The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-16
STORMING OF STONY POINT.

The time fixed for the assault was ii,
night Of the 18th Of July. Starting gu
from Sandy Beech, fourteen miles above
Stony Point, at noon on this date, Waynt
and his twelve hundred infantry took u1
the line of march over roads and path!
SO excessively bad and narrow that it wa.
eight o'clock In the evening before thu
van reached the vicinity of the enemy's
position. Compelled to pass over higf
mountains, across deep morasses and
through difficult ravines, the column
was stretched out the greater part of the
'ay in single file, and only recovered its
formation at the final halt. The point
where they stopped was near the house Of
one Springfield, mile and half from
the British works, and there Wayne made
his last disposition for the assault. First
ne went forward with his principal of.
hcers, and reconnoitered the approaches
to 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. It is interesting to
note that one OF the last things the bold
soldier sat down to do was to write let
ter to a friend, expressing his emotions
on the eve Of the desperate work he sup
posed he had in hand, and to request
that 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
and lett, and break through into the
works from opposite points. His right
column, which Wayne made the strong
est, vas composed of Febiger's Virginia
men, then Meigs' Massachusetts follow
| ing. The LETT consisted of the Pennsvl-
Vanlans and Marylanders under Butler,
and Murfree's North Carlinians 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. # 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. gained, when
all, as they entered, were to shout the
watchword of the nj ght-'' The forts our
o~m" To distinguish them from the
enemy IN the darkness of the night.
every soldier and officer was ordered t.,
TX piece OF white paper in ''the most
conspicuous part of his hat or d. nat
the main bodies might meet with as few
obstacles as possible in then forward
course each was to be pl~2cded by a
"forlorn hope" which VS. to act as
surprise party; and still IN front of this
were to be place tw~ ,ty volunteers, un-
der, determined Ulcer, who were to cut
away the abat!'. For the right column
the "torlorA tpe' consisted of one hun
dred and '.-ty men, under the gallant De
Fleury, nd the advance guard Of twenty,
und.l Lieutenant Knox, of the Ninth
P~ .nsylvania; for the left column Major
Toward 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 bv
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 determination that
urged nothing but success.
AS in the case of all military exploits
where victory depends upon precision
and rapidity, the assault which nov: oc-
Cured was accomplished in remar a.
bly, brief space Of tine. Three-quarters
OF an hour after midnight, and all was
over. Even Caesars condensed dispatch
would have been too long to annouce the
result. The light infantry came. and
conquered. They ''saw'' nothing; it vas
dark.
Twelve o'clock was the time of the &C.
tual charge to begin. To reach the Point
within assaulting 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 t. enty minutes were lost
time just then, but fortunately
not fatal loss. AS the two columns
neared the enemy, Murfree and his North
Corolinians, by previous instructions,
took position directly in fr.nt of the
British works, and opened a rapid and
continuous fire, for the purpose Of draw
ing attention to themselves, while the
storming parties moved on silently on the
III oAu ACAC' AulS IuSC COuIrlDuCCO 10 |
the night 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
rlson is up. completely dressed and
at his proper station. If fort is to be
taken now, only hard fighting can do it.
Meanwhile mighty courage and resolu-
ton seem to urge on the American in
fantry With an Irresistible momentum.
I valiant Wayne, determined to share
the perlls as we'll as glories Of the en-
terprise, leads the right column, spear in
hand. Not a man falters AS they ap-
proach the two formidable lines If abatis
" h:ch stretched across the point in front
OF the main orks, the fire from the enc
my's musketry becomes tremendous and
lnccssant.' Althoug on account of the
tie darkness much Of it's effect is lost,
men nevert eless ere and there begin to
fall in the ranks of the light infantry.
Lleutenant-Colonel Hay, Of Pennsylvania,
'bravely fighting at the head of his bat
talion," is wounded in the thigh. Cap
tain Ezra Selden, of Lyme handsome
n