The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-11-24
From the United States Magazine.
STORM1NG OF STONY POINT
BY GENERAL WAYNE.

NO omcer auln2 Inc revolution more
often secured the public commeudalion
OF Washington, than General Wayne.
AT the battle Of Monmouth, in his official
account 10 Congress, he said:--
"The catalogue Of officers who have
distinguished themselves liz this days
transactions, is too long to admit Of par
tcularizing indviduals-all the artillery,
both officers and men, were distinguished
in 4 most remarkable manner. cannot,
however, forbear mentioning General
Wayne, whose good conduct and bravery
through the whole action deserves paf-
ticular commendation.
July, l779, Washington, in person,
rsconnoiIered Stony Point, and determ-
ined TO carry it by the bayone'. This, i,
10 we'll known, was strong fort, pro.
,scIed on one side by the Hudson, and
considered by the enemy as impregnabIe
sgains. the Americans. The garrison
contained five hundred and forty mon,
who were all taken prisoners, including
sixty.,hree killed. The Americans had
6tleen killed, and eigbty>threa wounded.
Wayne received Q musket>ball in the
bead As he was entering the fort, which
he supposed mortal. Raising his voice,
he said, "Carry me on, my brave meh,
and ls, me die st the head oflh0 column"
Az soon as this bold measure WAS set
lied in the mind Of Washington, Wayne
was the man to carry il into execution.
The details Of the plan were, Of course,
leN 10 him, under general instructions
from the Commander .in>ChieE Wayne
pasaded his men fourteen miles from the
fort, N dark, and ordered any man 10
march 10 lssnt who was not ready 10 take
bis life in hig hand and follow him.
Up 10 that moment, not man had a
suspicion Of what the movement was to
be--nnd every one kept his post. The
order vas te march, in perfect silence !;
a loud word in the ranks was ordered TO
be punished with instant death. 10 this
order the 1etachment was marched up in
sight Of the for, in midnight darkness
Wayne then marched through the ranks,
and explained what was 10 be done. His
rewards for men on this occasion were as
fo!lows:-To the Grst man who entered
the for,, FIVE hundred dollars; the sscoud.
four bundled; the third, three hundred
aud the fourth, two hundred-and q
premise (Which was afterwards readily
consumed BY Waahington) TO divide
among his officers and men the value Of
a!l the property found in the fort; and
further. that any officer or man who might
perform any particular act Of bravery, his
name should DO announced TO the Com
mandet~in-Clief.
The men knew their commander; he
had long before been by his soldier.
famiIia'ly commissioned a. "Mad An-
,bon,." The fort was reached at ten
o'clock ct night, efel Q severe smarcf
through bad roads, over high asountaina
and through ncrsw defles. Much O.
the mach was necessarily performed in
single Gle. Half-pas. elsven o'clock was
the hour and the moment to advance.
The whole band in solemn silence moved
forward, one hundred end fifty volunteers
the vsR Of the righ, led on with unloaded
muskets and fixed bayoneis, under Lieu
tenant Colonel Flcury, these were pre-
ccded by twenty picked men, headed by
a brave officer, to remove all distinctions
The van Of tho left, led on by MsjoI
Stewart, consisted Of one hundred volun
.eere, preceded by the same precautions
and in The came order. At twelve O'Clock
the assault. was to begin, on the right ono
left at the same moment. Neither the
deep morass in front, nor the formidable
entertainments Of the British, appeared
in the leas, degree to chill the ardor O
the assailan,s, who advanced under the
most incessan, and tremendous FIRE o
muskeiry, and canon loaded with grape
forcing their way at the point Of the
bayonet, and without firing gun.
When Wayne fell. momenlary hall
ensued. Tns columns reeled under the
terrible fire Of the British cannon, whose
lightning alone, in the darkness Of the
night, enabled the Americans to dislin-
puish friends from foes. Al this critical
moment a voice rose from the ranks,
"Remember Ledyard" l,he commander
Of Fort Griswold, who was murdered by
The British after bis surrender, Al which