The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-17
STONY POINT.
Celebrating the One Hundredth Ami
VerSary of the Battle.
BUNGLING AND DISAPPOINTMENT.
General Hawley's Address on the
DAY We Celebrate"

Probably the most elaborate failure witnessed
in the State was that which occurred at Stony Point
yesterday. whittier about ave thousand persons
led by promises of show and delusve offers of hos
pitality which failed of fulfment. The occasion was
the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of
the storming of Stony Point. and the object OF
the celebration the augmentat of a fund
wherewith to erect monument to General
Anthony Wayne. the hero OF the storming. First
and foremost. the committee having the affair in
charge issued great number of invitations to gen.
tlemen and ladies. who were informed in a circular
accompanying the tickets that free transportation
would be provided for them. Many of the holders
OF these tickets were compelled to pay when they
presented them. and others were compelled to land
from steamer in small boats In order to
reach dry ground. notwithstanding that the
com mittee had announced that the boat would land
ut the pier at Stony Point. These would be minor
points. not worth mentioning. if the part of the
programme in the immediate charge OF the commit
tee had been carried out. They are given in order
to explain the completeness of the failure
Long before the arrival of the guests of the
day fhc tent set apart for them
besieged by crowd Of natives, and
many ladies who had travelled all the
way from New York were compelled to stand out
in the blazing until almost overcome by the
terrible heat From beginning to end the affair
hodge podge. and even the programme, deliberately
detailed on tinted paper. was mudded. When the
band should have played there band to play.
when hymn to be sung there was no one
to sing it. and. as if to fill out the
outline of the farce. the presiding officer.
Judge Sufern. introduced Governor Hawley.
the orator Of the day by q wrong The dignity
Of the occasion seemed utterly lost those in
charge. and the affair conducted much after the
fashion of picnic or clambake. The distinguished
army officers present bore the ordeal with soldierly
fortitude. and but for their dignifed presence
the whole affair would have been
roaring burlesque. After the crowd had
been kept in waiting in the broiling
for almost no after the time announced the
cere monies began. Meanwhile the United States
ships Saratoga and Minnesota. anchored off the
point fred salutes of thirteen guns honor of the
rigina States. Judge Suffern made a short address,
in which he referred to the great event in
com memoration of which the audience had
assembled Chaplain Tullman. Of Haverstraw.
then made short prayer and the orator of the day,
Governor Hawey. was introduced. Such the
crowd on and around the stand that the General
found difficulty in getting from his seat General
Hustled asked that the crowd be thrown back in
order that General Hawley might have opportl-
nifty to speak. The crowd was requ ested by the
Chairman to move back. but it only receded for
moment to close mp again.
GENERAL HAwLEY's SPEECH.
Finally General Hawley stood up and began his
address. He said We have assembled to cele-
brate the centennial anniversary OF the most
derly and brilliant assault Of the Revolutionary War.
| We have in mind the erection of monument upon
this conspicuous base in this region rich natures
beauty and majesty to the memory of Anthony Wayne
and the brave 200 who this spot by their
unsurpassed valor. 1t delights to pay them this
slight tribute. 1t refreshes patriotism. II we
execute our purpose there will rise here monument
by the great highways of travel that will centu
res tell men to love their country and honor it's
founders. Bear with me while lead you through
some pages OF tanner history. on the way to the eli
/ n
Here the speaker passed in review the history of
the Revolutionary struggle up to the time of the
attack Stony Point. In his report to Congress of
this battle he declared that he had undertaken it in
order to satisfy the expectations of the people, and
greatest would be nsifnihcant. while the benefits
in case of success would be great. Then he con-
tnued:-
| 'MAD ANTHONY WAYNE"
Anthony Wayne was born in Easttown. Chester
was in full vigor at thirtyfour years of age What
there may have been in the personal bearing of the
man to give him the sobriquet Of "Alad Anthony
we do not know. True. lie was impetuous. enthu-
siastic he had full share of self-esteem;
he was noted for his careful attention to
called Dandy Wayne" but his military history
uniformly exhibits careful observation of the
necessities of his situaton most wise and prudent
management-indeed prudent is an adjective
Washington applies to him more than once-and
only in the supreme moment of action, precisely
when it became Indispensable. did he exhibit APP
parently reckless daring and sweep his men along
sent to Wayne Of his most characteristic letters
wholly in his own handwriting. in the neatest and
clearest penmanship, without q single erasure in
terlineation. containing the most minute and COM
plete instructions for the assault. In substance
| they were as follows The attack should be made
with the light infantry only. at night, and
with the utmost secrecy. And because a
son AT daybreak midnight is the hour chosen.
The duty of cutting OF all the approaches the
among whom was Captain james Chry site. some OF
whose descendants, residing at Newburg. are with
to-day. The order dated the 18th, was probably
the last written order Wayne gave before fight.
WAYNE READY.
At two O'Clock P. NJ. Wayne promptly responds that
he shall be ready at the time mentioned. Lieuten-
ant Colonel De Fleury takes command Of $50 picked
and determined men. moving about twenty PAGES in
front of the right column to enter the sally port
the right THAT is, the enemys left. the south side
| OF the fort. He is to detach officer and twenty
men, to little in front. to sentries and
remove distractions lieutenant Knox, of the Ninth
| Pennsylvania. commanded this forlorn hope) the
column to follow through close in the rear. with
Wayne and Febiger at their head. .when the works
are forced and not before, the victorious troops
they enter will give the watchword 1.-The forts our
ownl' with n repeated and loud voice. and drive the
enemy from their works and guns. which will favor
the passage of the whole troop. To an appeal to
the patriotism and State pride of his troops Wayne
adds. by authority OF Washington. All oler of $500
and immediate promotion to the first man entering
the works. $500 to the second. $500 TO the third $500
to the fourth and 500 to the fifth Any soldier at
tempting to retreat foot or skulk is to be immcdi
ately put to death, ''that he may longer disgrace
the name OF a soldier or the corps State he be-
longs to-" And he closes thus;-"As General
Wayne is determined to share the danger of the
night he wishes to participate in the glory of the
day in common with his fellow soldiers. The tort
was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel H. johnson.
| OF tho Seventeenth foot. Tho upper works were
defended by four companies Of the Seventeenth. one
Of tho Loyal Americans, or tories, numbering sixty
eih and detachment of the royal artillery num-
boring ifty-onc and the lower works manned with
two companies OF tho Seventeenth and 100 grona-
diers OF the First rcgmenta total OF GA rank and
fle."
ADVANCE.
This then. was the party against whom Wayne
and his men had to proceed. II is half-pa eleven,
and midnight is the hour to charge low call of
'BattalionV passes along down the line. A whispered
Close up, men! Steady, nowi and the step Is a
| little quckened. Knoxs twenty the right
coming down to the beach find they must wade in
| two feet OF tide. Buffers column the left
the brook. turn to the LETT. straight toward tho
| ferry and the right flank of the enemy. Who will
get the first shoty Knox gets it before reaching the