Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-11-26
THF STORNINGODNY POINT.

The night had alreadHled down gloomy
and foreboding, on thes ling of the 18th Of
July, l77s, when the Shcing column of
little army, whose unifobetokened it to be
American, emerged fronthick wood on the |
shore of the Hudson,s in an instant the
whole dim and shadowysspect disclosed to
them along the bank ofs:tiver, opened to the
sight. Far away lay ylank's Point, now
buried in mass Of shad while on the other
side of the river dark .pny, and frowning,
rose up the craggy hei3 of Stony Point
Washed on three sides be Hudson, and pro-
tected on the other, excsFong narrow road,
by morass, the fort waeemed one OF the
most impregnable on tkser; and its capture
regarded as most impohe. Yet to achieve
that gallant purpose, tbittle army was now
upon its march.
A turn in the road SO, hid them from the
river, and after a silent lrch of some minutes
duration, they arrived wn mile and half
of the enemy's lines, ohalting at the COM
mand of their officer, foed into columns for
the attack. Beginning:.in their march, the,
soon reached the marshS Sound at the base OF
the hill.
"Histw said the loWoice of the General,
front; "We are nigh er9h now-Halt."
The order was passed a whisper down the
line, and the column pand on the edge OF
morass. 1t was MONT Of suspense and
peril. Every man felt 1t in a few minutes
the fate of their hazardbi enterprise would be
determined, and that tRWould be either cold
in death, or the Ameia flag waving in tri-
umph over The dark proontory ahead, now
scarcely discernable throyh the thick gloom OF
midnight. Yet not lipluivering nor cheek
blanched in that crisis. bout twenty PAGES IN
front of the column, haalalted the forlorn hope
of one hundred and fS, men, with unioaded
pieces aud bayonets Ed, while farther on
smaller group of shadRy forms could be seen
through The obscurityI accoutred with axes to
cut through the aballf! Each man had piece
Of white paper in hfhat to distinguish him
from The foe in The approaching melee The
pause, however, whis afforded this prospect
was but momenlary. The General had already
rcconoitered the approaches to the still silent
promontory, and wavtg his sword on hlgh, ne
gave the order. In alo,her instant, the dark
massive column was, moving steadily to the
attack.
It was thrilling mdnent, during which thai
devoted band had passa rapidly over the marsh
AS yet the enemy hat not discovered them :,
the hearts Of the oldeI veterans tremblcd VIII
The eagerness of that moment OF suspense,
Already had the foremost of the pioneers reach
ed the abatlis, and tht quick, rapid blows o
their axes rung upon ti:t night, WIN suddenl'
sSas z. a5aE@ RF4 t9s III ~
the astonishcd fortification. Not moment Wa
then to be lost.
"Adrance advancem shouted Wayne, as h
passed rapidly on towards the abattis, followed
in death like silence by the iudomitable troops
"To arms!" came borne on The night breez
from lhe 'fort-"to arms! to arms!" and tn
shout followed the quick roll of the drum. Il
an Instant the enemy were at their posts, and a
the gallant conlinenlals still maintained thel
silent bul steady march, Il fire such as only des
pera,ion could prodnre, burst from every EN-
brasure of the fort. The incasant rattle Of tn
musketry, the roar of artillery, the crashing O
the grape shot, and The lurid light flung ove
The scene by the explosion Of lie shells, ant
the stream, of fire pouring from The fort, form
cd picture which no pen can describe. yct
amid it all, The daring assailants steadily ad
vanccd though moi trigger had been pulled i
their ranks. Faithful 10 the command Of thcl
general, though trembling in every limb wit
eagerncss, they kept up their silent march, am
the fiery tempest, is if impcltcd by some god
like power. On, on, on they pressed Tn
wliriwind of fire from The fort ceased not; yc
still they dashed along, charged at the point
the bayonct, over abatlis and bu'wark, until III
enemy borne back by thsir imprluous onSe
uuaIcd before them. The works were torcet
Then, and not till then, was the deah.likc 81
lencc broken. A sound rang Out from The vic
torous troops over all The thunder Of the battle
1t was heard by the head of the column behine
it passed down their line, WAS caught up by IN
rear, and wild shout, making the very welki
tremble, rung out as they dashed on TO til
attack.
The contest was short, but terrific. Owe
bulwark, battery, and prosIrats~foes the gaian
continentals, headed BY Wayne, pressed, dlvlc
ing all befure them, net the column OF the'
little army, with an enthusiastic cheers, IN IN
very centre of the en.my's works. In anothe
moment the starry fig of America waved tr
umphantly over the battlements.
The enthusiasm of the yictors cannot be de
scribed. But though lie contest had been >
bloody, not man Of the enemy fell, after resi-
tance ceased. The prisoners were disarmed'
guard placed over them, and sentrles posted o
all the commanding positions around the work
The morning sun announced to the British flee
in the river that STONY PoINT WAS WON.
A MILLIONAIRE "DoNE."-A wel-know