Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-08-18
gelerten 9isetllany.
STORMING OF STONY POINT.
STONY POINT,
ETVN1 7 UINT'
July 16, 1879, , o'clock, p. NJ.

-
DEAR GENERAL-Thc fort and garrison, win
Col. Johnson, are ours.
Our officers and men behaved like men who
are determined to be free. ANTY WAYNE.
70 GENERAL WASHINGTON
The above dispatch from General
Wavne announcedto Washington the cap
ture of Stony Point, on the night OF July
Is, 1873.
Stony Point was the name of strong
fortress on the Hudson river, which IN
May, 1878, was taken from Americans by
Sir Henry Clinton The loss of the forti-
tication was much lamentel by the Amer
lean chief; and he resolved to recapturo 1t
upon the earliest opportunity.
Stony Point, after its occupation by the
British, was made almost impreGnable.-
The fort itself stood upon huge rocky
bluff, which in time of high water was an
island. There was deep water on three
sides of the works, while the fourth was
morass broken and dangerous, spanned on
ly single causeway. A row OF dbot's'
with earthworks, and ditch lined with
sharp stakes, defended the head of this
causeway. Thus fortified, and being
strongly armed at all points with the can
on, Stony Point became indeed a formld-
able defense. 1t was garrisoned by full
complement of men under Lieut.. Colonel
johnson, who was directed by Clinton to
maintain his works unto the last eNtreml-
ty.
At this time Wayne was in command
of corps of light infantry, which he had
drilled to an admirable state OF discipline.
The men were nearly all from New Eng
land-tall, strong, intelligent and devoted
to the cause of liberty. They had every
confidence in their leader, whose ability
and courage, promptness and endur'nce
had won for him the title Of MAD ANriIo-
NY WAYNE To this man WAsHlNGroS
committed the duty Of capturing Stony
Point. 1t was desperate adventure, but
one well suited to the daring and lmpetu-
GUS nature of Genera WAYNE.
AT noon on the 18th of July, WAYNE
with his light infantry, left Sandy Beach
fourteen miles from Stony Point, and In
Indian file, and marching along the river
bank among the forests and ravines, arrlv'
cd about 8 o'clock in the evening, within
a mile and one half Of the fort. Here the
troops halted, and the general, with seve
ral officers, guided by an old negro who
familiar with the ground, went forward
and cautiously bnt thoroughly reconnolter
ed the entire work. The plan OF attack
~ was soon formed. His forces were divld.
ed into two columns Of one hunered and
fifty men each with forlorn hope oft TWEEN
ty men for each party. 1t may be well te
state here, that the British Garrison was
six hundred men, infantry and artillery -
Hating within short distance Of the fort
WAYNE made his final arrangements. He
told his men the desperate nature OF their
enterprise, and how important 1t Y IS iol
the patriot cause that Stony Point \ oulc
fall. He exhorted them to be brave, stead
fast, and neper to retreat. Then he order
ed the charge to be drawn from each musk
ct, for every man was to depend upon TIT
bayonet. Upon the front Of every soldier
hat was pinned piece of white paper t.
distinguish him Ffron the enemy, an'
WAYNE gave sdecial directions to the off
GERS that they should kill the first man VIII
smoke or acted without orders. This ar
ranged the two columns one headed b
Col. STEWART, and the other by lleu'
Col. De FLEuRY. A small reserve follow
cd. headed by WAYNE in person.
With the utmost caution the American
felt their way towards the eanseway.
was about eleven o'clock at night, yer
dark, and our forlorn hope were not dlsco'
cred until near the walls. Then sewers
sentinels fired their muskets, and the or
~ro arms TO arms! rang with startlln
appcssis upan the midnight air. and
al iustauItoe garrison was all IN commt