Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-13
STORMING OF STONY POINT.

nASnV " Cnc lotn VI 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
position. Compelled to pass over high
mountains, across deep morasses and
through difficult ravines, the column
was stretched out the greater part of the
way in single file, and only recovered its
formation at the final halt The point
where they stopped was near the house of
one Springfield, 6 mile and half from
the British works, and there Wayne made
his last disposition for the assault. First
he went forward with his principal Of
fcers, and accommodated 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. 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
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 left, and break through into the
works from opposite points. His right
column, which Wayne made the strong
est, was composed of Febiger's Virginia
men, then Meigs' Massachusetts, follow
ing. The left consisted of the Pennsyl-
vanians and Marylanders under Butler,
and 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. If 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 night g The forts orr
oaon! {" To distinguish them from the
enemy IN the darkness Of the night,
every soldier and officer was ordered t,
fix a piece Of white paper in ssthe 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," which VS. to act as a
surprise party; and still IN front of this
were to be place twenty volunteers, I'M
der, determined Ulcer, who were to cut
away the abat;,. For the right column
the ''torlorn lope'' consisted of one hun
dred and lilty men, under the gallant De
Fleury, and the advance guard of twenty,
under Lieutenant Knox, of the Ninth
Pennsylvania; for the left column Major
Steward 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
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 remarka-
bly, brief space Of time. 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 was
dark.
Twelve o'clock was the time of the ac-
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 twenty minutes were lost
valuable 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 trent 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
right and left. This ruse contributed to
the night success. Immediately there is
hot work in progress. The hoped-for
sst,prsss 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 y az i mighty courage and resolu-
ton seem to llrpe on the American In