Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08

without command. But he had made a
suggestion to Washington regarding the
turning of the British left at Trenton.
which was mastery bit OF strategy. and
Washington held him in high esteem.
After Monmouth, St. Clair, who was a
major general, asked for command of the.
Pennsylvania line, the division which
Wayne. who was brigadier only, COM
manded. Washington gave it to him and
Wayne. in disgust, asked for leave of
absence. He would not serve under st.
Clair so he went home. But he could
not keep out of the strife. He was au-
thorized to organize light infantry corps,
and this body he commanded for the re-
mainder of the war.
Wayne returned to the army in June.
ITO. Washington had been pursuing his
Fabian tactics and the British endeav-
ored to draw him from New Jersey and
Pennsylvania to the east side OF the Hud-
son river, hoping when they got him east
Of the Hudson to destroy his stores at
Easton. Pa. Preliminary to this Sir
Henry Clinton had taken possession of
various points on the Hudson. The small
American force at Stony Point had aban-
doned that place when the British fleet ap-
preached and Verplanck Point and its
force had been captured by the British.
Incidentally Connecticut was being at
tackled from the Sound and raiding
parties were being sent through New
England.
The British, on capturing Stony Point,
Little Gibraltar. At that time 1t was an
island. and the only approach from the
land side was over a narrow causeway
which flooded at high tide.
-
Washington determined that Stony
Point and Verplanck's Point must be re-
taken. and sent for Wayne. To Waynes
mind the project was foolhardy. but he
49,
light infantry corps he went to the high
he studied the problem. No one but he
and Washington knew that he intended to
attack the fort SO cautiously did he
work that the British had no idea of
what was impending. Not only did
Wayne kill every dog within three miles
of the fort to prevent the people in the
fort discovering his approach, but he did
not even permit man. woman or child to
leave house. 1t was at midnight of
July 10 that he led his men across the
causeway. The tide was up and they had
to wade through water waist-high. The
works were to be carried by the bayonet.
Only one company had muskets loaded.
These men, it was planned. should create
a diversion in front as soon as the at
tack was discovered and then the bay
oneting forces, in two bodies, should scale
the heights on either side. Wayne had
ordered that any man who tried to turn
pdSh SHOulu Uc hlllcu 10 tHc HTSI i've
men into the fort he promised prizes
$500 to the first. 800 to the second, $500
to the third. 500 to the fourth and 500
to the fifth.
The Americans were crossing the
causeway when they were discovered by
the sentries. Soon they were subjected
to furious fire. But while the fire was
centered on the men in front the bayo-
netting parties were climbing the sides OF
the hill. Lieut.. Col Fleury was the first
to get within the works. AS his party
reached the center of the fort they were
met by the party that had climbed the
heights from the opposite direction. How
admirably the attack was planned and
executed may be imagined from the
fact that the American loss was only hf-
teen killed and eighty-three wounded,
while the British loss was sixty three
killed and 543 wounded or made prison.
ers. Wayne was among the wounded,
being shot in the head. He thought the
wound was mortal. and he asked to be
carried into the fort that he might die at
the head OF his men.
The capture of Stony Point caused q
tremendous sensation. not only through
out America, but in Europe. The world
applauded it as one Of the most brilliant
exploits in military history. Be 1t said to
the credit of Gen. Charles Lee and Gen.
ST Clair that even they heaped praise on
Wayne Lees letter of congratulation
was magnificent. Here is the way 1t
read:
Il do most sincerely declare that your
action in the assault of Stony Point Is
not only the most brilliant. In my opin-
ion, through the whole course of this war
on either side. but that 1t Is one of the
most brilliant ] am acquainted with In
history. Upon my soul. the assault Of
schwerdnitz by Marshal Laudon l think
most sincerely joy Of the laurels you
have so deservedly acquired. and that
you may live long to wear them
Rather a handsome tribute from man
Wayne at the time was engaged to fight
a duel with.
No need for the British to try to lure
Washington across the Hudson after that
exploit at Stony Point. They turned
their energies in other directions.
In 1871 Wayne was sent to CAROLINA to
reinforce Greene. but while en- route he
got new orders to help Lafayette. who