The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-12-19

| fourth IS, In great measure, covered by a
| deep marsh, commencing near the river on
the upper side, and continuing into it be-
low. Over this marsh there is but one
crossing place, but at It's junction with the
| river IS a sandy beach. passable at low
tide. On the summit OF this hill was erec-
ted the fort, which was furnished with a
complement of heavy pieces of ordnance.
! Several breastworks were advanced in
front OF the principal work. and about half
way down the hill, were two rows of
aba tits. The batteries were calculated to
command the beach and crossing place of
the marsh, and 10 rake and enflade any
column which might be advancing from
any point towards the fort. In addition
to these defences were several vessels in
the river, manned and armed to defend all
approaches to the fort, and to fairly sweep
the beach and the foot of the hill.
The fort was garrisoned by upwards of
seven hundred men, under the command
of Lieut.. Col. Johnson.
| At noon of the day proceeding the night
of the attack, the light infantry commenc-
ed their march from Sandy Beach, dis
tant fourteen miles from Stony Point, and
] passing through an excessively rugged and
mountainous country, arrived about eight
o'clock in the evening at Spring SteePs,
one and half miles from the fort. where
! the dispositions for the assault were made.
| 1t was intended 10 attack the works on
the right and left flanks at the same instant
AT half-past eleven the party formed into
two Columns, and moved, silent as the
death which was soon TO be the fate of
many healthy, gallant soul, the van Of
each column with unioaded muskets and
! fixed bayonets. They were each prece-
ded by forlorn hope of twenty men, the
one commanded by Lieutenant Gibbon,
and the other by Lieutenant Knox, whose
! duty it was 10 remove the abattis and 9TH
/ er distractions, in order to open passage
! for the columns which followed close in
the rear.
Proper measures having been taken to
prevent any information of the attack
reaching the English, the Americans reach
ed the marsh undiscovered. But unex-
,pected difficulties having been experienced
in surmounting this and other distractions
in the way, the assault did not commence
until half-past twelve. Both columns,
burning with the inspiration of hatred, not
al the courage, but at the recent devastating
and merciless cruelty of the British, they
rushed forward, amid a tremendous cross
fire of musketry and grape-shot. Sur
mounting every obstacle, and surro unded
by the most dreadful slaughter, they en-
tered the works at the point of the bayo-
net, and without having fred a single
piece, obtained complete possession OF
the post. Wayne, not content to exercise
the functions of a general, and shamed by
his defeat at PaolI, galloped through the
thickest of the fray, and marked with an
eagle eye where an advantage was 10 be
gained, or a an omission to be rectifed. II
was a very critical movement also in the
Revolution-the people were ready to be
thrown into paroXysm of dread or hope
the beam OF the balance was vibra ting,
and the miserable trucking of toryism
awaited the episode ofthe period. Indeed
it would hardly be possible, in looking
through the long vista of centuries, to dis
cover any period of history more fraught
with the fate of human liberty, than was
the United States, at the moment of this
eventful conflict of raw miIitia-men with
soldiers trained to war bronzed in the
heat and smoke of battles-perfect III
every equipment-officered by men they
by an all but impregnable fort! Yet these
raw militia proved themselves capable ol
the most difficult enterprises, while all dis
tinguished themselves, whose situation
enabled them to do SO. The loss of the
British was sixly-three, including two off
GERS, and FIVE hundred prisoners, besides
the military stores taken in the fort, which
were very considerable.
The Americans suffered severely, bu
by no means proportioned to the danger
of the bold aud hazardous enterprise
Wayne was wounded, but did not leave
the head of the column. Col. Hay was
also among the wounded.
The humanity displayed by the con
querors was not less conspicuous, mol
less honorable than their courage. anc
stood out in bold relief to the British
Not single individual suffered after re
slstance ceased.
Immediately after the surrender O
Stony Point, General Wayne transmitted
to the Commander-in-chie the following
laconic letter:
"SroNY POINT, July 16, 1779,}
2 o'clock, n. III.
"Dear General: The fort and garrison
with Colonel Johnson, are ours; our off