New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-14

Charles j. stie. president Of the Historical So
cdety Of Pennsylvania. Up. X, AL. Dc d. Lip
plncOtt Company
The most striking feature of this book Is the
defence Of the fame Of General Wayne from 'he
stigma implied in the epithet " Mad Anthony
lie is here shown TO have been commander quick
TO grasp the advantages or necessities OF sltua-
ton and prompt to act upon intuitions when
were not hare-brained fancies but the Trustworthy
suggestions of military genius. Some previous
historians are criticised for the use they made OF
the unfortunate phrase; but it does not appear
that ony deliberate attempt has ever been made
to deprive Wayne Of the just reputation of his
deeds After all ii must be remembered that
Revolutionary tradition would he deprived OF
some of its most picturesque aspects If certain
telling phrases were to be translated into less
fgurative language. Curiously enough Wayncs
sobruuet was not bestowed upon him until the
war was nearly over. Throughout the earlier
years his popular renown restel on popularity
recognized a Gccessary element in good general
ship. though not always alluded to with pleasure
by victims lie was an expert in getting sup
plies and in preventing them from reaching the
enemy This led to his being known as Drover
Wayne, and he was so called in Andres ballad OF
The Cow Chase Andre meant, no doubt. 70
increase the contempt professcd, but not felt,
among the Royali5ts for Wayne; but his words
were rather testimonial Of merit.
There was one trait of Wayne's character which
goes far to Justify the epithct Of Mad Anthony.
lie was a strict discipnarian not in the manner
of martinez drilling for drills sakc but with the
purpose of a man who saw only one way to make
body of troops efficient lie was not sparing Of
corporal punishment. and his temper was flame
of devouring fire when reused. No man coull
Ii 1Io h,t
wrath he was terrible to meet, hardly less than
Washington himself. The anecdote of the way
the epithet first took the fancy Of his soldiers
illustrates this Mr. Stillc writes:
After al he was not called Mad Anthony
until 1871. and not then because he was recog-
nizcd as a beau sabreur or a dashing dragon. The
way in which he happened to gain that sobriquet
is curious illustration OF the manner in Which l,
trious personagcs IL seems, according 70 Mr.
Moore in his life Of Wayne. that one Jenny
the Rover as he was called. attached to
originated the cognomen of Mad Anthony" The
real name Of Jenny" is not given. but he was
an Irishman, and regularly enlisted in the Penn
sylvania Line. He was subject to fits of insanity.
or at least claimed to be So but probably these
were not of very marked type, for he was en-
ployed frequently by Wayne as spy. and hc al,
and important information. At times, however,
he was noisy and troublesome and on one occa-
sion he was ordered to the guardhouse. On his
way thither he suddenly halted and asked the
sergeant Of the guard by whose orders he had bcan
arrested. BY. those of the general, he was told
After a few hours he was released, and he then
inquired whether Anthony was mad when he was
placed under arrest. lie was told that the general
was much displcasd with his disorderly conduct
and that II il occurred again he woud not only
be confined but would receive twenty-nne lashes,
we'll laid on; Then exclaimed Jenny, An
thony is mad. Farewell to you: clear the coast
for the Commodore. Mad Anthonys' friend
One can imagine the whole Line chuckling
over this description of their peppery but gal
liant commander. There was not much oppor
tunity for Wayne's temper to improve as he grew
older. Gout was hereditary in his family and
wound received in his campaign IN Georgia
brought out the disease, from which he was never
afterward free. 1t is said that at the battle
Of Fort Defiance he in the morning hardly
able TO move hand or foot and had TO be
lifted upon his horse The agony he was in
forced tears from his eyes. hut not a murmur
from his lips The excitement Of battle and the
delight Of victory relieved him from pain. There
are few better examples Of the power OF the
mind over the ills of the body than this But
his quck-hashing temper not likely to be
improved by such surcrngs lie was not mcrc
full TO those who Voluntarily violated tho rules
Of discipline On the other hand. he shared all
the hardships Of his men. During the winter of
1924. he slect on the ground. and endured
the ricors of an Ohio winter with no other ac-
commodaticns than those OF a common soldier. and
he rose at 4 o'clock in the morning TO visit
the outposts and TO that every sentinel was
awake and in his proper place" In the midst
of the poverty and distress Of the Revolution
no suborlinant commander was more vgiant than
no To lghtcn as much as possible the miseries Of
his men,
Another thing which may have something 70 do
with the preservation Of the nickname was his
rhetorical habit OF speech, verging on bolstuness
But "a this habit may almost b" called National
vice-wtn,ss the word spread-eaclcism and tho
oratory Of the Fourth OF July--Wavne must on
this point he considered a typical American II
was this swelling, almost arrogant manner which
led 10 an advantageous comparison between him
and Marshal Villars both being boastful, but not
more boastful than valiant Wavncs vanity, as
IL was called, was an extremely Useful trait. llr
loved a fine uniform. and IL he conld have had
his way, the Pennsylvania Line would never have
lacked for good clothes lie argued that dress
had much TO do with the self-respect Of tho
soldier. The poor Continentals had little oppor-
tunity. however, TO test the value OF this con.
tribnton to military wisdom. Complaints werr
TOO common like this at the end of one of Waync's
| letters: 1--WE have not received tho least artic.
OF clothing since You saw us at Mount JOY. and
are now-nakedr Something Of the bitter feel
ing Of rageetlncss was shown in III" same letter
Tell the Philadelphia ladies, wrote Wayne. that
tie heavenly. sweet. pretty rcdcoats-tic accom-
plishcd gentlemen Of the Guards and ircnadiers--
| have humhlcd Themselves the plains Of Mon
| mouth" In the fall of 1913, when III" scene OF
war was about to be transferred II New-iofk. ho
wrote humoronsly 10 Robert Morris: Should
the enemy opcratc 10 the eastward n. from present
| appearances they intend it, we shall be like
| Mahomet and the mountan-if the clothing wont
come to us. we will 60 TO the clothing lie could
thus take pleasant view OF his adversities A