleury ; these were preceded
y w~ m , picked men and a vigilant and brave of
to remove the abbeces and other obfiruaions.
Ine van of the left confided cf one hundred volun
teers under the command of Major Stewart, with
urnoadtdmufkets and fixed bayonets, also preceded
by a crave and determined tffi e r. with twenty men,
for the lame pupofe a # the o^er.
At twelve o'clock the assault was to begin on the
a '^ "''"' ks ° f £ he enemy! works, whilst
Major Matfee amused them in front ; but a deep
mor, cover,ng the whole front, and at this time 1
overflow tog by the tide, together with 0 her obftruc
11O0S, rendered the approaches moretffficult than
were at apprehended so tha it was abou f twen
ty minutes ai.er twelve before the affkult began, pre
vicua to winch I placed mys If at the head of Febi.'
gu & regiment, or right column and gave the troops
the flivu pointed orders not to fie on any account,
but place their whole dependence on the bayonet,
winch order w a: Inertly and fan; filly obeyed. Nei
oer he de:p m^ah, thk formidable and double rows
of abb^.Q or the strong works in front and flank,
couid damp the ardour of the troops, who in the
faced a nivft tremendous and incessant fire of muf
qety, and from can, on loaded with grape-shot,
forced tu&r way at the point of the bayonet, thro'
eyety .utiacle, both columns meeting in the center
01 .nt enemy's works, nearly aUlhefame instant Too
mac. iprafe cannot be 2ivc@,ro Lieut. Col. Fiary,
(who truck the enemy's standard with hisown hand)
and to Major Stewart, who, comma, ded the advanc
ed pat.es, for their brave &,d prudent conduct.
Colonels Butler, Me^s and Febiger, condoned
thenn Ives with that ccolnef,, bravery and perseve
rance, that will ever infare fucc:fs. Lieut. Colonel
Hay was wounded in the th^h, bravely fighting at
the lead f his battalion. Ifh mid takeup too much
of your Excellency's time was I to particular 2? e
very mdvdua ! who dtfetves it, for his brave.y on
this occafi n I cannot, however omit Major Lee,
W"oml am indebted for frequent and very ufeful
in e.li^ce, which contributed much to the fuccefr
of the enterprize, and it i, with the greatest pleasure
1 acknowledge to you, I was supported in the at
tack by all the offi ter# and soldiers under my com
mand, to the utm&ft ofmy w shes. The officers and
privates of the artillery exerted tbemfelves in turn
ing the cannon against Verplank's Point, and forced
t^ern tocut the cables of their whipping, and run
down the river.
I should be wanting in gratitude was Ito omit
mentioning OpiFrihbourn and Mr. Archer, my two
aids de camp, who on every occtfion shewed the
pretfeft intrepidity, and supported me into the works
as er I received my wound in pacing the last abbati^
1 icicfed are the returns of the killed and wound
ed cf the light infantry, as also of the enemy, tfee-'
t^er with the number of prisoners taken, likewise
ci i I e ordnance and ftpres fouad in the garrison.
I forgot to inform yotar Excellency, that previous
to my mmhbgi !h,^awn Gen. Muhlenberg H.