New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-17
CELEBRATING STONY POINT.
A RATHER TAME AFFAIR.

A LARGE GAIHKRING-MAEY DRsCENDANTs OF
THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN THE ASSAULT
pRTsENT-GENERAL HAwLTY's oRATIoN-isTtR-
EsTING REMINIsCENCEs Contributed BY II. r.
JOHNSTON, COLONEL FEBrGER AND oTHERs-TlE
SHAM BATTLE GIVEN UP or ACCOUNT OF THE
HEAT.
fFRoN A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE rRIDUSE.l
STONY POiNT, July 16.-lt must be con-
fessed that tho enterprsing committee who planned
and execute the commemOration OF Mad Anthonys
midnight victory this torrid promontory, did not
avail themselves in full measure OF the
lessons which that brilliant capture so plainly enforced
At all events their conduct was not charactefHen py
that prudent attention details which was so slgnaH
illustrated in the plans OF Washington aud wayne
Matters had become pretty piomiscuons mere
by noon to-day and the celebration threatened
at one time TO break altogether loose from tho com
mittee's control and celebrate Itself IN some
disorganized and happy-go-!ucxy fashion rs crcuu-
stances should suggest and the brong heat permit In
one of the dispatches OF General Patlsou OF ms Mas
Tvs army who commanded the garrison here he
states that he had cut all the trees hercabout TO
let his guns have deailier sweep, and the
trees haven't grown up I'm the intervening cen
tury The gray rock is covered in some places Win
a growth Of eveTgreens, but on the summit "hefe he
fort is supposed to have frowned there Is no pioteeE
shadow. The Grand Tent where the literary Ie"-
mres OF the entertainment were held, sheltered
patriotsm was sizzling on the bare rock outside.
Perhaps 1000 hungry and thirsty patriots were pic
ncklng, with goOd-humored suffering, III thc sum- WIZ
hearts for any fate, and only encouraged by az occa
sional salute from the men-ofwar IN the TVer ana from
the historic and very noisy 2pognder which was one OF
the trophies of wayne assault The old gun wac brought
up once more TO celebrate its own capture ana th'
dstincuisbed guests were informed that 1t took fifty
eight stout BrItOns in harness to drag II up mere orlh
ally for the benign purpose Of quelDg instruction aud
domestic violence.
soon after noon the celebration broke in the tent
acco ding to the programme. with warm address oil
welcome by Judge sufern. of Rockand County, ana
n PRAYER by Chaplain Freeman. Owing to the
dspersed condition of the Putnam PhaanX Giee CuD'
the singing Of the national hymn was dispensed WIN
But there was volunteer music by TIE band ana seiec
tons from large aud varied assortment Of letters from
distinguished invited guests, were next read Among
those who sent their regrets were all the members
OF tbe Cabinet The Chief Justice, several Governors
OF States Generals Sherman and Sheridan, Admiral
Porter and the French Admiral Peyron' commanding
the Naval Division Of the West Indies.
When the time arrived Tor General Hawleys Grafton,
the so-caIled grand stand and tine space Immediately
abou, IL was rather than flied with distinguished
company Conspicuous among these were General Han
cock and his staff Commander Luce OF the Minnesota;
General Alison Professor and JuigeAdgocate Asa Bird
Gardiner General James w. Hustled, Coneressmen Fer
don ana Voorhees, and Mr.. browne, prominent officer
OF he
men noted for their labors the history OF the Revou
tionary era were Benson j. Losing Mr.. Edward T. De
Laneey Mr. william Keby, and Sir. G. II. Townsend. OF
yewHayen whose recent investigations have brought TO
hight some dispatches of Sir Henry Clinton which show
new light upon the campaign Of 70. The ineal de-
4Cendants OF Waynes storming party mustered In con-
siderable force OF these may be named Colonel Febger
L. s. A. grandson of the Colonel Febiger who led sthe
RIGHT stormng column and Lieutenant Lea Febiger, U.
