Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-08-18
MISCELLANEOUS.
STORMING OF STONEF POINT.
By J. TT. HEADLY.

But the most brilliant action of Wayne's
life, and one the most illustr alive OF his
character was the storming= of Stoney
Point. Washington, ut Wayne's request,
had organized corps of light infantry and
put him over it with directions to take the
strong hold. This fortress was apparently
imPregnable to any storming party; for,
situated on hill, it was washed by the
Hudson on two sides, while on the other
lay marsh which every tide overfowed.
Besides these natural defences, double
row Of abbatis surrounded the entire hill,
and on the top were big ramparts bristling
with cannon. Six hundred veterans garri.
soned this rock; sufficient, one would think
to defend it-against fve times the number
But it was no common obstacle that could
deter Wayne, when his mind was once
made up, and determined, formidable as il
was, to execute the task assigned to him or
perish In the attempt. It is said that, while
conversing with Washington on the pro.
posed expedition, he said:
"General, fyou will only plan it, will
storm h-lp -
He carefully reconnoitered the ground,
and having ascertained the exact position
of things, formed his plan of attack. On the
18th of July, 1779, he started from Sandy
Beach, fourteen miles distant, and at eigh,
in the evening, arrived within mile and 8
half Of the fortress. It is now twilight, ane
the mild summer evening with its cooling
breeze stole over the water-the stars came
out one by one in the sky, and the tranquil
river. flowed by in maiestic silence, and all
was sweet and peaceful. While nature,
thus reposing in beauty around him, w ayne
with his strong soul wrought up to the task
before him, stood in the gathering shades
of she .essaing, and gazed long and anx
iousiy ii tho direction Of the fort.
Over hills, across morasses, and along
the broken shores Of the Hudson, he hat
led bis little army noiselessiy, in Indiar
file, and now waited for the deepening night
to lock his enemies In slumber. Still un.
Hiscnxefeii hu the garrison ha began TO re-:
ccnnoitre the works more closely, and al
half past eleven put his column 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 q forlorn hope Of twenty men,
to remove the piles of rubbish that were
stretched IN double rows around the rock,
nnd placed jist where the batteries could
NOW down The assailants fastest. Behind
these forlorn hopes marched two companies
of q hundred and fifty men each. Wayne
knew that everything must rest on the bay.
onet, and SO he ordered the load Of every
musketof those two companies to be drawn
while the first man who should take hi.
from bis shoulder, or utter word wlthou
order, or attempt to retreat, was to be put
TO death by the officer nearest him Silent
ly those devoted bands submitted to the des
perate measures, and fixing piece o
white paper to their caps to designate then
6om the enemy. gallantly moved forwar'
at the low word Of command. At midnigh
the two columns headed by their forlorr
hopes, came in sight Of the fortress, along
whose dark ramparts the sentinel was lazi
ly treading his accustomed round, while The
deep "Ail,s well E. fell family on the lis
tening ear. Grim and still the huge black
rock doomed up against the sky, soon te
shake with its own thunder, and stand i
blazing volcano in the midnight heaven.