Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-08-20
RENOL UTlONARY INCIDENT.

The night had already settled down gloo
mlly and iorbidding, on the evening of til,
18th Of July, l77G, when the advancing
column Of little army, whose uniform be
tokcncd it to be American, emerged from
thick wood on the shore of the Hudson, an,
| IN an instant the whole dim and shadow
prospect disclosed to them along the bank o
the river, opened TO the sight Far ava,
lay Ncrpank's Point, now buried in mas
OF shadow, while on the other side of til,
river, dark, gloomy and frowning, rose II,
the craegy heights of Stoney Point. Wash
ed on three sides by the Hudson, and pro.
tectcd on the other, except a long narrow
road by morass, the fort was deemed one
of the most imprcgnablc on the river, anc
the capture regarded as almost impossible
Yet to achieve that gallant purpose this liltl,
army was on its march.
a turn in the road soon hid them from the
river, and after a silent march of some mi
nn,cs duration, they arrived within mile
and half Of the enemy's lines, and hating
at the command of their officer, formed into
columns for the attack. Beginning again the
march, they soon reached the marshy ground
at the base of the Hill.
"lllst !" said the low voice of the General
from the front, tive are nigh enough now
HAITI"
The ordcrpasscd in a whispcrdown the line
aud the column paused on the morass 1t
was moment of suspense and peril. Every
man felt that in few minutes the fate of their
hazardous enterprise would be determined,
and that they would either be cold in death,
or the Amcricon flag waving in triumph
over the dark promonotory ahead, now
scarcely disccrnablc through the thick gloom
of midnight Yet not a lip quivered nor a
cheek blanched in that crisis. About twcn-
ty PAGES in front Of the column had halted
the iorlorn hope Of 80 men, with unloadcd
pieces and bayoncts fixed, while farther on,
a similar group of sladowy forms could be
seen through the obscurity, accoutred with
axes to cut through the aba,tis. Each man
had piece of white paper in his hat to
distinguish him from the foe in the approach
ing mclee. The pause, however, which
afforded this prospect, was momcntary. The
general had already reconnoitcred the APP
proachcs to the still silent promonotory !;
and, waving his sword on high, he gave the
order. In an another instant the dark mas
sivc column was moving steadily to the
attack.
1t was a thrilling moment, during which
that devoted band had crossed rapidly over
the marsh. AS yet the enemy had not dis
covered them. Even the hearts of the oldest
veterans trcmbled with the cagerness of
suspense. Already had the foremost of the
pioneers reached the abatis, and the quick,
rapid blows of their axes rung upon the
night, when suddenly wild shout of alarm
burst from the fort, the gun of the sentry
flashed through the gloom, and in an instant
all was tumut and confusion within the as
tonished fertilization. Not a moment was
to be lost.
"Advance advance" shouted Wayne,
as he pressed rapidly on towards the abattis,
followed in dcall-lke silence by the indomi-
table troops.
TO arms !" came borne on the night
breeze from the fort" to arms to arms ~
and then followed the quick roll of the drum.
In an instant the enemy were at their posts,
and as the gallant continentals still main
tanned their silent but steady march, IA fire,
such as only desperation could produce,
burst from every enclosure Of the fort. The
incessant rattle of the muskctry, 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 pic
ture which no pen can describe. Yet, amid
it all, the daring assalants steadily advanced,
though not trigger had been pulled in their
ranks. Faithful to the commands of their
general, though trembling in every limb with
eagerness, they kept up their silent march,
amid that fiery tempest, as if impelcd by
some god.liko power On-on they passed,
The whirIwind from the fort ceased not yet
still they dashed along, charged at the point
of the bayonei, over abattis and bulwark,
until the enemy, borne down by their inn
petuous onset, quailcd before them. The
works were forced. Then, and not till then,
was the deatll-like silence broken. A sound
rang out from the victorious troops over all
the thunder of the battle. 1t was heard by
the head of the column behind, i, passed