The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-24
siorming of aion, Point.
n Romance Of he ReU0lUfion.

! Storming of stony Point.
"A Romance If he Revolution.
The night had already settled down
gloomy and lorcboding, on the evening OF
the l5lIt Of July, 1869, when the advan-
cling column Of a little army, whose uni
form bctokened it to be American, emer-
ged from thick wood on the shore of the
Hudson, and in an instant the whole dim
and shadowy prospect, disclosed to them
along the banks Of the river, opened to the
sight. Far away lay Verplank's Point,
now buried in mass ofshadow, while on
the hlher side of the river, dark gloomy
and frowning, rose on The craggy heights
of Stony Point. Washed on three sides
by the Hudson, and protected on the
other except on a narrow road by a mo-
rass. the For! was deemed one of The
most mpregnable on the river; and its
capture regarded as almost impossible.
Yet to achieve that gallant purpose, this
little army was now upon its march.
A turn in the road soon hid them from
the river, and after silent march of some
minutes duration, they arrived within a
mile and half Of The enemy's line, and
hating at the command of their officer,
formed into columns for the attack. Be
ginning again their march, they soon
reached the marshy ground at the base OF
the hill.
Hist! said the low voice of the gen.
eral from the front, we are nigh enough
now---HALT !
The order passed in whisper down
the line, and the column paused on the
edge of the morass. II was moment OF
suspense and peril. Every man felt that
in few minutes the fate Of their hazard
Gus enterprise would be determined, and
that they would either be cold in death, or
the American flag would wave in tri-
mph over The dark promontory ahead, now
scarcely discernable through the thick
gloom of midnight. Yet not lip quiv-
cred, nor cheek banched in that crisis.
About twenty PAGES in front, the column
had halted---tho iorlorn hope of one hun
dred and fifty men, with unloaded pieces
and bayonels fixed, while farther on a
smaller group of shadowy forms could be
seen through the obscurity, accoutered
with axes to cut through tho abattis, Each
man had piece Of white paper i'll his hat,
to distinguish him from the foe in the APP
preaching melee. The pause was but
momeniary. The general had already
recommended approaches to the still silent
promontory, and waving his sword on
high, he gave the order. In another in
slant the dark massive column was nov
ing steadily to the attack,
II was thrilling moment, during which
that devoted band crossed rapidly over the
marsh. As yet the enemy had not dis
covered them. Even the hearts of the
oldest veterans trcmbled with eagerness
at that moment of suspense. Already
had the foremost of the pioneers reached
the Tbattis, and the quick, rapid blows OF
their axes rung upon the night, when
suddenly shout Of alarm broke from the
! fort The gun Of a sentry flashed through
the gloom, and in an instant all was up,
roar and confusion within the astonishet
lorttication. Not a moment was to be
lost.
/ advance advance = shouted WAYNE
as u. pressed rapidly on towards the abat
tbs, ioIlcved in dea,h-like silence bv hi,
indomlable troops.
o arms N arus' came borne or
the night breeze from the fort to arms
to arhs' and lbcn sounded The quick rol
Of tIp drum. In an instant the enemy
were at their post, and the gallant cont
nenlfs still maintained their silent bu
sleatN march u fire, such as only despe
ration could produce, burst from every
, cmbrkure Of tho fort. The incessan
! rattle Y the musketry, the roar Of ar,il
5 lery, pc crashing Of grape-shot, and thu
q lurld Iht flung over the scene BY the cx
G plosi1 of HE shells, aud streams Of it'
: poariE from the fort. formed a pictur
c wlnel no pen can describe. Yet amid
d all, Ne assailants dariugly and steadil
y adyatcd--nos a trigger had been draw