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


e gloomy and foreboding, on the evening
II The 18Th OF July, 1879 when the atvancin
!, column OF little army whose uniform b,
b sokeEed it to be American, emerged from
thick wood on the shore of the Hudson an
IG an instant the din and sEadowy proSpe,
, disclosed TO them along the bank of the ri,
, ef open 10 their sight Far away lay Vel
yIp!ank's Point, now buried in mass O
/ shadow, while on the hilher side of tn
river, dark, gloomy and frovning, rose u
The craggy heights Of Stony Point. Wash
ed or. three sides by the Hudson, and pro
ecled on the other, excep, along narrow
road, by morass, the fort was deemed on,
lot the most impregnabIe on The river, an(
lis capture regarded as almost impossible
YET 10 achieve that gallant purpose, this
little army was now upon its march
II turn in the road soon hid them from
the river, and after silent march of some
minutes duration, they arrived within three
miles and half Of The enemy's line, and
halting al the command of their off lo,m.
ed into columns for the attack. Beginning
again their march, ,hey soon reached the
narshy ground at the base of the hill.
'HIsl!' said The low voice of the General
from the front, we are higA enough
I1ALT'
The order passed in whisper down the
line, snd the column paused on the edge of
Ihe morass. 1t was moment of suspense
and peril. Every man fel. lha. in few
minutes the fate of their hazardous enter.
prise would be determined that they would
mere be cold in death, OF The American
tory ahead,now scarcly dscernable through
lhe thick gloom of minighs Yet not lip
lulvered, no, cheek bIanched at that crisis.
bout twenty PAGES in the front column, had
matted, The forlorn hope of one hundred&6fly
men with unloaded pieces q bay onets
fixed, while farther on smaller1 group
If shawy loIms could be seen through Ihe
,bscurity,accoutre with axes,to cut through
he is.-Each man had piece OF white
,aper in his hat 10 distinguish him from
the foe in the approaching melee. Th'
General had already reconnoilered the ap-
proaches 10 the still silent promon'ory, and
waving his sword on high, he gave the or
der. In another instant, the dark massive
column was moving steadily to the al
tack.
Ii was a thrilling moment, during wbich
.ha, devoted band rushed rapidly over lht
marsh AS yet the enemy had not discover
ed lhem.-Eyen the hearts of the oldes,
veterans lrembed with eagerness of that
moment OF suspense. Aleady had the
pioneers reached the abills, aud the quick
rapid blows of their axes rung upon the
night, when suddenly The shout of alarm
broke from the fort, the gun of a seLuy
flashed through the gloom,and in an instant,
all was upIoar and confusion within the
astonished fortifcaIion Not moment
was " be lost.
Advance! advanced shouted Wayne, as
no pressed rapidly onwards Io.the ,abaIrs
followed in death like silence by his in
domiIable troops.
10 arms!' came borne on The night
breeze from the forl-'lo srmS-lo arms,
and then followed the quick roll of lhe
drum. In an instant the enemy were a,
their posts, and the gallant CoDlnenlas still
maintained their silent but steady march; .
fire, such only as desperation could produce
burst from every embrasure Of she fort
The inCessant rattle Of lhe mushelry, the
crashing of the grape sbo,, and Iurid light
hung over The scene by the explosion of the
shells, and streams Of fire pouring from tht
fort, formed picture which no pen can
describe. Yet amidst all, the daring sssail
ants steadily sadVauced, not trigger had
been pulled in their ranks. Faithful to the
,C ,hoir Epnernl ,hnuuh it on hi in rI