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

was irving to check Corvallis and
Benedict Arnold's operations In virginia
It was at the battle OF o Gseen ,Se f'b bss;
examples OF his military genius Lara
yette had been informed that Cornwaiiis
force was divided and he sent Wayne
forward with 500 men to reconnoiter.
Wayne had to pass through swamp
over a narrow road and when he emerged
he encountered the full command of Corn
wallis, about 5000 strong. drawn up pre-
pared for battle, with the wings READY
to close on and surround Waynes little
band Not waiting to get the shock OF
the attack Of the 5000. Wayne surprised
CORVALLIS by ordering charge the
British were so surprised by the sudden
ness Of the attack that they gave way
enough to permi: Wayne to retreat with
triflng loss.
Then Lafayette and Wayne harried Corn
wallis until he retired to yorktown. But
Wayne had no further part In the opera
lions there, for while going to Lafa-
yette's quarters one night a sentry mis-
took him for an enemy and shot him
In the leg When Wayne recovered he
was sent to Georgia to join Greene. ana
British before them until Charleston and
Savannah were their only places OF ref
uge.
with the ending Of the war tardy honor
was done to Wayne. He was made
major general by brevet. Congress had
given q medal to him for his work at
Stony Point. but Georgia recognised him
more substantially. giving big planta-
ton to him for his achievements on
Georgia soil.
His fortune was impaired by the war.
and he planned to move to Georgia and
develop the plantation there. He arranged
for a loan sufficient to finance the opera
ton, but when 1t came time 10 turn over
the money the foreign bankers who had
promised to advance it let the drafts 60
to protest. Wayne had made large ex-
penditures In anticipation of the receipt
of the money, and he was seriously en-
barrassed financially by the turn things
had taken. To meet his obligations he
had to borrow every dollar he could raise
on his Pennsylvania property. To add to
his troubles his health gave way.
In 1901 Georgia elected him to Congress.
but his election was nullified by Congress
on the ground that he was not citizen
of the state.
This action by Congress cut Wayne to
the quick. but. needing some employment.
he applied for service in the army.
There was trouble-serious trouble-in
what then was known as the west. but
what now is Ohio and Indiana. In 1870
Gen. Harmer had been disgracefully de-
feated by the Indians. and later Gen. st.
Clair had been defeated at Fort Recov-
cry. The Indians. egged on by the Brit
ish, who held many posts along the lakes.
controlled most Of the country between
the Ohio and the great lakes. President
Washington grudgingly gave commits
sion to Wayne to command the army.
Washington's choice was Light Horse
Harry Lee. Somehow. Washington con-
sidered Wayne brave and nothing else.
X
The young republic had no stomach
for a standing army and it developed
upon Wayne to raise the force with
which to go forth and win the west from
the red men. He had to take the rim
raff of the cities. These he drilled first
at Pittsburg and next at Cincinnati. For
nearly eighteen months he worked on
this body of men. whipping them into
form. On the Goth Of August. 1874. at the
battle Of Fallen Timbers, he met one OF
the largest forces of Indians that ever
met white men In a general engagement,
and he crushed the Indians as they never
had been crushed before. Not only that.
but he broke the alliance between the
Indians and the British. and the vast
territory between the Alleghenies and the
Mississippi that the Indians claimed be-
came the property of the United States.
When he returned east he was treated
as a conquering hero.
Later, when the Jay, treaty was rati-
fled by Congress. he went west again to
formally receive the British forts turned
ment In November 1896. he sailed from
Detroit for Presque Isle erie. Pa. the
last post he was ordered to visit Within
a days sail of Erie he was seized with
an attack of govt and when he landed
he was in a dying condition. He died q
few weeks later.
Over his grave they raised a shaft. on
eta 90 ina