Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-08-12
From the N. Y. Evening Post.
incidents of the Revolution.


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No officer during the revolution more
often secured the public commentator
OF Washington, thar Gen. Wayne. A,
the battle of Monmouth, in his official
account to Congress he said: the cata-
logue of officers who have distinguished
themselves in this days transactions, is
too long to admit of parlicnlarizing indi-
viduals-all the artillery, both officers
| and men. were distinguished in most
remarkable manner. cannot, however,
forbear mentioning Gen. Wayne, whose
good conduct and bravery through the
whole action, deserves particular COM
mendation."
July, l779. Washington, in person, re-
connoitered Stony Point, and determined
to carry it by the bayonet. This, it is
well known, was strong fort, protected
on one side by the Hudson, and consid-
cred by the enemy as impregnable a
gainsl the Americans. The garrison con-
tanned $40 men, who were all taken
prisoners. including SO killed. The A.
mericans had Is killed, and S3 wound
ed. Wayne received a musket ball in
the head as he was entering the fort;
which he supposed mortal. Raising his
voice, he said, Garry me on, my brave
men, and let me die al the head OF the
column"
As soon az this bold measure was set
tied in the mind of Washington, Wayne
was the man to carry it into execution.
The details of the plan were. of course,
let!to him, under general instructions
from the Commanderin-C Chief. Wayne
paradeG his men Ia miles from the fort,
at dark, and ordered any man to walk 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
81 spicion of what the movement was to
be--and every one kept his post. The
order was TO march, In perfect silence: a
loud word in the ranks was ordered to be
punished with instant death. In this or
der the attachment was marched up in
sight of the tort in midnight darkness
Wayne then marched through the ranks,
and explained what was TO be DONE
His rewards for men on this occasion
were as follows: To the first who en-
tered the fort, $500; the second, $i00;
the third, 5000; the fourth, $500; and a
promise (which was afterwards readily
confirmed by Washington to divide a
mong his officers and men the value of
all the property found in the fort; and
further, that any officer or man who
mightperform any particular act OF brave,
ry, his name should be announced To the
commander in-chief.
The men knew their commander; he
had long before been by his soldiers fa-
miliarly commissioned as "Mad Antho-
n.y." The fort was reached at ten o.
clock at night, after severe march
through bad roads, over high mountains
and through narrow defiles. Much oi
the march was necessarily performed in
single file. Hall.past eleven O'Clock was
tho hour and moment TO advance. The
whole band in solemn silence moved for.
ward, $50 volunteers, the van of the right
led on with unloaded muskets and fixed
bayonets, under Lieut.. Col. Fleury, these
were preceded by 20picked men, head.
ed by brave officer, to remove all OBJ
struciions. The van of the left, led by
Major Stewart, consisted of one hundred
volunteers, proceeded by the same pre-
cautions, and in the same order. AT IL
o'clock the assault was to begin, on the
right anL left at the same moment
Neither the deep morass in front nor the
formidable en:renchments OF the British,
appeared in the least degree to chill the
ardor of the assailants, who advanced
under the most incessant and tremend.
Gus fire of musketry and cannon loaded
with grape, forcing their way at the point
of the bayonet, and without firing gun.
When Wayne fell, a momentary halt
ensued. The columns reeled under the
terrible FIRE of the British cannon, whose
tightening alone, in the darkness of the
night, enabled the Americans to distin-
guish friends from foes. AT this critical
moment, voice rose from the ranks,
"Remember Ledy yard!" 0he commander
Of Fort Grisworld, who was murdered
by the British after his surrender,) a,
which the columns instantly advanced,
and carried every thing before them. Col.
Fleury rushed up and struck the English
Gag in the fort, when The firing of the en-
envy ceased. An imploring sound was
now heard from the vanquished to the
yictors, "Remember you are Amerl-
cans" These words turned the Ameri.
can bayonets towards Heaven, and every
man was spared who ceased to resist
The British probably, expected no quar-
ter, as, on a previous occasion, 10 which
allusion is made, they granted the Amer
leans no quarter. As before observed,
Gen. Wayne fell at the head Of the first
column, fortunately his wound only pros
trated him, and he was so far recovered
from the blow, as to be able to write to
Washington, as follows, as soon as the
fort surrendered:
Stony POINT, 2 o'clock, ,
A. NJ, July, l6 10.
"DEAR GENERAL-The American flag
waves here! Yours truly,
ANTHONY WAYNE"
The following day, Wayne had so fal
recovered as to give Washington full
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