Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-06-29
StOrmiGg Of Stony Point,
BY j. Il. HEADLEY.


"But the most brilliant action OF
Wayne's life, and one the most iIlustra.
live OF his character, was the storming
OF Stony Point. Washington. at Wayno's
request, had organized corps oflight in.
fantry, and put him over it. with djrec.
tons to take this stronghold. This for,
tress was app arently 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 ev
cry tide oyeIfowed. Besides these natu.
raj deienceS, double row of ab6attiS sur
rounded the entire hill, and on the top
were high ramparts bristIing with can
non. Six hundred veteran troops garri-
sOned this rock; sufficient, one would
think, to defend it against five times the
number. But it was no common obsta.
Gle that could deter Wayne when his mind
was once made up, and he determined,
formidable as it was, to execute the task
assigned him or perish in the attempt
1t is said that while conversing with
Washington on the proposed expedition,
he remarked: General, ifyou will only
plan it, 1 will storm HI"
"He carefully reconnoitered the ground
and having ascertained the exact position
of things, he formed his plan of attack
On the 18th of July. l779, he started
from Sandy Beach, IA miles distant and
at eight in the evening arrived within a
mile and a half of the fortress. 1t was
now twilight5 and the mild summer even.
ing with its cooling breeze stole over the
water-tne stars came out one by one on
the sky. and the tranquil river flowed by
in majestic silence, and all was sweet
and peaceful, While nature was thus re.
posing in beauty around him, Wayne
with his strong. soul wrought up to the
task before him, stood in the gathering
shades ofthe evening, and gazed long
and anxiously in the direction of the for
tress.
"Over hills, across morasses, and a.
long the broken shores of the Hudson, be
had led his little army noiselessly. 10 In
dian file, and now waited for the deepen
ing night to lock his enemies in slumber.
Still undiscovered by the garrison, he be-
gan to reconnoitre the works more close.
~, and at halfpast 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
of rubbish that were stretched in double
lows around the rock, and placed just
where the batteries could NOW down the
assailants the fastest. Behind these for
Torn hopes OF the army marched two CON.
panics ola hundred and fifty men EACH
Wayne knew that everything must rest
on the bayonet. and so be ordered the
load ofeyery musket, of those two COM
Panles to be drawn, while the first man
who should take his from his shoulder, OF
utter word without orders. or attempt to
retreat, was to be put to death by the off
Ger nearest him. Silently these devoted
bands submitted to the desperate meas
ures, and fixing piece of white paper in
their caps to distinguish them from the
enemy. gallantmoved forward at the low
word Of command. At midnight the two
columns headed by their forlorn-hop
came in sight cfthe fortress, along whose
dark ramparts, the sentinel WAS lazil,
treading his accustomed round. while the
deep Ais we'll fell family on the listen
ing ear. Grim and still the huge blacl
rock loOmed up against the sky, soon 4