Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1847-06-10
MISC ELL A n e on S.
STORMING OF STONY POINT.
From Headley's washington and his Generals"

STORMING OF STONY POINT.
From HeadIeys s'Washngton and his Generals"
But the most brilliant action of Wayne's
life, and one of the most illustrative of his
character, was the stormlng OF Stony Point
Washington, at Wayne's request, had organ
ized corps of light infantry, and put him
over it, with directions to take this strong
hold This fortress was apparently impreg-
nable to any storming party; for, situated
on hill, it was washed by the Hudson on
two sides, while on the other lay marsh
which everv tide overlooked. Besides these
natural defences, double row of abattis
surrounded the entire hill, and on the top
were high ramparts bristing with cannon.
Six hundred veteran troops garrlsoned this
rock sufficient, one would think, TO defend
it against five times the number. But it
was no common obstacle that could deter
Wayne wiz is mind was once made up,
and he de bed, formidable as it was, to
execute thesyksk assigned him or perish in
the attempt. 1t is said that while convers-
ing with Washington on the proposed ,ex-
petition, he remarked: General, if you will
only plan it, will storm H-p
He carefully RECOMMENDED the ground, and
having asceraned the exact position of
things, formed his plan of attack. On the
18th of July, 1879, he started from Sandy
Beach, fourteen miles distant, and at eight
IN the evening arrived within mile and a
half of the fortress. II was now twilight;
and the mild summer evening with its cool
ing breeze stole over the water-the stars
Game out one by one on the sky, and the
tfahs6Il river flowed by in majestic silence,
and all was sweet and peaceful. While ma
ture was thus reposing in beauty around
him, Wayne, with his strong soul wrought
up to the task before him, stood IN the
gathering shades of evening, and gazed long
and anxiously in the direction Of the fort
Over hills, across morasses, and along the
Broken shores of the Hudson, he had led his
little army noiselessly, in Indian file, and
now waited for the deepening night to lock
his enemies in slumber. Still undiscovered
by the garrison, he began to reconnci,re the
works more closely, and at half past eleven
put his columns in motion. He divided his
army into two portions, one of which was
TO enter the fortress on the right, and the
other on the left. In advance of each went
forlorn-hope of twenty men, to remove the
piles ofrubbish that were stretched in dou-
BILE rows around the rock, and placed just
where the batteries could NOW down the as
saiIants fastest Behind these forlorn-hopes
marched two mpanies ola hundred and ff
ty men each. Wayne knew that everything
must rest on the bayonet, and so ordered
the load of every musket of those two COM
panies to be drawn, while the first man who
should take his from his shoulder or utter
a word without orders, or attempt TO re-
treat, was to be put to death by the officer
nearest him. Silently these devoted hands
submitted to the desperate measures, and
fixing piece of white paper in front of their
caps to distinguish them from the enemy.
CALAMITY moved forward at the low word of
command At midnight the two columns.
headed by their fororn-hopes, came in sight
of the fortress. along whose dark ramparts
the sentinel was lazlly treadng his accus-
toned round, while the deep 'All's weI' fell
family on the listening ear. Grim and still
the huge black rock doomed up against the
sky, soon to shake with its own thunder,
and stand a blazing volcano in the midnight
heavens. Noiseless and swift the fearless
A-patriots kept on their way, when 10! as they
anne to the marsh, they saw only smooth
beet of water-the tide was up flooding
.he whole ground The brave fellows paus-
ed moment, as this new unexpected obsia-
Gle crossed their path, but at the stern for
ward of their leaders, they boldly plunged
in. and without drum or bngle note TO
cheer their steady courage, moved in dead
silence straight on the palisades. The noise
had now alarmed the sentinels, and the ra-
pid discharge of their muskets through the
gloom, was followed by lights, moving
swiftly about upon the ramparts, and hurried
shouts of To arms TO arms y and the
! fierce roll of drums, rousing up the garrison
from its dream of security. The next mo-
ment that dark rock was one mass of fame
as the artillery and mnsketry opened along
its sides, shedding lurid light on the coun-
tenances Of the men below, and 'Aduance
advancer rung in the startling accents along
the ranks.
The ramparts were alive with soldiers
and amid shouts and hurried words of com.