The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-12

drafts from the New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, New York, and New Jersey regi-
ments Is explained by the fact that these
troops were just now far on their way,
under Major-General Sullivan, to chastise
the murderous and pillaging Indians and
their Tory friends in Western New York.
One general and ten feld-officers-al
tried soldiers Of three and four years SER
vice, veterans of nearly every field from
Bunker Hill to Monmouth-were detailed
to commands in the infantry. The leader
ship fell, by Washingtons unerring selec-
tion, to that ready, magnetic, dashing,
almost reckless, officer who has passed into
ouriiresdc tales as Mad AnthonyWa
The choice was the best that could have
been made at that time, for the light in
fantry of 1879 had been selected with
critical service specially in view, and it
needed, above all things, a commander who
was known for his fearessness and skill in
action, aud who could inspire his men
with something Of his own determined and
martial spirit.
Equally well fitted for their work we're
the several battalion commanders. The
Virginia detachment was fortunate ia be-
ing led by so good an officer as Christian
febiger, soldier Of Danish birth, now
colonel of the Second Regiment of the
Continental Line from that State, who 10
1915 had been one of the heroes Of Bunk
er Hill and Quebec. Under him Febiger
had Thomas Posoy, "born on the banks
OF the Potomac, who had received his
training as captain in Morgan's famous
rifle corps, and had since been promoted
to be major of the Eleventh Virginia,
For the single Maryland battalion Major
John Steward-"Jack" Steward, as he was
more Familiarity known-had been detailed
as eommandant. The few brief references
to him in the records of the time imply that
he was an officer as gallant as he was
gallant Aftcr faithful service through
the war, latterly as lieutenant colonel Of
the Maryland line, he unfortunately met
his death in 1888 by fall from his horse,
near Charleston, South Carolina. Penn.
sylvania was represented by Colonel Rich.
ard Butler, of the Ninth; aud Lieutenant.
Colonel Samuel Hay, Of the Seventh Reg
iment, both Of whom were officers of ex.
perience and approved courage. Both
had been with Wayne in Canada in 177G;
both were with him in the savage affair
OF Paoli in the following year; Butler and
Wayne were together in the thick Of the
fight ut Monmouth, and all three were to
do capital service on the present occasion.
The two full battalions from Connecticut
were led by Colonel Return Jonathan
Meigs, of the Sixth, aud Lieutenant. Col.
onel Isaac Sherman, of the Second Regi.
ment. Meigs knew something about
storming, for he was one Of the expcdi.
tion to Quebec, where he was taken pris.
oner with Morgan, Febiger, and their
comrades, and afterwards he increased his
reputation by brilliant surprise of the
enemy at Sag llarbor, on Long Island. A
man with noble forehead and n kindly
though determined countenance, he seems
to have been as successful 10 war as his
father had been in love.making. There
was good reason why he should have
been given jus. the name he had. JON
athan Meigs senior, having carried his
courtship to the point of proposing, pro.
ceeded to put the momentous question to
his Dorothy, The artful Dorothy shook
her head as if thai could neyerbe. Imme
diately the rejected lover turned sadly to
ruminate upon his disappointment, when
the maiden brought him to her side again
with the whisper, Return, Jonathan;
Return, Jonathan" This laconic mes.
sage, which made the two souls happy,
was preserved as name for the young
Meigs who followed, to become one Of the
glorious band who rushed ON Stony Point.
In Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Sherman, of
New Haven, We have son of Roger Shcr.
man, the signer Of the Declaration of Iu-
dependence, who had been at Trenton and
Princeton, and had seen continuous sery-
ice from the opening of the war. The
Massachusetts light infantry, not as vet
organized as intended for the campaign,
but still select body, was commanded by
Major William Hull, of Colonel Michael
Jackson's Eighth Continentals, from that
State. Hull, though young man, was
now veteran of many fields, having
served through the siege Of Boston, at
Long Island and White Plains, at Trcn.
ton and Princeton, and at Saratoga and
Monmouth. The remaining detachment
consisted of the two North Carolina com
panies, which were led by Major Hardy
Murfree, of the Second Regiment. IL Is
to him, without doubt, that Elkanah Wat
son refers in his travels as an "intrepid
officer Of the Revolution whom he found
after the war busy with his plantation on
the Meheriu, whore the town of Murfreos
borough has since grown up. In the last
Of tho feld-ofhcers we have the distin-
guished Frenchman Lieutenant Colonel
DE Fleury, who had made his mark at the
Brandywine and Mud Island, and who, as
a staff.oficer, had been assigned to duty
with Febiger and his Virginians. A corps
with such soldiers aud such leaders could
not have failed in any enterprise that it
was possible for men to carry through,
The time fixed for the assault was the
night of the 18th Of July. Starting out
from Sandy Beach, fourteen miles aboro
Stony Point, at noon on this date, WAYNE
and his 1900 infantry took up the line Of
matVh hoNer foaus anu paths so excessively
bad aud narrow that il was eight O'Clock
IN the evening before the van reached the
vicinity Of the enemy's position. Com.
pellcd to pass over high mountains, across
deep morasses, and through difficult ra.
vines tha lnlgmp was stretched ont tho
greater part of the way in single file, and
only recovered its formation al tho final
halt, The point where they stopped was
near the house Of one springsteel, milo
aud half from the British works, aud
there Wayne made his last dispositions for
the assault. First he went forward with
his principal officers, and reconnoitred the
approaches to the fort Returning, he
divided biz force into Two ssormine col
umns-sa faV modifying Washingtons
plan, which proposed but one such column
land arranged all details. II Is interest
Ing TO note that ono Of the last things the |
bold soldier sat down to do was to write
a letter 70 a friend, expressing his emo
tious on the eve Of the desperate work he !
supposed be had in hand, and 10 request |
that the education ofhis children be proyii. /
ed for. ~ am called TO sun. he wrotc sslut