Washington telegraph., 1852-05-12
Incidents Of the Revolution.
STORMING OF STONY POINT BY GENE
RAJ WAYNE.

|
RAJ WAYNE.
No officer during the Revolution more
often secured the public commentator Of
Washington, than General Wayne. At the
battle of Monmouth, in the official account
to Congress, he said "The catalogue Of
officers who have distinguished themselves
in this days transactions, is too long to adj
NIT of particularizing Individuals the
artillery, both officers and men, were distin-
guished in most remarkable manner.
cannot, however, forbear mentioning Gener-
al Wayne, whose good conduct and bravery
through the whole action, deserves particu-
lar commendation.
July, 1779, Washington, in person, recon-
noitered Stony Point and determined to car
ry it by the bayonet This, it is well-known
was strong fort, protected on one side by
the Hudson, and considered by the enemy
as impregnable against the Americans
The garrison contained $40 men. who were
all taken prisoners. including sixty-thrce
killed The Americans had fifteen killed,
and eighty three wounded. Wayne receiy-
ed musket-ball in the head as he was en-
tering the fort, which he supposed mortal
Raising his voice, he said "Carry me on
my brave men. and let me die at the head
of the column
AS soon as this bold measure was settled
in the mind of Washington, Wayne was the
man to carry it into execution. The details
of the plan, were, of course, left to him,
under general instructions from the Com
mander-in-Ch Chief Wayne paraded his men
fourteen miles from the fort at dark, and
ordered no man to march in front who was
not ready to take his life in his hand and
follow him.
Up to that moment not a man had a sus-
picion of what the movement was to be-
and every one kept his post. The order
was to march, in perfect silence loud
word in the ranks was ordered to be punish
ed with instant death In this order the
detachment was marched up in sight Of the
fort in midnight darkness. Wayne then
marched through the ranks, and explain.
ed what was to be done. His rewards for
men on this occasion were as follows -
To the first man who entered the fort, $500,
the second, $400; the third, $500; the
fourth 5000 and promise (which was
afterwards readily confirmed by Washing
tony to divide among his officers and men
tie value of all the property found in the
fort; and further, that, any officer or man
who might perform any particular act of
bravery his name should be announced to
the Commander-in-C Chief
The men knew their commander he
had long before been by his soldiers famil-
iarly commissioned as &C Mad Anthony
The fort was reached at ten o'clock at night,
after severe march through bad roads.
over high mountains and through narrow
defles. Much of the march was necessari-
ly performed in single file. Half-past Ii
o'clock was the hour and moment to advance.
The whole band in solemn silence moved
forward $50 volunteers, the van of the
right led on with unloaded muskets and fix
ed bayonets, under Lieut.. Col. Fleury !;
these were preceded by twenty picked men,
headed by brave officer, to remove all
distractions. The van of the left, led by
Major Stewart, consisted of one hundred
volunteers, preceded by the same precau-
tions and in the same order. At II o.
clock the assault was to begin, On the right
and left at the same moment. Neither the
deep morass in front, nor the formidable en-
trenchments of the British appeared in the
least degree to chill the ardor of the assail-
ants, who advanced under the most lnces-
SAINT and tremendous fire of musketry and
cannon loaded with grape, forcing their way
| at the point Of the bayonent, and without
firing gun.
When Wayne fell, momentary halt en-
sued The columns reeled under the terri
BILE fire of the British cannon, whose light
ming alone, in darkness of the night, ena-
bled the Americans to distinguish friends
! from foes. At this critical moment voice
rose from the ranks, Remember Led
ward % (the commander of Fort, Griswold
who was murdered by the British after his
surrender,) at which the columns instantly
advanced, and carried everything before
them. Col. Fleury rushed up and struck
the English flag in the fort, when the firing
of the enemy ceased. An imploring sound
was now heard from the vanquished to the
victors, Remember you are Americans =
These words turned the American bayonets
towards Heaven, and every man was spared
who ceased to resist The British probably,
expected no quarter, as, on previous occa-
sion, to which allusion is made above: they
granted the Americans no quarter. AS be-
fore observed, General Wayne fell at the
head of the first column; fortunately, his
wound only postrated him, and he was SC
far recovered from the blow, as to be able
to write to Washington as follows as soon as
the fort surrendered:
| "SToNY PolNT, 2 o'clock A. M,
j July 16, l779.
Dear Gemeral-The American flag
waves here Yours truly,
ia ANTHONY WAYNE"