The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-14


1870 - ,SLSi GUS bearing in the
field and in coun-
ellis. Nevertheless there were campaigns
and battles that showed tho highest ca
pacity, and suggest that with ample re-
sources and a chance to force the fighting,
Washington might have won all mankind
over to the view expressed by Frederick
the Great, who called him the greatest
general in the world" One such affair was
the capture Of Stony Point, on the Hudson,
the night of July Is, 1779
The year was one of great trial for the
patriots Provost was ravaging South
''arolina with his Indians and Tory allies;
Mathews was raiding southeast Virginia,
laying waste TO whole counties, and Gov
ernor Tryon, of New York and Connecti-
cut, leisurely rocked in an easy chair while
the towns Of the revolutionists melted
away before the British torch. Washing
tons army lay at the Highlands, weak in
men and resources and hampered by the
cabals at the seat of government, and only
able to keep up communications with dis
tant sections, without attempting grand
campaigns. In order to divide the patriots
Sir Henry Clinton moved up the Hudson,
and seized and fortified Stony Point as a
measure to cut New England of from the
middle and southern colonies. The posi-
ton was a high bluff or promontory, sur
rounded by water at times, and in dry
times connected with the mainland by a
narrow causeway over a swamp. It was
well equipped by Clinton and manned with
600 men, enough on level ground to with
stand 5000, but in such a fortress presum-
ably able to keep at bay all that could be
brought against them. But Washington,
weak as he was in men, determined to
make the attempt, counting on boldness
rather than numbers He chose for leader
Mad" Anthony Wayne, whose deeds at
the Brandywine and Monmouth were an
earnest of the stuff that was in him. When
told that be had been selected to storm the
strongest fortress in America be declared
TO his chief, 81 will storm hell if you will
only plan it."
Great caution was necessary, for the
place was but forty-two miles from Gin
tons base at New York, and the Hudson
was open to him to send up reinforce
ments in case he should suspect move
ment against Stony Point Wayne had
1900 men, and the day before the attack,
which was to be at night, he was at Sandy
Beach, fourteen miles from the fort. The
intervening distance was over rocks,
through swamps and through forest clog
ged with fallen trees. The column moved
in Indian file, and after tedious march,
i'll fitting for the eve Of such an undertak-
ing, it arrived before dark within a mile
and a half of the scene. At this stage
stratagem must come in, for an open attack
on the fortress before them would be fool
hardy. Wayne and his officers personally
reconnoitered, and they found negro who |
had the privilege of entering the fort at
night with the password to sell fruit and
other delicacies. 1t was decided to make
use of him to silence the outer sentinels, so
that the garrison should not be got under
arms before the attack was under way.
The storming column was divided into
two parties, right and left, and each was
preceded by body of picked men with |
unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets !
Lieut.. Col. De Fleury led one advance body |
and Maj. Stewart the other These were |
preceded by fOrlorn hopes of twenty men |
each, under Lieuts Gibbon and Knox. The |
latter were to remove all sbatis and OBJ |
structions, including guards and sentinels. |
The main divisions were headed by Wayne |
and Col. Butler. Wayne had two regi- |
ments, Febriger's and Meigs', and Butler |
his own regiment, with two companies IN
der Maj Murfey.
The wide morass and causeway behind |
the point were guarded by two sentinels, |
whom it was essential to silence before at |
tempting the difficult passage. The negro, |
accompanied by two soldiers in farmers |
garb, approached these one after the other, |
gave the countersign and drew near. The |
farmer looking men seized the Britons and /
promptly gagged them to stide any out |
cry. The whole command of Wayne now
crossed the morGss, and at 11:30 began the |
steep ascent. All the dogs of the neighbor-
hood bad been killed during the evening |
TO prevent any cutlery, but in some way the
sentries on the hill took alarm and opened .
fire. The Americans did not answer, but
relied on the bayonet when the time came.
''To armsl To armsr sounded in the fort,
and in a few seconds volley of muskes
shots and grape swept down the incline
The hillside had double rows of abatis,
and these the advance guard had not time
10 clear away entirely. The troops quickly