The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-05-20
STORMING AT STONY POINT.
A ROMANCE OF TIE REVOLUTION.

STORMING AT STONY POINT.
I A ROMANCE OF TIE REVOLUTION.
I The night had already settled down
gloomy and fordiddng- on the evening of
The 18th July. lT79, when the advancing
column OF a little army whose uniform
betokened i. TO be American, emerged
from thick wood on the shore Of the
Hudson, and in an instant the whole dim
and shadowv prospect disclosed TO them
along the bank Of the river, opened to the
sight. Far away lay Nerplank's Point,
now buried in a mass Of shadow, while
on the other side of the river, dark. gloo.
my, and lrowning.rose the craggv heights
of Stony Point. Washed on three sides
by the Hudson, and protected on the 9th
er, except a long narrow road, by NOR.
ass, the fort was deemed one Of the most
Iimpregnable on the river. and its capture
regarded as almost Impossible. Yet In
achieve tina, purpose. this little army gas
now upon its march. ... -......
A turn in the road soon hid them from
the river; and aftsra silent march Of some
minutes duration, they arrived within Il
mlle and half of the enemy's lines. and
halting at the command Of their officer,
| formed into columns for the attack. Be
ginning again their march, they soon reacf,-
edthe NASTY ground at the foot of the hill.
Hist" said the low voice Of the Gen.
eral, from the front; "we are nigh enough
now; HAITI
The order passed in a whisper down
! the line, and the column halted on the
edge OF the morass. 1t was momen, Of
suspense and peril. Every man felt that
in few minutes the fate of their hazard
Gus enterprise would be determined, aud
that they would either be cold in death.
or the Americas flag waving in triumph
over the dark promoatory ahead, now
scarcely dsccrnible through the thick
tgloom of midnight. Ye, no, lip quiv-
cred nor cheek blanched in that crisis.
About twenty PAGES in front Of the column
had halted the fortorn hope Of one hun
dred and fifty men, with un!oaded pieces
and bayonels fixed; while farther on, ;s
small! group of shadowy forms could be-
seen through the ohscurily, accoutre,t
with axes to cut through the abbatls.-
Each man had piece of white paper on
his hat, TO distinguish him from the foe in
the approaching melee. The pause, how
ever, which afforded this prospect, was
but momcntary. The General had al
ready reconnoilered the approaches TO
I the still silent promontory, and waving
his sword on high, he gave the order.
IN another instant the dark. massive col.
umn was moving steady to the attack.
! 1t was a thrilling moment, during
which time tina. devoted band crossed
rapidly over the marsh. As yet The enc
my had not discovered them. Even the
hearts of the oldest veterans. lremblci
with the eagerness of that moment OF
suspense already had the pioneers
reached the abbatis, and the quick rapid
blows of their axes rlng upon the night.
when suddenly shout of alarm broke
out from the fort, the gun Of . sentr,
flashed through the gloom, and in an in
slant all was uproar and con(usio', With
the astonished forlificalon. No, a me
men. was TO be lost.
advance! advance !" shouted Wayao.
as he pressed rapidly on towards the i
bats, followed by his ,inlomiiable troo IS
TO arms - came home on the nIg,t
/ breeze from the fort to aims Il.
arms T. and then followed the quick Ts,l
OF the drum. In an insian. The enc;iv
were at their posts, anil as the gain +.
con'lnenials still maintained their silen.
but steady march, a FIRE only such ~
desperation could produce, burs. from
every embrasure of the fort. The ~
cessant rattle Of the mnsketIy, the roar
OF artillery, The crashing of the grape
shot, and the lurd 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 DIES
Icr'be. Yet, amid it all, the daring as.
sailanls still advanced, though not a ,lie.
ger had been pulled in their ranks. Faith.
j lul 10 the command of their General, tho
trembling in every, limb with eagerness
! they KEEP, up their silent march amid H..
fiery tempest, as if impelled BY some 90,
IKE power. Ga on--they pressed
The whirlwind Of fire from the fort cease
not; yet still they dashed along, chargire
a. the poin, of the bayonel over a!,ba,i.
and bulwark, until the enemy. borne bacI
thy the impetuous onset, anailed bcior.
them. Then, and noiunlil then, was IN,
death-like silence broken-a sound run,
on. from the victorious troops over ali thi
thunder of the battle. II vas heard b,
the head Of the column behind; i. passe,
down by their line, was causf, up b. In
rear, and a wild shout, making the yer,
weikin tremble. rang ont as hey dashe,,
on to the attack.
|, The contest was short but terrific.
, Over balwark, battery. and irostrate foe.
, the gallant continentals. hea.Issi by Wayne
. pressed on, and driving all before them
met the column OF their lltile army. q !.
/, an enthusiastic cheer. in the very cen,r
!. of the cnemy's works Iii another N,
ment The starry flag Of america waved r.
e tunplnan'ly over the baitIements.
!, 1he enthusiasm Of the yietors csnr,
i be described. But tllonrh the con,,s
had been so bloody, not man of the On,
i, my tell aitprt .Ea5ss 80.