The Republican journal., 1892-03-24
Stony Point and the Revolution.
BY PROF. F. W. GOWEN.
Written for the Republican journal. ]

BY PROF. F. w. GOWEN.
Written for the Republican Journal
Stony Point, of Revolutionary fame, is
a village on the banks of the noble Hud
son river, about thirty-five miles from
New York city. The place where the bat
tie was fought and where the ruins of the
old fort are yet to be seen, is about one
mile east of the village. Early one morn
ing stood upon this rocky promontory,
and looked upon the placid waters at it's
base. Here is where our forefathers fought
for liberty. Could these rocks speak, of
what heroic deeds would they tell. No
battle of the Revolution has more interest
for the student than that of Stony Point.
Here ''the great struggle of the Revolu-
ton in reality centered' But not even a
stone on this rocky summit has chiseled
upon it's face a record of this important
event. The government grounds are I'M
inviting and uncared for. The Sind Con-
gress should make an appropriation for
identifying these grounds. Travellers on
the West Shore railway, Ell route to AL
bany, as they reached this hallowed spot,
could then say: "That is Stony Point
where our forefathers met the British
forces. Look at that beautiful monu-
ment erected to Gen. Wayne and his dar-
ing men who fought their way up over
those rugged rocks to victory
| remember that when boy of twelve
l was greatly interested in picture of
this famous battle, and asked my silver
haired mother many questions concerning
it, receiving her answers as if they were
Gospel. little thought then that / should
ever visit this place. Yet l may now be
standing on the very spot where General
Wayne received a scalp wound from a
musket ball, and 1 can fancy 1 hear him
shout to his men: 'EMarch on Carry
me into the fort, for l will die at the head
of my column
The sentries have been taken, the Skin
mishers driven in, and Gen Wayne, sup
ported by Col. Tishbourn and Mr.. Arch
er, walks bleeding and faint into the works
of the enemy. Tradition states that the
shouts of victory were heard for miles
around, and re-echoed from mountain to
mountain. 1t was shouts for freedom
coming from the brave men, who had
sworn on the altar of liberty to give up
their lives in behalf of a great cause on
the smoky battlefelds of the Revolution
The news soon spread outside the fort
that mad Anthony' had gained the day
Immediately hundreds of women and old
men and boys unfit for service, hurried
forth from their hiding places to the field
of carnage with hearts beating high with
joy and triumph.
est. Georges cross is in the DUST
The gallant work is done;
Up go the brilliant stars and stripes'
And Stony Point is won.'
They brought food and water to the
hungry and thirsty soldiers; they assisted
in bandaging gun-shot wounds, and wit
messed the burial of the dead. A few mo-
ments after the carnage had ceased Cen
eral Wayne penned these immortal words
to Gen. Washington:
STONY POINT, 2 O clock, A. NJ,
July 10th, 1779
Dear General The fort and garrison,
with Colonel johnson, are ours Our Of
ficers and men behaved like men who are
determined to be free
Yours most sincerely,
ANTHONY WAYNE.
| How those words from the gallant
Wayne must have thrilled the soul of the
Father of our Country, who was weighed
down with anxiety and care, for dark
clouds of prejudice hung heavy over his
head.
Before the battle of Stony Point was
fought much of the wealth and aristoc-
racy of the colonies We're on the point of
compromising with Great Britain. Con-
gress also was prejudiced against Wash
ington, especially the Pennsylvania and
Massachusetts, delegations. But this bril-
liant victory at Stony Point inspired the
army with fresh courage, raised the droop-
ing spirits of every patriot band, and re-
newed confidence in the wisdom of Wash
ington. To-day as l stand here l realize
as never before the sutferings of our fore
fathers in their struggle for independence
They said, THAT the Kingdom of Great
Britain had no right to lay tax upon the
Colonies and appealed to the sword
Through the heat of summer and the cold
days and nights of winter, when the stars
looked coldly from the blue vault above,
they marched on fatigued, ragged, bare
footed, faint from want of food, and many
: with limbs frozen from exposure, while
over the frozen ground their footsteps
were traced by their o,rn blood.
Hallowed spot, good bye.
Mr.. Dodge on Masonry of the Past.
The local editor of the Journal has re-
ceived personal letter from Mr.. A. T. C.
Dodge, of Washington, D. c., relating to
Phoenix Lodge, which is of so much local
interest that we publish it below Mr.
Dodge writes:
Your history Of Phoenix Lodge, read at
its 18th anniversary, has been perused by
me with unusual interest, as it revives in