Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-10-01
STONY POINT flSToRT
hLsSh Of Cen. waync's Exploit "hicR
Iiado the SPOT Tn,nGui.

Eiado the SPOT Tnmon..
The surprise 6aa capture OF Stony
Point by Mad" Anthony Wayne OF
the night of July 1915, 171S, was de-
scribed by Gen. Charles Lee IN = let
ter to General Wayne as mot only 'ae
most brilliant, in my opinion, through
out the whole course of the war on
either side, but that it is the most
brilliant l am acquainted with in MS
tory. The assault OF Schweidnitz by
Marshal Laudun think inferior 70
IT."
When tho British were driven out ci
Boston on March II, 1776, j became
apparent that they would turn theS at
tcntt6yi to the conquest OF New YORK,
but General Washington ahtisipateo
this by sending aye regiments anG
some artillery to MaGhattan IsiahS
and going there himself afterwafd. IN
spectl6a Of the approaches to New
York demonstrated the advisability OF
possessing Stony Point. but such
movement was not at ones undertaken.
On June 81, 1779, Genera: Washing
ton gave General Wayne command OF
the light infantry posted near FORT
Montgomery, and wrote him letter
in which he Urged the possession OF
yerplanck's and Stony Points. Cener-
al Wayne reconnoitred Stony Point on
July Q, aftefward telling General
Washington that While siege or storm
would be impracticable surprise
might succeed. General Washington
then went in person TO inspect the
desired position, and in )oTlg ietter
advised the plan of surprise, suggest
ing a very dark or rainy nigh1 as
most propiti0us for the strategy.
without acquaintirg his troops with
the work he had in store FOR themr
General WayHs held review OF his
force at noon on July Is at sandy
Beach, II miles north Of Stony Point
They were freshly shaved, we'll pow
dered and fully equipped and ra-
toned. Instead of dismissing them at
the close of inspection, General Wayne
started them marching southwark.
They halted about s o'clock in ths
evening at Springsteeps farm, a mile
and a half west Of StOby Point, ano
there the order of battle, the first in-
timation they had OF contemplated
assault, was read to them. Pieces o.
white paper were fixed on their hats
to distinguish them from the enemy
in the confusion of conflict, and in two
columns aggregating 1850 men the
troops started for the assault. Whlic
the Americans advanced the British
garrison, numbering 100 men, slept
with Is pieces Of artillery about them.
The American troops had consider
able difficulty in gaining the peninsula.
having to tYsde marshes and toll up
the slopes. Only one detachment. the
one in the centre, was permitted to
load it's guns, and this, as soon as the
British discovered the approach, be-
gan a noisy demonstration to make
the British tiiink that this was the
main attacking force. The right and
the left columns advanced cautiously,
ndsoonth British were amazed TO md
them at the threshold of the works.
They poured down terrific dre upon
the Americans, but Waynes men were
not to be deferred. They pressed on,
tore thetr way through the lines OF
ahattis, gained the breastworks, and
after mounting the parapet entered
the fort at the bayonet's point, Shout
ing: "The forts our own!" the pre-
arranged watchWGfd.
The left column entered at once from
the otifSr side, and tae triumph was
complete. During the assault, wayne
was wounded in the head, but strug-
Cling to his knees, cried out: "March
On, Garry me into the fort. Let me
die at the head of my column"
Wayne's wound, however, proved to
be a slight one.
The total loss of the Americans was
Is killed and SO wounded. The Brit
ish placed their losses at 20 killed and
1872 wounded and missing. wayne,
however, reported that he had killed
c., wounded 81 and captured 90
prisoners. Only one Of the British
garrison escaped.
Upon securing possession OF the
fort, the Americans turned the guns
on Yerplanck's Point, but without et-
feet. The British ships slipped their
cables and dropped down stream
NNN