The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-05-03
StOrnling stony Point.

gIoomy aOd IorebOdlng, on the evening o
the 18th Of Jnly, 1879 when tn. afvanclrl
column Of lnlle army whose uniform b,
iokened 1t to be American, emerged from
thick wood on the shore of the Hudson aud
III an instant the din and sIadowy prospe,
disclosed 10 them along The bank of the NV
Iet open 10 their sllhr Far away lay Yer.
Ip!ank's Point, now buried in mass OF
shadow, while on the hither side of the
river dark, gloomy and frowning, rose up
the craggy heights Of Stony Point. Wash.
ed or three sides by the Hudson, and pro-
'ecied on the other, excep. along a narrow
road, by morass, the fort was deemed one
OF the most impIegnabIe on The river, and
lis capture regarded as almost impossible
Yet to achieve that gallant purpose, this
lille army was now upon its march
A lurn in The road soon hid them from
the river, and after a silent march Of some
minutes duration, they arrived within three
miles and half Of The enemy's line, aud
haluug al the command of their officer Golm-
ed ino columns for The attack. Beginning
again their march, they soon reached the
narshy ground al the base of the hill.
HIST said the low voice of the General
from the front, we are higA enough
Halt
The order passed in whisper down the
line, snd the column paused on The e,!ge of
the morass. 1t was a moment of suspense
and peril. Every man felt that in lew
minutes the fate Of their hazardous enter
prise would be determined, that they would
there be cold in death, OF the American
dag Aoa, IN triumph over the dark promon.
cory ahesd,now scarcly dscernable through
he thick gloom of minight Yet moi lilt
| ulvered, not cheek blauched at thai crisis
bout twenty PAGES in the front column, had
,aited the (oTorn hope of one hundred&ffty
nen with unloaded pieces & bay onels
liked, while laIther on smaIierJ grouJ
# shawy lolms could be seen through lht
'bscurily y,accouTed with axes, to cut through
he abaris. Each man had piece Of while
,aper in his hat 10 distinguish HIM from,
The foe in the approaching melee. Th,
General had already reconuoilered the ap-
Iroaches 10 the still silent promonlory, aud
waving his sword on high, he gave the or
ler. In another instant, the dark massive
column was moving steadily TO the al
tack.
1t was thrilling moment, during which
that devoted band rushed rapidly over tht
marsh As yet the enemy had not discover
ed ihem.-Even the hearts of The oldest
veterans lrembled with eagerncst of that
moment oil suspense. AIleady had the
pioneers reached the abitis, aud the quick
rapid blows of their axes rung upon the
aght, when suddenly The shout of alarm
broke from The fort the gun of seLuy
dashed through the giOom,and in an instant,
all was uploar and confusion within The,
aslonShed lorliicaIion. Not moment
vas 10 be lost.
Advance! advance! shouted Wayne, as
he pressed rapidly onwards to the .abaIls
followed IN death like silence by his in
troops.
TO arms' came borne on the night
breeze from the forl-'to arms-to arms y
and then followed the quick roll of the
irum. In am instant the enemy were a
helr posts, and the gallant conlnenlals still
their silent but steady march, II
ire, such only as desperation could produce
burst from every embrasure Of the fort
The incessanl rattle OF lhe muskelry, the
crashing Of the grape shoi, and Iurid ligarI
hung over the scene by the explosion of the
shells, and streams Of fire pouring fr,m the
Ort, formed picture which no pen can
describe. Yet amidst ali, the daring assail |
lnts steadily advanced, not a trigger hadl
,een pulled in their ranks. Faithful to the
'ommand of their General though trembling
n every limb with eagerness they kept up
heir silent march amid the very tempest as
{ impeled by some god like power. On
1n--on Ihey pressed The whirlwnd of
FIRE from the forliyel still they dashed along
at the point OF the bayonet, over