Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-04-25
a RoTEAvCE OF THE REvoLUTIog.

ne ui5ilt udtI affSdUy SetilSU uONH SlooilE
and forbidding, on the evening Of the 18th of
July, 1879, when the advancing column Of a
little army whose uniform betoliened it to be
American, emerged from a thick wood on the
shore of the Hudson, and in an instant the
whole dim and shadowy prospect, disclosed to
them along the bank of the river opened to the
sight.-Far away lay Verplanck's Point, now
buried in a mass of shadow, while on the hith
er side of the river, dark gloomy, and frown-
ing, rose up the craggy heights Of Stony
Point Washed on three sides by the Hudson,
and protected on the other, except along a
narrow road, by a morass, the fort was deem
cd one of the most impregnable upon the riv-
er; and its capture regarded as almost impos-
sible. Yet TO achieve that gallant purpose,
this little army was now upon its march.
a turn in the. road soon hid them from the
river, and after silent march of some minutes
duration, they arrived within mile and half
of the enemy's line, and halting al the COM
mand OF their officer, formed into columns for
the attack. Beginning again their march
they soon reached the marshy ground at ta0
base OF the hill.
SsIIist - said the low voice Of the general
from lhe front, eve are nigh enough now.
HAITI
The order passed in q whisper down the line,
and the column paused on the edge Of the
morass. 1t was a moment Of suspense and
peril. Every man felt that in few minutes
the fate Of their hazardous enterprise would be
determined, ana that they would either be cold
in death, or the American flag waving in tri-
umph over the dark promontory ahead, now
scarcely discernble through the thick gloom
Of midnight. Yet not lip quivcrcd, nor
cheek blanched in that crisis. About twenty
PAGES in front the column, had halted, the for
Iorn hope OF one hundred and fifty men, with
unloaded pieces and bayonets fixed while fur
theT on a smaller group of shadowy forms
could be seen through the obscurity, accoutred
with axes, to cut through the abattis. Each
man had piece of white paper in his lat to
distinguish him from the fee in the approach
ing melee. The pause, was but momentary.-.
The general had already reconnoitered ap-
proaches to the still silent pronontory, and
waving his sword on high he gave the order.
In another instant the dark massive column
was moving steadily to the attack.
It was thrilling moment, during which
that devoted band crossed rapidly over the
marsh. As yet the enemy had not discovered
them. Even the hearts OF the oldest veterans
trembled with the eagerness of that moment Of
suspense. Already had the foremost Of the
pioneers resehed the abattiS, and the quick,
rapid blows Of their axes rang upon the night,
when suddenly d shout of alarm broke from
the fort, the gun of sentry flashed through
the gloom and in an instant all was uproar and
confusion within the astonished fortifcation.
Not a moment WAS 10 be lost. s,L
eAdvance! adyance!'' shouted Wayne, as
he pressed rapidly on towards the abattis, fol-
low in deatii-like, silence by his indomnitable
troops. a
''To arms % came borne on the night breeze
from the fort--'sto arns-to arrns,'' and then
followed the quick roll of the drum. In an in
stant the enemy were at their posts, and the
gallant continentals still maintained their 81
lent but steady march, fire, such as only des
peration could produce, burst, from every en-
brasure Of the fort. 81 The ineessant rattle of
the musketry, the roar. of, the artillery, the
crashing of the gIspe-shot, and the lurid light
flung the scene by the explosion of the
shells, and streams of fire pouring from the
fort, formed picture which no pen can des-
critic. Yetamid it all the daring assailants
steadily advancotis notia trigger had been pull
ed int their ranks. Faithful to the commands
of their general though trembling in every
limb with e;lgerness they kept mp their silent
march, amid the fiery tempest, as if impelled
by some god-like power. On-on-on they
pressed. The Bhiriwind of fire from the fort
ceased not; yet still they dashed along, charg-
ing at the point of the bayonet, over abattis
and bulwark, until the enemy, borne back by
their impetuous onset, quailed before them