The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-05-09
A DEED OF DARING.
How Mad Anthony Wayne Stormed
Stony Point.


of Stony Point by Mad Anthony
Wayne, who was one of the most pic
turesque figures ofthe American Rev.
olution. When he was superseded in
command of the Pennsylvania line
even after his brilliant success at
Monmouth on June %, ITS, a less
ambitious and patriotic man would
have resigned his commission.
1t seemed the irony of fate that
the setback in his career should fol-
low SO closely the official encomiums
for his work at Monmouth, but that
very setback gave him Stony Point
the greatest opportunity of his life
and he made good.
There were two important factors,
discipline and valor, that entered into
this remarkable achievement, the
capture of a fortress on the Hudson
held by the British and considered
almost impregnable. Stony Point
was an island and the fortress was
built on a rock which was precipi-
tous and rough. It was guarded by
three redoubts and protected by a
double abatis of logs that extended
across the peninsula. The post was
garrisoned by 6O7 men, who felt so
secure in their position that they
were wont to refer to the post as the
Little Gibraltar"
On July IA General Wayne assem-
bled all his troops at Sandy Beach,
and at that moment none of his SOL
diers knew the plans of their COM
mander. The following day the march
began over a wilderness trail and in
perfect silence. Not man was al
lowed to leave the column under pen
atty of death. By o'clock that night
they were within one and one-half
miles of the British fortress. Then
the men were told of the desperate
work ahead of them and the battle
order read.
No man was allowed to load his
musket, and the battle was to be won
or lost with the bayonet alone. One
portion of the order provided that
any man found retreating a single
foot was to be put to death at once.
Close to midnight the order to ad-
vance was given. The fort was to be
attacked from all sides. Once in mo-
ton General Wayne lost no time. The
British opened fire with guns, both
great and small. Seventeen of the
twenty men in one advance guard
were shot down, but the companions
in rear eagerly pressed on. General
Wayne himself, struck in the head
with a musket ball, fell stunned. He
recovered in moment and, rising on
one knee, shouted: March on!
March on" Then, turning to his
aids he begged them to take him into
the fort so that if his wound was
mortal he would die at the head of
his column.
General Wayne's wound drove his
followers to a frenzy. They dashed
up the hill and battered down all op-
position. Colonel Fleury, French
officer in the American service, at the
head of his determined band forced
his way up the redoubt and as the
soldiers poured into the fort grasped
the British flag and lowered it. The
victory was complete. The British
lost SO killed and 543 taken prison
ers, of whom 70 were wounded. The
Americans lost Is killed and had S3
wounded. 1t was one of the most
daring and desperate incidents of any
war.
From every point of view the
storming of Stony Point was re-
markable feat of arms, but back of
the success of that night was story
of preparedness, the cause which has
always been overshadowed by the
brilliancy of the result. General
Wayne had trained his men, stimu-
lated their pride, enforced rigid dis
cipline, had them at the point of at
tack at the right moment and then
with inspiring valor led them.
The victory at Stony Point natu-
rally aroused a tremendous enthusi-
asm, and it came at the right time.
The country was depressed if not
quite discouraged, and Stony Point
was like a tonic. 1t gave the people
more strength, more courage and at
time when they sadly needed it.
Not only did General Wayne receive
official recognition, but he was in re-
ceipt of hundreds of congratulatory
letters expressing popular and pro-
fessional opinion.-Chicago News.
Five Men Burned.