American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-08-20
OF STONY POINT
A ROMANCE OF THE REVOLUTION.

A ROMANCE OF THE REVOLUTION.
3s The night had already settled down gloomy
s ind forbidding, on the evening Of the 18th of
iuly, 1919, when the advancing column of
e title army, whose uniform betokened it to be
american, emerged from thick wood on the
shore of the Hudson, and in an instant the
Eghole dim and shadowy prospect, disclosed to
RStem along the bank Of the river, opened 10 the
Night. Far away lays Verplanck's Point, now
buried in a mass Of shadow, while on the other
+ tide of the river, dark, gloomy, and frowning,
ose up the ctaggy heights Of Stony Point
Washed on three sides by the Hudson, and pro-
lsected Oh the other, except along narrow road,
Il5y moIass, the fort was deemed one of the
|smost impregnable upon the river; and its CAP
k.ure regarded as almost impossible Yet to a.
Ichieve that gallant purpose, this little army
lwas now upon It's march.
II A turn in the road soon hid them from the
Eriyer and after silent march for some minutes
Iduration, they arrived within mile and half
kEof the enemy's lines, and hating at the COM
Emand of their officer, formed into columns for
=sthe attack Beginning again their march they
ISsoon reached the marshy ground at the base of
[bthe hill.
"Hist!" said the low voice of the General,
|gffom the front, tive are nigh enough, now,
EHALT"
II The order has passed in q whisper down the
Z lime, and the column paused OH the edge of The
morass. II was moment Of suspense and Pc
sSril. Every man felt that in few minutes the
Ijfaie ofther hazardous enterprise would be de-
and that they would either be cold
Hin death, or the American Flag waving in tri-
fumph over the dark ,promontory ahead, now
gscarcely diseernable through the thick gloom
Fof midnight. Yet not lip quivered, not a
Echeek blanched in that crisis About twenty
II PAGES in front of The column, had halted the
\ forlors hope Of one hundred and fifty men with
unloaded pieces and beYonets fixed, while fur
Their, small group ofshadowy forms could be
Eseen through the obscurity, accoutred with
axes to cut through the abaitio. Each man had
4 piece of white paper in his hat to distinguish
1 him from the foe in the approaching mels To-
h The pause, however, which afforded the sros-
| poet was but momentary. The GeneralShad
already accommodated the approaches To the
still silent promontory, and waving his sword
4 on high he gave the order. Ia another instant
"A the dark massive column was moving steadily
ito The attack.
1t was n thrilling moment, during which that
devoted band crossed rapidly over the marsh
Il AS yet tle enemy had not discovered them
/ Even the hearts ofthe Oldest veterans trembled
"A with the eagerness OF that moment of s'ls-
n pense. Already had the fornost pioneers
\ reached the abattis,-and the quick, rapid
\ blow of their axes rung upon the night, when
suddealy shout Of alarm broke from the fort,
h the gun of a sentry flashed through the gloom,
h and in an Instant all was uproar and confusion
Ii within the astonished ratification. Not mo-
h ment was to be lost
"Advances advanced" shouted Wayne, as he
passed rapidly on towards the abattis, followed
in dealh-lke silence BY his ndomtaele troops.
"fo arms" came berne on the night breeze
Il from The iort-"to armS-to arms" and then
followed the quick roll Of the drum. Ia an in
slant the enemy were al their posts, ard as the
II gallant continentas still maintained their ST.
A lent but stead, march, a fire, such as only des-
peraiun could produce, burst from every eui-
H brasuro Of the fort. The ncesssnt rattle of the
/ nuskelry, The roar Of the artillery, the crash
4 ing of grape shot, and the lurld light huag oy-
er the scene by the explosion OF the shells,
and the stream Of fire pouring fran the iolt,
n formed picture which no pen can describe
4 Yet amid it all, the daring assaiants steadily
4 advanced, though not trigger had been pulled
1 in their ranks. Faithful TO the Command Of
their general, though trembling in every limb
with eagerness they kept up their silent march,
\ amid the fiery tempest, as if impelled by some
godlike power. On-on-oh they passed. -
The whlrlwind Of fi,e from the fort ceased not;
vel still they dashed along charging at the point
\ of the bayonet, over abatlis and bulwalk, un-
4 til the enemy surprised by their lmpetuous on
sci, qualed before them. The works were
4 forced Then, and not till then, was the death
Il like silence broken A sound rung out from
the victorious troops over all the battle. 1t was
the watch word of success. 1t was heard by
1 the head of the Column behind, it was passed
|, down their line, was caught by the rear, and =
/ wild shout, making the very welkio tremble,
|. rung out as they dashed to the attack,
II The contest was short but terrific. Over bull
wark. battery, and PROSTATE foes, the gallant
h csn.lnentals, headed by Wayne passed on, a"d