Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-08-07
From the .4msr,can 7rapeRsr.
TAKING OF sroNEY POINT.


TAKING OF SToNEY points,
The troops were at length halted;
they were not yet aware of the purpose
Of their midnight understanding
momentous was expected, for no torch
had lighted them through the darkness,
and the stiffness had been unbroken by
the soul stirring drum. the spirit brea
thing trumpet. They were within
three miles of Sioney Polnt--a post
considered imprcgpable and all their
energies were awakened in the dead
ly combat about 10 follow The purpose
OF their march was briefly told them
S,oney POint was to be attacked, and
by the bayonet alone---death was TO he
the penalty of single discharge. The
fort was three miles in advance, situated
at the further extremity ola narrow neck
Of land, which was to be crossed 10y
our troops, exposd to the fire of the EN-
envy. The march was now silently
resumed, with no sound but the quick
and Cautious step OF the soldiers-the
cricket ceased from his song as they
passed--and the dark shade of the
foresttrees fell gloomIIy over their path.
They had arrived within about three
quarters OF a mile, when The sentinels
OF the enemy gave the alarm --The
light o! single gun--and then of an
other and another, burst upon the dark
ness--now the lights were seen CLEAN
ing from the far off fort--soon the thun
der OF she artillery broke nights q,iet
ness, and the balls whizZed through
the firm band who still continued their
march onward Now they are stop
ped by The long line of fslien trees
thrown before their path-whilst sol
der after soldier falls before the dead
ly weapons Of he enemy, incapable OF
making any return. The axes of the
hardy pioneers soon open pah-and
the dark phalanxes, with their lines IN
broken By the fearful .hunders of the
air, are near the fortress The red
beacons blaze. illumlning the midnight
land The fire is poured from parspet
Observation-Disclosures but murderous.
The palisade is gained--is Gl!ed-and
the march resumed. - Already the
bristliug bayonets are fixed, the steep
is gslned-the parspet surmounted--
and the scouts of the combatants and
groans Of the dying are mingled to
eether The British yield-and the
glad sound Of "the fort is ours" goes
up to heaven Alas! again, the Brit
ish ranks are forced, and the dreadly
rush of fierce men commences with
bayones clashing against bayonet--,he
brave against the brave contending -
Twas vain for Engiand's warriors to
struggle longer-our bayonets dripped
with their warm bl0od-ours was the
2iory- the victory-the praise was
due to the Lord of hosts-the Lord of
victory.
'stoney Point was taken at midnight on the
18th of July, l779, by the Americans. under
the command OF Brigsdier General Wayne--tbis
fort'hca ION lad always been considered i'm
pregnable.
A gentleman going from Ohio into
Virginia, in the winter, at time when
the Ohio river was filed with floating
ice, and who had heard that The cross
ing was dangerOus-On his approach
to The river, anxiously inquired of
cOuntryman what state the river was
in? Why, Eur, l doesn't know for
sartin, hut has heard say il was part
ly in Ohio state and partly in old Fur
ginnry!
"a gentleman coming up to large
crowd, asked an Irishman what was
the matter:"-" Nothing at all" cried
ne. "they are only forcing a man to
turn COlHnteer."