Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-04-22
BY G. L. SH0LES.
STORMING STONY POINT.

TIE ioth OF July, 1879, when the adyan.
cling column Of little army whose uni.
form betokened it 10 be American, emerged
tlom thick wood on the shore OF the
Hudson, and in an instant the dim and
shadowy prospect disclosed TO them along
The bank oil the river, opened TO their sight
Far away lay Verpank's Point, now bu-
ried in mass of shadow while on The hith-
err side Of The river, dark, fowning and
gloomy, rose the craggy heights OF Stony
Point. Washed on three sides By the Hud
son, and protected on The other, except
along a narrow road, by a morass, the
fort was deemed one Of The most impreg-
nable on the river; and lis capture re gard
ed as almost impossible. Yet TO achieve
that gallant purpose, this little army was
upon It's march.
A turn il the road soon hid them from
the river: and after silent march Of some
minutes duration, they arrive within three
miles and half Of the enemy's line, and
halling at the command Of their officer,
formed into columns for The attack Be-
ginning again to march. they soon reached
the narshy ground al the base Of the hill
"Hist!' said the low voice Of the Gen
eral from the front, ''we are high enough,
HALT"
The order passed in whisper down the
line, and the column halted al the edge OF
The morass. 1t was moment Of suspense
and peril. Every man felt that in a lew
minutes the fate of their hazardous enter
prize would be determined and that they
would either be cold in death, or the Amer
lean Flag float in triumph over the dark
promentory ahead, now scarcely discerna-
bic in the thick gloom Of midnight. Yet
not a soi'ary lip quivered or paled--
nor check b'anchcd at that crisis. About
twenty PAGES in front Of tie column, had
hailed, the forlorn hope OF one hundred
and fifty men with unloaded pieces, and
bayoneis fixed, while farther on Il smalar
group of shadowy forms could be seen
through the obscurty, accouiered WI. h
axes, to cut through the abauis. Each
man had piece of white paper in his hat
to distinguish him from the foe, in the APP
preaching melee. The pause was momen-
larv. The General had already reoonno-
rcd the approaches 10 the siii! nromentory,
and waving his sword on high, he gave the
order. In another instant the dark mas
sive column was moving steadily 10 the al
tack.
1t was thrilling moment, during which
that devoted band rushed rapidly over the
marsh. As yet the enemy had not discov-
cred them. Already had the foremost Of
the pioneers reached the abauis and the
quick rapid blows Of their axes rung upon
the night, when the shout Of alarm broke
from the fort, the gun Of n sentry flashed
through the gloom, and in an instant all
was uproar and confusion within the aston
ished lortfcaton. Not a moment was TO
| be lost.
"Advance. advanced" shouted Wayne,
as he pressed rapidly EDWARDS to the abat-
It's followed ia dealh-Iike silence by his in
domi'abe troops.
$40 arnsm came borne on the night
breeze from the fort-to arms-to arms.
and then followed the quick roll of the
drum. la an instant, the enemy were AT
their posts, and the gallant continentais
still maintained their silent but steady pro-
gress; a fire, such as desperation only pro-
duces, burst from every embrasure in the
|
ry, the crashing Of the grape shot, and u-
rid light hung over the scene by the explo-
SION Of shells. and streams of fire pouring
from the fort, formed picture which no
pen can describe. Yet amid it all the dar,
ing ASSISTANTS steadily advanced, not trig-
ger had been pulled in their ranks. Faith
lul TO the command Of Their General, tho
trembling in every limb with eagerness
they kept up their silent march, amid the
very tempest, as if impeled by some God
like power. On-on-on they pressed
the whiriwind Of fire from the fort ceased
not; yet still they dashed along charging
at the point ofthe bayonct, over the abat-
It's and bulwarks until the enemy, borne
back by their impe:uous onset, quaiIed
before them. The works were forced
Then, not till then; was the death-like 81
lence broken. 4 sound broke out from the
victorious troops over the din of the battle.
! Ii was the wachword Of success. II was
heard BY the bead Of the column behind, il
passed down their line, was caught up BY
the rear and wild shout, making the very
welkin tremble, rang out as they dashed 10
the attack.
The contest was shorI but terrific. Ovei
bulwalk, battery and PROSTATE foes The gal
/ lent contnentals headed by Wayne, press
/ ed on, driving all before them, met The col
umn Of their little army, with an enthusiasts
tic cheer; in the very centre OF the enc
my's works. In another moment the star
/ ry dag OF America was waving triumphant
/ IS over the battlemenis.
The enthusiasm OF the victors cannot BIO
described. But though the contest had
been so bloody, not q man OF The enemy
fell after the resistance had ceased. The
prisoners were disarmed, and guard pla-
ced over them. and sentries posted on all
the commanding positions around the works.
The morning gun announced TO the British
feet in the river that Stony PoiNT WAS
WON.
Nor ELECTED AFTER ALL.-Nlss Sally
Brown and Miss Betsy French, of Wool
wlch. Gloucester, n. ]. the correspondent
Of the Newark Advertiser says, are notvet
entitled TO the appelIation OF "ESqairc. I"
Although they made "a very respectable
run" We, they did not receive quite votes