The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-04-04
VOL. ii.
"MAD" ANTHONY WAYNE.
ATS Rage at Being Ordered to Report to
Fortune Seeking Frenchman.
lCfncinnati Commercial Gazette.l


q" Fortune Seeking Frenehman.
lCincnnad Commercial Gazettel
The dreadful drama Of the Revolu-
tion was entering upon the last act, in
the spring Of 1871, tho7gh the footsore
and ragged contnentals knew it not.
The final storm burst was centering in
Virginia. lafayette, in command of
the Nlrglnlan army, was compelled to
evacuate Richmond before the advance of
CORVALLIS; and Arnold, the traitor, at
the head Of $500 men, was marching to
reinforce the confidant royalists.
Meanwhile Gen. Wayne was en- route
from ennsylvania to Join Gen. Greene
In the Carolrnas. But Washington had
ordered Wayne to aid Lafayette, should
the latter need reinforcements in his re-
sistance to CORVALLIS. Lafayette's
troops were in dspirited and disorderly
condition upon the retreat, and Corn
wallis knew it. In writing of the pur-
suit the duke said; "The boy can not
escape me. )"
This "boyhood' of the brave young
Frenchman was 2 source Of ridicule
among British officers, and of jealousy
among the continentals Of the latter,
Gen. Wayne was a conspicuous instance.
His reputation, rank, and violent temper
made him intolerant, and he never
failed to give expression 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
Wayne'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 movements and
filled his mind with apprehension.
The marquis thereupon sent his aid
de-camp, Maj. Anderson, to urge Gen.
Wayne to march with all haste. (ThiA
officer was Ma. Richard Clough Ander
son, aid-de-camp to Lafayette the
father of MAJ. Anderson, of Fort Sumter
memory)
Maj. Anderson found Wayne in camp,
and received from him an ungracious
promise to move up AT the end of
three days Lafayette, learning that
Wayne was not advancing again sent
Maj. Anderson with a peremptory order
to JOIN him by forced marches; and Mai.
Anderson was instructed toremain with
Wayne, and to send forth hourly dis
patches to his chief until the troops
should arrive at camp.
When Anderson reached Wayne on
his second mission he found that Gen.
Wayne had moved but four miles from
his former headquarters. Upon enter-
ing the room that served as the adju-
tant's Office, Mai Anderson saluted
Gen. Wayne and his staff; then, asking
for pen, ink, and paper, sat down as If
TO write. Looking up to Wayne, whose
curiosity had been excited by this pro-
ceeding, he told the general that he had
been sent by the Mar uis de Lafayette
to report the order for his advance, and
that as he was about to forward the
first of the hourly dispatches required
of him he desired to know what should
be the nature OF the report Wayne was
ANA ed at tLo conduct of Anderson, and
staring at him he asked the aid-de- camp:
80 you mean to insult me-"
Anderson denied having any such in
tention, but said that in the course of
duty he carried the commands of su-
perior officer. Wayne's voice, which
had been husky and choked with pas
sion, now broke forth: "Superiorl su-
perior! DO you cal any id foreigner,
any boy, my SUPERIOR" He then poured
forth torrent of oaths and impreca-
tions upon all foreigners, not sparing An
derson himself, for having associated
himself with 'the fortune seeking
Frenchman." He became more vehe-
mont AZ he lashed himself into fury,
striding up and down the room, stamp
ing his feet in paroxysm ofsrage. II
was the indulgence of these furious out
bursts of temper, and not his well
known rashness in battle that gave him
the nickname of Mad Anthony
Wayne"
The account says that Wayne, fati
gued by bis violent actions and the We
hemence of his passions, gradually sub
sided into gcntleness of action. But any
reference to the object of Andersop's
mission led to u renetition of the pas
sionato outburst. An orcer succeeded
at last in turning the conversation from
the dangerous topic
Wayne having expressed himself con
fident of ultimate success Maj. Ander
son gave expression to his own gloomy
fore odings. Pressed for his reasons by
Gen. Wavne, Anderson replied that a,
the only hope of success against for
midahle foe lay in voluntary union ant
suhordinatio', the example he had wit
messed that day Of ON officer high il
rank, and of distinguished services, re
fusing to obey orders of a superior off
u Ger deprived him of the hope of usefu
or permanent success.
"Gen. Wayne" said Mai. Anderson
'1 look TO you to remove these appre
tensions.
This arraignment of Wayne's cours
seemed about to produce another storm
burst of passion; hut Wayne was
though enviouS and excitable, trn
patriot and soldier, and with almost tn
same heat with which he had refused t
obey afayette he cried out;
"Tell him Ill iine him! Tell him II
iine him. by Cd, tell him Ill jim
him Tomorrow"