The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-07-03
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THE sToRMING OF STONY POINT.


The time fixed for the assault was the
night of July 10Th. Starting out from
Sandy Beach, fourteen miles above Stony
Point, at noon on this date, Wayne and
his 1900 infantry took up the line of
march over roads and paths 80 excessive.
ly bad and narrow, that it wasS O'Clock
in the evening before thevan reached
the svidpity Of the enemy's position.
Compelled to pass over high mountains,
across deep morasseS. and through diff
cult ravines, the column was stretched
out the greater part of the way In single
file, and only recovered it's formation at
the fnal halt. The point where they
stopped was near the house Of one
Springfield, a,mile and q half from the
British works, and there Wayne made
his last dispositions for the assault. First
he went forward with his principal off.
GERS and reconnoitered the approaches to
the fort. Returning, he divided his
force into two storming columns--sor far
modifying Washington's plan, which
proposed but one such column-and ar
ranged all details. 1t is interesting to
note that one of the last things the bold
soldier sat down to do was to write let
ter to friend, expressing his emotions on
the eve Of the desperate work he had on
hand, and to request that the education
Of his children be provided for. III am
called to sup" he wrote, "brt where TO
breakfast2 Either within the enemy's
lines intryumph or in another world."-
The plan as finally decided upon was
to advance simultaneously on the right
and left, and break through into the
works from nearly opposite points. His
right column, which Wayne made the
strongest. was composed of FebigeT's
Virginia men, then Meig's Connecticut,
with Hull's Massachusetts following The
left consisted of the Pennsylvanians and
MarYlanders, under Butler, and Muir.
frees North Carolnians In the rear.
The 6nal instructions to the corps were
pointed and imperative. Both columns
were to move to the assault with un.
loaded muskets, and do the work with
the bayOnet alone. II any man should
attempt to load his piece on the way he
was to suffer instant death. The ut.
most silence was to be observed until the
parapet of the main work was gained,
when all, as they entered, were to shout
the watch word of the night--"The forts
our owDW To distinguish them from
the enemy in the darkness of the night,
every soldier and officer was ordered TO
fix piece of white paper in the most
conspicuous part of his hat or cap" That
the main bodies might meet with as few
obstacles as possible in their forward
course, each was TO be preceded by a.
"forlorn hope,N which was to act as a
surprise party; and still in front of this
were TO be placed twenty volunteers, un.
der a determined officer, who we're to
cut away the abatis. For the right col
umn the "forlorn Eope" consisted of l50
men, commanded by De Feury, and the
advance guard Of twenty, under Lieut..
Knox, of the 9th Pennsylvania; for the
left column Major Steward led the one
party and Lieut. Gibbons of the Sixth
Pennsylvania the other. These officers
had been assigned to these posts of hon-
or either by lot or because OF their previ-
ous knowledge OF the ground. Finally,
oil things arranged, the whole body me-
we'd forward at half past eleven at night,
witkr q steadiness and determination that
argued nothing but success. d. 1fs sg
As in the case of all military exploits
where victory depends upon precision
and rapidity, the assault which now 0c,
curred was accomplished in remarGa'
bly, short time, Three quarters of an
hour after midnight and all was over.
Even C@Jar's condensed dispatch would
have been to long to announce the re-
suit. The light infantry came and con.
quered. The saw" nothing; 1t was
dark.
Twelve O'Clock was the time for the
actual charge to begin. To reach the
Point within assaulting distance it was
necessary to cross the intervening marsh
as quickly as possible. Here there was
an unexpected obstacle, in the overflow
of the tide, and twenty minutes we're
lost--valuable time just then, but tortu-
nately not fatal loss AS the two col
umns neared the enemy, Murfree and
his North Carolinians, by previous in,
struotions, took position directly in front
of the British works and opened a rapid
and continuous fire, for the purpose Of
drawing attention to themselves while
the stormng parties moved on silently
on the right and left. This ruse contrib
uted to the nights success Immediately
there is hot work in progress. The ho-
ped for surprise is out of the question,
for the enemy's pickets have gwen the
alarm. In ten minutes every man of
the garrison is up, completely dressed
at his proper station. If the fort is to be
taken now only hard fighting can do it,
Meanwhilea mighty courage and reso.
luton seems to urge ON the American in
fantry with an irresistible momentum.
The valiant Wayne, determined to share
the perils as we'll as the glories Of the
enterprise, leads the right column, spear
in hand, Not q man ,falters. AS they
approach the two formidable lines Of
abatis which stretched across the Point
in front OF the main works, the fire from
the enemy's muskeiry becomes tremen-
dous and incessant. Although on &C
count Of the darkness much of its effect
islost, men nevertheless here and there
beginito fall in the racks of the light inr
fantIy. yLieut-COl hay of Pennsylvania
''braYely fighting at the head of his bat
TALON" is woundedlin the thigh. Capt
Ezra Selden of Lyme, q handsome young
officerp fresh from Yale College at the
opening ofthe war, but now veteran Of
four campaigns, and belonging to Colonel
Stars hrst Connecticut, receives well
nigh fatal wound in the side. Though
weak from loss OF blood, he makes his
way into the, fort, A shot breaks the
standard OF Meig's command, but El.
sign Icabod Spencer tears the colors of,
winds them around his arm, and keeps
charging on Out of itWerty of one OF
the advance parties, seventeen are either
killed or wounded, But on, on, the two