The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-02-01

CA hundred men under the command OF
Lieut. Col johnson,
AZ noon ofthe day preceding the night Of
the attack, the light infantry commenced
their march from Sandy Point, aud passing
through an excessively rugged and noun
Lauous country, arrived about eight o'clock
Ia the evening at Spring sleols, one and d
half miles from the fort where tho dspod1
tous for the assault we're made,
II was intended 10 attack the works ON the
right aud left TANKS at the same instant Al
half past eleven the party formed into two
columna,and moved silent AZ the death Which
was soon 10 be- the fate Of many healthy
galant soul the van Of each column with un-
loaded inuskeA and dSed bayoneta. They
we're each preceded by iorlorn hope Of
twenty mes, the one commanded by Lieut.
Gibbon, aud'Ihe other by Lieut., Knos ,wiuur
duty Il was 10 remove the ahattis and other
distractions, IN order 90 open passage for
the columns which followed close In the rear
f'TdTcT Hcd5dfcs having been takcn 10 pre-
vent any information Of the attack reaching
the Engish,thc Americans rcachcd the marsh
undiscovered. But unexpected difficulties
having hccu experienced 10 surmounting this
and othey Instructions Ia the way, the assault
did not commence until half pat twelve
Both columns, burning with the inspiration
of hatred, not al the courage but at the recent
devastating and mcrcilcss cruelty Of the Brit
i.
cro.-.Grc Of mu-kctp and grape shot. Sur.
mounting every obstacle, and surrounded by
the most dreadful ,aughtcrthyy entered the
works ai the point of the hlyonct, and with
ont having fred single piece, obtained COM
plctc possession Of the post Wayne, not
content Ia exercise the functions Ola general.
aud .lnmcd hy hi- defeat At raoli pallopcd
through the tlnckcst the fray, aud marx ed
with an eagle eye whore an advantage, was a.
be- gained, or an omission 10 be- r'ctihcd 1t
Was a very critical movement also in the
Rcyolution-thc people were ready to bc
thrown into paroNysm Of dread or hopo-thg
beam of the balance was vibrating, aud the
miserable trucking of toryi-m awaited the
episode Of the period Indeed il would harl-
ly be- possible, in looking through the long
vista OF centuries, to discover any pcri0l'of
history more fraught with the fate Of human
liberty, than was the United States, at tho
moment of this cycntiul conflict of raw mili-
tia-mcn with soldicrs trained Ia war-bronz-
cd in the heat anl smoke of hattlc.-pcricct
in every equipment --otli~crvd by men they
knew and esteemed, and enclosed behind Icy
an nll but imprrgnahlc fort Yet these raw
militia proved themselves capable of the most
difficult enterprises, while all distinguished
themselves, whose situation enabled them TO
do 50. The loss of the British was sixty
three. including two officers, and five hun
drcd pri-6hfSTs, besides the military storc. Ia.
ken in the fort, which were very considcra-
bic. ,,
The Americans suffered severely, but by
no means proportional to the danger of the
tod Jutt thTzUrr0uyUurCrPTtsJ, 1v0y6o was
wounded, but did not leave the head of the
column Colonel Hay was also among the
wounded.
Tie Immunity DISPLAYED hy ihe conqucrors
was not less conspicuous nor less honorable
than their courage, and stood out in bold rc-
lief TO the British. Not a single individual
suffered after resistance ceased
Immediately after the surrender of Stony
Point, General Waync transmitted 10 the
'Commandcr-in-C Chief the following laconic
letter ;--
"SroNY PoINr, July t6h, l77g.l
o'ciock, i. W.
Dear General The fort aud garrison,
with Colonel johnson, are ours; our officers
and men behaved like men determined to bc
free Yours, most sincerely,
ANTHONY WAYNE.
General tPdsT,1gi0GH