Colonel william Wayne, great-grandson OF General
WAYNE. and Lieutenant Anthony Wayne Wedges,
L. s. A.; Posey s. Morris, grandson Of Major
Posey, OF Febger's Virginia Regiment: Meigs
Whaples, gTeat-grandscn OF Colonel Meigs, OF
the 4th Light Infantry; DR.. Pharcellus
Church. whose father one of the forOrn hope; and
Mr. Frederick A. Benjamin. OF sratiori Conn, and
eleventh child OF the Adiutant Benjamin, who, at the
age of twenty-ihree, was IN the for0rn hope with
Fleury Mr. Benjamin had with him the orderly book
OF hi father contained the original orders for the
attack on Stony Point and perhaps his rccolections OF
the celebration would be pleasant If an unpatotc
thief had not storntd his pocket aud captured his
watch The various military organizations were all
mere as advertised and with the Putnam PhalanX came
Colonel J. n. Bacon OF the % Connecticut Regiment.
an organization which has been kept in vigorous exist
ence since the ght when Colonel Meg led several of
its companies over the parapet after Wayne.
General Hawley'S address consisted oi careful his
torc sketch which led to the night he
celebrated vivid account OF the assault and
concise statement OF the results OF the victory and
eloquent peroratiOn, all If which he delivered in his
vigorous and effective style.
General Hawey, in the course Of his address,
gave the following description of the capture OF stony
Point:
Al noon on the 15tb General Waynr's twelve hundred
started from Sandy Beach, fourteen miles above Stony
Point and tOoK their march over the toughest OF roads
and paths, going sugle hle aud recniug Spring
sieebs o'clock mile and hall from the fort aud
hang for last words and orders, aud waiting the
time. The time Is up. IL ~ hali-past II aud
talion" passes along down the line Tine columns are
lly formed aud ready for the attack, and each man
bears upon his cap the pacn or white paper that Will
says nm from his friends. Each knows he watch.
word to make IL true There Is not loaded
by Mnl frees North Caroinlans There IS tsat-
ening OF belts. a 6utIonlng Of coats. tx
with his twenty leading the right column, The gall
liant Frencnman. De Feury. following with 100, aud a
few PAGES behind. Wayne with Irebiger and the VIZ
ginia regiment. Then Meigs and HUI with thrir Con-
nectcut and Massachusetts men, They have furhest 10
marcn. IN they divergc to the right. Butler con-
Times with he leit coumn Lieutenant G.Ooons ana
III k hundred I" 10 ing hurfree and his North Caro-
Iii ins leave Butirr moving 10 the right ana
eel, re. mile IL r. most midnight, the marsh ana
the RIVER To the Sgu, and The rough, DIN outline Of
the prUmontory ana stili no gn OF me- whispered
" Close .. men Steady now " ana the step is Iii tie
qmckened- KuOx's twenty men on the right coming
down the beach hDd they must wade in two feet OF
tide Buffers column on tbe lett cross the brook urn
10 The straight toward the ferry aud tue rght Hank
of the enemy. VINO will get the first shOt Knox gets it
before reaching the wafer sharp ndsh quick report
rom a sergeanfs picket down near the beach ut just
1920 Another slot and another. shout up the bill
Tle rand roll drum, hundred cries the hill,
Fall Ia Fan ID, men Fan IN i" Aud stu the Drum
rolls. TINS is surprlsc. Those sc0undrely deserers
that left tering party last week told them
something aud the order book round In the fort
tells The loTce armed and equipped and the
works AT o. and lie on their arms. No mater are
ali well al now. Hold fast menl Hear them the !
hill. In Battery I" Heavy wheels trundle up and |
chuck against tne reYetmeut great Aish lights up
the whole hi, blast ngnt down III our faces. And
another IRON the twenl-iOur FOUNDER and shower of
crane aud canister fly Nigh Yes, thank God little
high, with whish !. and rush rght over our heads