Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-03-19
THE NORTHWEST
"MAD" ANTHONY WAYNE.
Insubordination i'm the Revolution
How Wayne Disobeyed Lafayette
His Rage ut being Orderedt
Report to a"Fortune-Seek-
ing Frenchman."

The dreadful drama of the Revolu
lion, says the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette, was entering upon the last act,
in the spring Of 1881, through the
foot sore and ragged continentals
knew it not. The final storm burst
was centering in Virginia Layfayette
IN command of the Virginian army, was
compelled to evacuate Richmond be-
fore the advance of CORVALLIS; and
Arnold the traitor, at the head of g.
500 men, was marching to reinforce
the coufdant royalists.
Meanwhile General Wayne was en-
route from Pennsylvania to join Cen
eral Green in the Carolinas. But
Washington had ordered Wayne to
aid Lafayette, should the latter need
reinforcements in his resistance to
CORVALLIS. Lafayette's troops were
in dispirited and disorderly condi-
tion upon the retreat. and Cornwallis
knew it. In writing Of the persult
the Duke said:
"The boy can not escape me,
The "boyhood of the brave young
Frenchman was a source of ridicule
among the British officers, and of jeal-
Ousy among the continentals. OF the
latter General Wayne was conspicu.
Gus instance. His reputation, ranks
and violent temper made him intoler-
ant, and he never failed to give ex-
preston to his opinions in unmeasured
terms.
Wayne was but days march from
Lafayette when he received an order
from the latter to join and cooperate
with him, indicating therein the route
Wsyne's army should take, and the
point where the forces should become
united.
Upon reaching the designated point
Lafayette was surprised not to meet
WAYNE or receive any word from him
This delayed Lafayette's movements
and filed his mind with apprehen-
SION.
The Marquis thereupon sent his
aid-de,camp, Major Anderson, to urge
General Wayne to march with all
haste. This officer was Major Rich
ard Clough Anderson, aid de-camp to
Lafayette, the fathor of Major Ander-
son of Fort Sumpter memory, and the
late Larz Anderson, Esq, of Clncinna-
IT,
Major Andersen found Wayne in
camp, and received from him prom
ise to move up. At the end of three
days Lafayette, learning that Wayne
was not advancing, again sent Major
Anderson with peremtory order to
join him by forced marches; and Ma
jor Anderson was instructed to re-
main with Wayne, and to send for
ward hourly dispatches to his chief
until the troops should arrive at the
camp.
When Anderson reached Wayne
on his second mission he found that
General Wayne had moved but four
miles from his former headquarters
Upon entering the room that served as
adjutant's Office, Major Anderson sal
uted General Wayne and his staff
then, asking for pen, ink and paper
sat down to write. Looking up tc
Wayne whose curiosity had been ex.
cited by this proceeding, he told the
General that he had been sent by the
Marquis de Lafayette TO report the or.
der for his advance, and that as hi
was about to forward the first of the
hourly dispatches required of him hi
desired to know what should be tht
nature of the report. Wayne wa
amazed at the conduct Of Anderson
and starting at him he asked the aid
de-camp: 'tDo you mean to insul
me-"
Anderson denied having any sucl
intention, but said that in the course o
duty he carried the commands of su
perior officer. Wayne's voice, which
had been husky and choked with pas
sion, now broke forth: Superior
superior! Do you call any damned
foreinger, any boy, my SUPERIOR" H
then poured forth torrent of oath
and imprecations upon all foreigners
not sparing Anderson himself for hav
ing associated himself with "the for
tune-seeking Frenchman.' He be
came more vehement as he lashed him
self into a fury, striding up and dow
the room, stamping his feet in a par
yoxsm of rage. It was the indulgence
of these furious outbursts of temper
and not his rashness in that gave hin
the nickname of "Mad Anthon.
Wayne"
The account says that Wayne, ia
tigued by his violent actions and tn
vehemence OF his passions, gradual.