The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-07-05
STONY POINT.
The Story of the Storming of the fastness oi
the Hudson by Mad Anthony Wayne.

| Beach fourteen miles above Stony Point, Il
noon on this date Wayne and his 200 inian
try took up the line OF march over roads ant
paths 50 excessively bad and narrow that Il
was ) O'Clock in the evening before the val
reached the vicinity of the enemy's position
Compelled 10 pass over high mountains, across
deep morasscs and through difficult ravlnes
the column was stretched out the greater part
of the way in single file and only recovered
lis formation at the final halt The poin
where they stopped was near the house of one
Syringsieel Il mile and half from the British
works, and there
WAYNE MADE HIS LAST DISPOSITIONS
For the assault FIRST he went forward with
his principal officers and reconnotered the ap
proaches TO the fort Returning, he divided
his force into two stOrmlng cOlumns-sO fan
modifying WashingtOn's plan, which pro
posed but one such Column-and arranged
all details. II is interesting to note that ono
of the last things the bold soldier sat down
to do was TO write a letter TO q friend, expires
sing his emotions on the eve Of the desperate
work he supposed he had in hand, and to re-
quest that the education OF his children he
provided for. II am called to sup he wrote
but where to breakfast? Either within the
enemies Lines IN triumph, or IN an other
world
TIL T. PLAN A. FINALLY DECIDED tIoN
Was to advance simultaneously, on the right
and left and break through into the works
from nearly opposite points. His right col.
umn, which Wayne made the strongest, was
composed of Febigers Virginia men, then
Melgs Connecticut, with llull's Massachusetts
following, The left consisted Of the Pennsyl'
vania and Marylanders, under Butler, and
Murfyee's North Carollnians in the rear. The
final instructions to the corps were pointed and
imperative. Both columns were to move to
the assault with unlOadcd muskets and Go the
work with the bayonet alone If any man
should attempt 20 load his piece on the way,
he was to be put 10 death on the spot. The
utmost silence was 10 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 OWN
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 mann bodies might meet with as few
obstacles aS poselbl" in 'hcir '0r~0rl course.
each Wa 20 hr preceded Hy It 'turcru hr,.c..
which wa, IA act H. a 4, ,r.Irsc p,"t} ans sill
In front OF this were To Ue placed twenty volun.
teers, under determined officer, who were TO
cut away the abatls. For the right column
the "torlorn hope consisted Of $50 men, under
the gallant De Fleury, and the advance guard
of twenty, under Lieut.. Knox of the Ninth
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
honor either by lot or because Of their previ
Gus knowledge of the ground. Finally, all
things arranged, the whole body moved
FORWARD, ATHALFPtsT II O'CLOCK AT NIGHT,
With steadiness and determination that all-
cured nothing but success.
As in the case of all military exploits where
victory depends upon precision and rapidity,
the assault which now occurred was accom-
plised in remarkably brief space of time.
of an hour after midnight and
all was over. Even Caesars condensed dispatch
would have been to long to announce the re-
suit. The light infantry came, and conquered.
They saw" nothing; it was dark.
Twelve O'Clock was the time for the actual
charge To begin. To reach the Point within
assaultng 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 was lost--valua5le time
Just then, but fortunately not Il fatal loss. As
the two columns nearcd the enemy, Murfyce
and his North Carolinans, by previous IN
took position directly IN front OF
the British works, and opened rapid and
continuous fire, for the purpose of drawing
attention to themselves while the stOrmIng
parties moved silently on the right and left
This rus contributed to the nights success
Immediately there is hot work in progress,
THE HOPED FOR SURPRISE
Is out OF the question, for the enemy's pickets
had given the alarm. In ten minutes every
man of the garrison is up, completely dressed,
and at his proper station, If the fort is to be
aiken now, only hard fighting can don't Mean
while mighty courage and resolution seem
o urge on the American infantry with an ir-
'esistlhe resolute momentum. The valiant
Wayne, determined to share the perls rs well
rs the glories of the enterprise leads the right
column, spear in hand.
NOT A MAN FALTERs.
As they approach the two formidable lines of
ibatis which stretched across the Point IN
ront OF the main works, the fire from the enc
nys muSketry becomes tremendous and in
'essant." Although on account OF the dark
ness much of its effect is lost, men nevertheless
lere and there began to fall in the ranks Of
he light infantry. Lieut..Col. Hay. of Penn.
ylvania, "bravely fighting at the head of his
is wounded in the thigh Capt.
Ezra Seldcn, of Lyme,
\ HANDSOME YOUNG OFFICER FRESH FROM
YALE
'ollegc al the opening of the war, but now a
veteran of tour campaigns, and belonging to
Iol. STAIRS First Connecticut, RECEIVES Il well
nigh fatal wound in his side Though weak
rom loss of blood he makes his way into the
ort. y shot breaks the standard of Meig's re-
Iiment but Ensign lchabod Spencer tears
he colors oil, winds them round his arm, and
Keeps charging on. Out of twenty one oil
he advance parties seventeen are either killed |
n wounded, But on, on, the two columns 90.
The ascent is rocky, even PERCEPTIONS 1t takes
lme TO open passage through the obstruc-
ions, and men continue to fall. At the second
lbatis Wayne receives tcsh-wound in the
iead. Thinking it fatal at the moment, he
'alls on his two aids, Captains Fishbourn
md Archer, TO
AIRY HIM ALONG THAT HE MAY DIE N THE
FORT.
IN 1--WE minutes more the work is done The
head OF the right column reaches the sally port
II the main fort first, and the first man in il is