The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-08-08
MONUMENT TO MAD ANTHONY.

MONUMENT TO MAD ANTHONY.
On the 10th of July, the people Of New
York assembled in great force, at Stony
Point, to witness the laying Of the corner
stone Of a monument to the memory Of the
heroic WAYNE and his comrades, who, on the
18th of July, l77e, stormed the fortress that
at that time crowned the height, and killed
or took prisoner the entire British force Of
600 regular troops, which held possession
of it.. The orator of the day made the fol-
lowing remarks
He said in addition to the ceremonies that
they had witnessed, of laying the corner
stone of a monument to the memory Of the
ilustrious dead, they were assembled to
celebrate the anniversary Of one of the most
fearless achievements that occurred during
the Ameriman revolutionary struggle-he
might say one Of the most brilliant exploits
that had occurred in the history of warfare.
1t was no less an undertaking than the
storming of fort strongly defended by ma
ture and by art, defended by heavy ordnance
and 600 men-the storming Of a fort Of
that description by 800 men, withouta load
ed musket, and solely by the bayonet.-
Those skilled in warfare say that twas an
exploit so brilliant that it would compare
with any in the history of the world; and we
might well this day be proud of it as one
they should remember and hand down to the
latest posterity as an example to Others. 1t
was proper that they should look briefly to
the circumstances ofsShe transaction itself
and to the peculiar tion of the country
when it occurred. far planted upon
one of the Businesses Hudson, Stony
Point had been alternately occupied by one
side and the other. They would rscollect
that little before, in 1777, all those for
tresses were taken possession of by the
British forces, with the design of advancing
to the north, and meeting Lieutenant Ledg-
er; but, thank God, they were turned
back at Fort Stanwix, and Burguoine was
defeated at Saratoga, and tho British re-
turned to the city Of New York. It was just
above this that Washington had his head
quarters, and saw the necessity of securing
these Businesses for the completion of his
line of communication. 1t was, he thought,
in the last of May, l77o, or in April, that he
took steps to fortify this post, as well as
Fort Lafayette upon the opposite side. The
fort was garrisoned by handful Of men,
and the British came up with fifteen or six
teen thousand men, and took possession
without striking blow, as also of Fort
Lafayette. This was about the first of June,
l779. 1t was strongly fortified by them with
the heaviest ordnance, and they regarded it
as the best point for defending their pro-
gress up the river. They placed six hun
dred men here-tried soldiers and skillful
engineers-and believed themselves impreg-
nable. This was the state of things when
General Washington conceived the idea Of
retaking the place. He asked Gen. Wayne
if he could undertake this expedition which
he had planned, which was to take it with
out loaded musket, armed with bayonets,
under circumstances that would require the
utmost courage in the breasts Of the SOL
diers. He submitted his plan to Wayne,
and asked him il he would undertake the
command of such an expedition. eyes"
said Wayne, s'I'll storm even He'll itself if
you'll only lay the plan.' He had conf
dence in the skill of his general. 1t was on
the 18th of July, 1879, that WAYNE started
from Sandy Beach, II or Is miles above,
and pursuing a circuitous route through n
rough county he at IL l-2 O'Clock prepared
to make the attack. Washington had pre-
ferred that the attack should be made at the
time when the garrison were taking their
first slumber, about midnight, because, he
said, it was the practice to storm fortresses
at the early hour of the morning, when the
garrison were awake. Wayne faithfully
carried out the instructions. Between II
and II, then, Wayne brought his men up to
the morass. He had to wait for the rece-
ding of the tide, and as it was, some Of his
men waded two or three feet deep into the
water. But how did he pass the sentinels?
There was a negro, slave OF Capt. Lamb,
and il his face was black he had as warm a
heart in his breast as any man. He used to
bring fruits to the garrison, who gave him
the countersign. He could not come he said,
except at night, for his master would not
let him, and he told him he might come
and he did come. [Applause.] He did
come, but with HIM came two honest looking
men dressed as plain farmers. They passed
the sentinels and gave the countersign, and
soon seized the two sentinels and bound
trem, thus effected the surprise. Wayne
uiNlueu MS Aorees lh'o .wo u1sisiohs, OF 10y
men each, one OF which wayne himself
commanded; and the other was put IN charge
of Gen. Mullenburg and Col. Poser. The
advance of each party was guard Of 20
men, called the forlorn hope, whose task it
was to clear the obstacles from the path
They were the first to expose themselves to
the deadly FIRE of the enemy, without being
able to return it, still they marched on.-
Before the party entered the enclosure they
were discovered and exposed to dreadful
fire, and Mr.. Wayne was struck by mus
ket ball and thought he was mortally wound
ed. He told his aids he wished to be taken
to the fort to die at the head Of his column.
He was among the first who entered the
e. - L., L., &c G1l, Il.