The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-07-17
STORMING OF STONY POINT.

STORMING OF STONY POINT.
The time fixed fer the assault was the
night of the 10Th of July. Starting out
from Sandy Beech, fourteen miles above
Stony Point, at noon on this date, WAYNE
and his twelve hundred infantry took up
the line of march over roads and paths
so excessively bad and narrow that it was
eight O'Clock IN the evening before the
van reached the vicinity of the enemy's
position. Compelled to pass over high
mountains, across deep morasSes and
through difficult ravines, the column
vas stretched out the greater part of the
jsay in single file, and only recovered its
formation at the final halt. The point
there they stopped was near the house of
4ne Springsteel mile and half from
:le British works, and there Wayne made
us last disposition for the assault. First
lie went forward with his principal Of
fcers, and reconnoitered the approaches
tl the fort Returning, he divided his
force into two storming columns-so far
modifying Washlngton'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 "a let
Ter to friend, expressing his emotions
on the eve Of the desperate work he sup
posed he had in hand, and to request
chat the education of his children be pro-
vided for. II am called to sup," he wrote,
''but where to breakfast! Either within
the enemies lines in triumph or in an
other world"
The plan as finally decided upon was
to advance simultaneously, on the right
ard left, and break through into the
"srks from opposite points. His, right
cogunln, which Wayne made the strong
es?, vas composed of Febiger's Virginia
m:n, then Mel gs' Massachusetts follow
inec. The left consisted of the Pennsvl-
anl Murfree's North Carolinians in the
rear. The final instructions to the corps
were pointed and imperative. Both col
umns were to move to the assault with
unloaded muskets, and do the work with
the bayonet alone. f any man should
attempt to load his piece on the way, he
was to be put to death upon the spot,
The utmost silence was to- be Observed
until the main work was gaineC, when
all, as they entered, were to shout the
watchword of the night" The forts our
oun!" To distinguish them from the
enemy IN the darkness of the night,
every soldier and officer was ordered t.
fix piece of white paper in ''the moat
conspicuous part of his hat or cap 1 nat
the'mai bodies might meet with IS few
obsEacles as possible in then forward
course. each was to be preceded by a
''forlorn hope,' which W. to act as
surprise party; and still IN front of this
were 10 be place twv nty volunteers, un-
der determined .ucer, who were to cut
away the abat;;. For the right column
the ::'torIorn Gpe" consisted of one hun
Dire: and l..ty men, under the gallant De
Fle'ry, nd the advance guard of oftwenty,
und-l Lieutenant Knox, of the Ninth
Pc..nsylvania; for the left column Major
otcward led the one party. and Lieuten-
ant Gibbons, Of the Sixth Pennsylvania,
the other. These officers had been as
signed to these posts of honor either by
lot or because of their previous knowl-
edge Of the ground. Finally, all things
arranged, the whole body moved forward,
at half-past eleven o'clock at night, when
a steadiness and Il determination that
urged nothing but success. ~
As in the case of all military exploits
where victory depends upon precision
and rapidity, the assault which now oc-
CURED was accomplished In a remarka-
bly, brief space of time. Three-quarters
of an hour after midnight, and all was
over: Even Caesars condensed dispatch
wou!:i have been too long to annouce the
result, The light infantry came, and
conquered. They ''saw' nothing; it was
dark
Twelve o'clock was the time of the ac-
tual charge to begin. To reach the Point
within assauIting distance It. was neces-
sary to cross the intervening marsh as
quickly as possible. Here there was an
unexpected obstacle in the overflow of
the tide, and Ia enty minutes were lost
valuable time just then, but fortunately
not fatal loss. As the two columns
neared the enemy, Murfrcc and his North
Corolinians, by previous instructions,
took position directly in trent of the
British works, and opened rapid and
continuous fire, for the purpose of draw
ing attention to themselves, while the
storming parties moved On silently on the
right and left. This ruse contributed to
the MI ght success. Immediately there Is
hot work in progress. The hoped for
surprise IS out of the question, for the
enemy's pickets have given the alarm.
In ten minutes every man of the gar
rison is up, completely dressed and
at his proper station. If the fort is to be |
taken now, only hard fighting can do it,
Meanwhile "a mighty courage and resolu-
ilon seem to urge on the American in
tantry with an irresistible momentum.
Ine valiant Wayne, determined to share
the perlls as well as TIE glorics of the en-
terprise, leads the right column, spear in
hand. Not man falters AS they ap-
proach the two formidable lines of sabatis |
which stretched aetoss ktke spolnt in front
OF the main works, the fire from the ene-
my's musketry becomes tremendous and
incessant." Although on account of the
the darkness much of its effect is lost.
men nevertheless here and there begin to
fall in the ranks of the Light infantry.