Litchfield enquirer., 1841-09-02
A SCENE OF THE REVOLUTION.

many u AOHS yCots
SCENE OF THE REVOLUTION.
The night had settled down gloomily and
fnrbidding on the evening Of the 18th Of
July, 1889, when the advancing column OF
little army whose uniform betokened it ia
be an American, emerged from a thick
wood on the shore of the Hudson, and in
an instant the whole shadowy prospect dis
closed to them along the bed Of the river
opened to the view. Far away lay Yer
plank's Point, now buried in a mass oi
shadow, while on the other side Of the
river, dark, gloomy, and frowuing, rose up
the craggy heights Of Stony Point. Wash
ed on three sides by the Hudson, and pro-
tected ON the other. except long narrow
road by a morass, the fort was deemed one
of the most impregnable on the river, and
its capture regarded as almost impossible.
Yet to achieve that gallant purpose this lit
tie army was on its march.
A turn in the road soon hid them from
the river, and after q silent march Of some
minutes duration they arrived within mile
and half ofthe enemy's lines, and, hating
at the command Of their officers, formed
1uSO COluuNuS IVt NHO dtNuNNs
again their march, they soon reached the
marshy ground at the foot of the hill.
Hist - said the low voice Of the Gen
eral, from the front, 1--WE are nigh enough
now-halt -
The order passed in whisper down the
lines, and the column paused on the edge
Of the morass. 1t was u moment OF sus-
pense and peril. Every man felt that in a
few minutes the fate of their hazardous en-
terprise would be determined, and that they
would be ether cold in death, or the Ame-
rican flag waving in triumph over tho dark
promontory ahead, now scarcely discerni-
bic through the thick gloom of midnight.
Yet not a lip quivered nor a cheek blanched
in that crisis. About twenty PAGES in front
the column had halted, the forlorn hope of
$50 men, with unloaded pieces and bayo-
nets fixed, while farther on similar group
of shadowy forms could be seen throng h the
obscurity,. accounted with axes, TO fpt >thre'
white paper in his hat to distinguish him
from the foe in the approaching melee. The
pause, however, which afforded this pros
pect was but momentary. The General
had already reconnoitored the approaches
TO the still silent promontory and waving
his sword OIL high, he gave the order. In
another instant the dark massive column
was moving steadily to the attack.
1t was thrilling moment, during which
the devoted band had crossed rapidly over
the marsh. AS yet, the enemy had not
discovered them. Even the hearts Of the
Oldest veterans trembled with the eagerness
of that moment Of suspense. Already had
the foremost Of the pioneers reached the
abat,is, and the quick, rapid blows OF their
axes rung upon the night, when suddenly a
shou, of alarm burst from the fort, the gun
Of a sentry flashed through the gloom, and
in an instant all was uproar and confusion
within the astonished iorti6cati0n. Not q
moment was 10 be lost.
Advance advance ~ shouted Wayne,
as he pressed rapidly on towards the abattis,
followed in dea,h-like silence by the in
domitaLle troops.
"To arms !" came borne along on the
NIGHT breeze from the fort; " to arms to
arms !" and then followed the quick roll
Of the drum. IL an instant tha enemy
were at their posts, and as the gallant con-
tinen,als still maintained their silent and
steady march, fire, such only as despera-
ton could produce, burst from every en-
brasure of the fort. The incessant rattle
Of the musketry, the roar of artillery, the
crashing of the grape shot, and the lurid
light flung over the scene by the explosion
Of the shells, and the streams Of fire pouring
from the fort, formed picture which no
pen can describe. Yet, amid all, the dar-
ing assailants steadily advanced, though
not triggar had been pulled in their ranks.
Faithful TO the command of their General,
though trembling in every limb with eager
ness, they kept up their silent march amid
that fiery tempest, as if impelled by some
God-like power. On-on they passed
The whirlwind Of fire from the fort ceased
not, yet still they dashed along, charged at
the point Of the bayonet, over abattis and
bulwark, until tbs enemy, borne back by
their tempestuous onset, qnailed before
,hom. The works were forced. Then,
and not till then, was the death like silence
broken.
A sound rung from the victorious troops
over all the thunder Of The battle II was
heard by the head of the column behind,
it passed down their line, was caught ZIP BY
the rear, and wild shout, making The very
wekin remble, rang out as they dashed on
10 the attack.
The contest was short, but terrific
Over bulwark, battery, and PROSTATE foes,
the gallant c"n'henials, headed by Wayne,
pressed on, and driving all before them,
met the column ofiheir little army, with an
enthusiastic cheer, in the very centre Of the
eneny's werks. In another moment the
starry flag Of America waived lriGsnphanAy
over the batilemems.