Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-04-13

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l2 Founders and manned by two COM
panies of infantry and two Of grena-
diers. At FIVE different points pickets
were stationed, and the batteries com.
manded every approach. They might
enflade any advancing column. Tne
whole force was under the command Of
a trusted soldier, Lieutenant Colonel
H. Johnson. Thus prepared there is
no wonder the garrison believed that
an attack would be "a serious affair" for
the assailants
wAYNE's INSTRUCTIONS.
After his reconnaissance, Washing
ton prepared to surprise the fort, and
from New Windsor, on the 18th of Ju-
ly, he sent minute instructions to
Wayne, which were in the form of sug-
gestions, rather than in the form of a
positive order; and be gave the Gener-
al the privilege of changing any part of
the plan to meet the demands of cir
cumstdnces He suggested that the
execution of the enterprise should occur
at midnight, with the greatest secresv,
secured by the arrest of every person
found abroad or who might betray it.
lie recommended the attempt at SUI
prise to be made by only few compe-
tent and faithful men-'between one
and TWO hundred-with tried officers
preceded by vanguard of prudent and
determined men toremovc distractions.
to secure sentinels and to drive in guards
10 oil n1 Ln ~
white feather or cockade, or other con-
spicuous object, that might designate
friends from foes IN the darkness that
the surprise party should he supported
by the main body foil wing closely !;
that the advance party should move
with fixed bayonets and unloaded mus
kets; that the att.ck should be made
at three points, and that a watchword
should be agreed upon for the same
purpose as the badge of distinction.
Other details were given, and Wayne
acted in accordance with almost every
suggestion Wayne determined to
surprise the garrison ut Stony Point on
the night of July l5. The day was
suItry At noon he moved from his
encampment, about fourteen miles from
the tort, with three of his four regi-
ments, commanded respectively by
Colonels Butler, Meigs and Febiger
Washington had ordered down from
West Point about three hundred light
infantry under Major (atterward Cen
eraD Hull to increase the attacking
force also, two impanies of North
Carolina light troops and small party
of artillerists to man the guns of the
fort when they should be captured and
turned upon Verplanck's Point. The
march was over lofty, rugged hills,
through tangled swamps and difficult
mountain deiiles. Nearly the whole
distance the troops We're compelled to
march in single file They passed the
south side of the Donderberg while a
heavy thunder shower was raging on
its summit and beyond, and sending
down sudden torrents through the ra-
vines On this march the most perfect
silence had been observed, nd every
precaution had been taken to prevent
desertion. Every dog found on their
way when they app cached the vicinity
of the river was killed to prevent
alarms by their barking. At o'clock
in the evening, when daylight was fad
ing, the whole party rendezvoused
about mile and half below Stony
Point
POMPEY AND THE C0UNTERSIGN.
Among the Tory inhabitants and
weak -kneed time-servants in the vicin
ity of the Point, lived Mr. Lamb,
warm and faithful Whig. He was dis
liked by his Tory neighbors because he
had often circumvented the designs
against the patriots. He owned
shrewd negro slave named Pompey.
Soon after the British took possession
of Stony Point, Pompey went timidy
to the fort to sell strawberries to the
officers. He was kindly received.
When berries and cherries became
plentiful the negro carried on quite an
extensive trade with the garrison. He
became favorite with the officers who
did not suspect that he was reporting
everything he saw and heard in the
fort to Whg master. At length the
hoeing corn season coming on, Pompey
was kept at work in the fields during
the day, and his commercial relations
at the fort were likely to end suddenly.
He could only go there in the evening.
The officers, unwilling to miss their
supply of their delicious luxuries, gave
Pompey the countersign regularly that
he might pass the sentinels after dark
with his supply of fruit. In this way
be had become possessed of the coun-
tersign for the night of the 18th.
Wayne, aware of these facts, and fully
trusting the knowledge and fidelity of
the negro, employed him as guide
and chose the countersign of the garri-
son for the night-'The forts our own
as tie watchword of the assailing
troops.
In the gloom of that sultry evening
Wayne disposed his forces for the at
tack They were formed in two col
umns. At the head Of the right, and
twenty PAGES from it, one hundred and
fifty picked men, led by Lieutenant
Coi0nel De fleury, were PoSteu, anu
Just in advance of these were 'forlorn
hope of wenty men to remove obstrut-
tions and secure sentinels, commanded
by Lieutenant Knox, of the Ninth
Pennsylvania Regiment. At the head
of the left. in like manner, were posted
an advanced guard of one hundred
picked men, under Major Stewart, and
forlorn hope of twenty men, led by
Lieutenant Giddons, of the Sixth Penn
syIvania Regiment. Meanwhile Gen
eral Wayne and his field officers had
made final reconnaissance of the fort,
and when he returned he entered
house (Springsteel's) near by, which
he had made his temporary headquar-
tiers, gathered up his papers, wrote
letter to his brother-in-law, Sharp Du-