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

the coast OF connecticut.
TIE IIiHT INF. NTaY
Washington had corps of light in
fan,ry, composed ofpickcd men, draft
ed from the various regiments Of the
Continental army, and organized at
that time into four regiments under
the command, respectively. of Colo
nels Butler, Meigs, Putnam and Febi-
ger. Butler was one of gallant band
of four brothers who fought the good
fight for American independence from
the beginning He had been Wayne's
chief support in his hard conflict Oh
the field at Monmouth year before.
He was twenty-five years Of age, but
was already distinguished for military
genius, GOODNESS aud valor. Meigs
was a brave soldier, forty years old,
who had won the thanks of Congress
and the gift of sword for gallantry
two years before. Putnam was a
cousin of odd Put'-as the soldiers
called him-was skillful engineer, a
soldier of the French and Indian war,
and constructor of Fort Putnam near
West Point. He was forty-one years
and full of zeal for the A merican cause,
| Febiger was young Danish soldier
thirty-two years of age, who had
fought for the freedom of the colonies
ever since he was engaged in the fiery
scenes on Bunker's Hill. The corps
commanded by these good soldiers
were considered the elite Of the army
and Washington chose them for the
execution of his design against Stony
and Verplanck's points. To the bold
and faithful young soldiers, General
Anthony Wayne, then thirty-tive
years of age, Washington gave the
command of this corps on the lst of
July, 1779 This officer was graft
fed recipient of the honor and was
proud of the confidence of the COM
mander-in-chief Wayne was scrupu-
lously neat in his personal appearance !;
had exquisite taste in dress, and was
always disturbed by any violation of
good Judgment in costume or manners.
He was particularly disturbed by the
appearance of his corps when he took
command of them Through the neg
lect or poverty of the commissary de-
partment they We're scantily clothed in
varied soicd or ragged uniforms or no
uniforms insuiiicieutly fed, and lax in
manners and discipline. He immcdi-
aiely pleaded for reformation, and
asked particularly for supply of new
uniforms for the whole corps-believ-
ing in the moral influence of dress.
4 must acknowledge he wrote to
Washington, that | have prejudice
inlavor OF an elegant uniform and sol
dierly appearance, so much so, that |
would much rather risk my life and
reputation at the head of the same
men, clothed and appointed as could
wish, with Il single charge of ammuni-
rion, than to take them as they appear
in common with sixty rounds of car
ridges. 1t may be false idea, but ]
can't help cherishing it
Washington agreed with Wayne,
nut they were compelled to bend to
circumstances. The army was power
ty smitten. Only week before they
were to enter upon great undertak-
ing (to be mentioned presently y when
they had been twelve DAYS in camp in
the rocky region of the Donderberg,
the corps had received only two days
rations of fresh provisions and three of
rum. Net a particle of forage had
been furnished fnr the horses, except
ing the scanty tufts OF grass that shot
up among the stones; AID the store of
the commissarv of clothing was empty.
So Wayne was compelled to lead his
corps, in their piebald and wornout
uniforms, to the performance of eXtraor-
iinary deeds of bravery. These deeds
were performed under cover of night,
when the meanest and most gorgeous
uniforms were the same to the human
eye.
RECoNNoITRING.
From bis quiet nook at New Wind
sor, Washington instructed Wayne to
prepare for bold dash on the works
at Stony Point. The impetuous young
General was impatient to undertake
the enterprise On the day after he
took command of his corps he recon-
noitered that post, accompanied by
Colonel Butler and Major Stewart, of
the Pennsylvania line. The latter
was Wayne's brother-in-law. He was
a brave young 1rishman, ard was re-
garded as the handsomest man in the
Continental army. Wayne's ardor and
confidence were somewhat diminished
bv his observations, and he reported to
10 Rr:t ticl, Is IN
the western side of the Point (Which
only they had seen) were too formida
BILE to storm with any hope of success and
to make regular approaches was not
| feasible
He suggested that a surprise might
be effected, and at his solicitation
Washington rode down from New
Windsor to Wayne's camp between
| Fort Montgomery ano the Dor derberg,
and carefully reconnoitcred the works
on the 9th of July. Tories abounded
in the neighborhood, and reports Cf
every movement seen of the Americans
were quickly conveyed to the fort.
The garrison was continually on the
alert against surprise. Deserters, too,
gave information concerning the move
ments and conjectured designs of the
troops at their encampment among the
mountains. On the day after the re-
connoissance by Washington, letter
written to New York newspaper, at
Stony Point, said: Yesterday, Mr..
Washington, with several other rebel
officers. were accommodating our post,
attended with about five hundred men
thirteen OF which number chose to
come to US in the course of the day, by
whom we learn that the report among
them is that an attack on the post is in
tended. have no doubt it will prove
very serious affair to them"
The troops at Stony Point had rea-