The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-03-18
A SKETCH
BIZ Rer. j. ". MoGt.

! A few days before the sixteenth of July In the
same year l779 a tall commanding parsonage,
mounted on strong charger, was seen on the en-
lnences of Stony Point. lie had glass in his hand
and appeared to study the character of defences with
an intensity of interest. Johnson who was return
ing the gaze of the horseman with his spy glass
turned, to one Of his staff, and remarked that the
apparition on the hill pretended good. Rumors
were afoat about the entrenchments, that the same
tall figure had been across the river on the
largest opposite emnence the day before, like "a
horseman painted against the sky. cowboy said
that this figure tire dpparton of Washington,
and that it never was excepting just before a
battle thunder storm. But while these idle ru-
mors foated round the atmosphere Of the camp,
the real Washington from observation made with hs
own eyes, was concerting plan for his surprise
On the night of the sixteenth of July, by the trem-
bling light of the stars that broke and through
the clouds, two columns of soldiers might have
been seen under the brow of the emlnence IN front
of the fort. They were the stern men--the silent,
though the free men of New-Engand. The Eagle
eyed Wayne was at their head and his heart was
like that of lion. The regiments of Febiger and
Megs, with the youthful Major IIulPs detachment,
formed the right column, Buffers regiment, with
two columns under Major Murphy, formed the left.
J The van of the right was formed OF one hundred
and fifty volunteers, at whose head stood the brave
Fleory, one hundred volunteers, under Hewart,
composed the van OF tine lc1t ana SlH Iurtner au-
vanced the nobest post of all, stood two {" "forlorn
hopes" of twenty men each commanded by
Lieut. Gbbins and the other by Lieut.. Knox, Wayne
stepped from man to man through the van guards
saw them take their fints from their pieces and fix
the death bayonct. At twenty minutes past eleven
the two columns moved to the bloody work before
them, one going the right and the other to the
left to make their attack opposite sides.
| The inhabitants on the eastern side of the river
first heard sharp crashing, as the forlorn hope on
either side broke in the double of abats the
muskets ofthe sentinels flashed suddenly amidst the
darkness, and in moment the fortress yomlted out
flames and thunder, ifa volcano had been ignited
and was tossing its lava upwards. The cry of bat
tle not to he mistaken, shrll, wild and fearful,
broke upon the dull ear of night. But all was in
vain for the fortress. Under the showers of grape,
and full in the red eye of fbate, the gloomy, still
unwavering columns moved on and the two van
guards met at the cenre of the works. The British
made instant surrender, 10 avoid the extermlna-
tion which awaited the depoy of the columns upon
the entertainments. SiXty-threc of the British sol
dicrs lay dead at their guns five hundred and for
ty-thrce were made prisoners and the spoils were
two Standards two flags, fifteen pieces of ordnance
and other materials of war. OF the sons of New
England, 9S were killed and wounded. OF Lieut.
Gibbs forlorn hope; II were no more. OF Lieut.
Knox's abont the number were slain.