The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-02-23
A DEED OF DARING
One of Mad Anthony Wayne's
Remarkable Achievements.
STORMING OF STONY POINT.
This Brilliant Feat Of Arms, In Which
Success Was Won at the Point Of the
Bayonet, Was One Of the Most Des-
perste Incidents of Any War.

perste Incidents of Any War.
One of the most marvellous achieve
ments credited to American bravery
and strategy was that Of the capture
Of Stony Point by Mad Anthony
Wayne, who was one Of the most pic
turesque figures of the American revo-
luton. When he was superseded In
command of the Pennsylvania line,
even after his brilliant success at Mon
mouth on June 2S, 1873, less ambitl-
Gus and patriotic man would have re-
signed his commission.
1t seemed the irony Of fate that the
setback In his career should follow so
closely the official encomiums for his
work at Monmouth, but that very set
back gave him Stony Point-the great
est opportunity Of his llfe-and he
made good.
There were two important factors
discipline and valor, that entered into
this remarkable achievement. the cap
ture OF fortress on the Hudson held
by the British and considered almost
lmpregnable. Stony Point was an Is
land and the fortress was built on a
rock which was PERCEPTIONS and rough
1t was guarded by three redoubts and
protected by q double abatis Of logs
that extended across the peninsula.
The post was garrlsoned by COZ 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 a man
was allowed TO leave the column un-
der penalty OF death. By 8 o'clock
that night they were within one and
one-half miles Of the British fortress.
Then the men were told Of the desper-
ate work ahead OF them and the bat
tie 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 retreatlng 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
nf hn
twenty men In one advance guard
were shot down, but the companies in
the rear eagerly pressed on. General
Wayne himself, struck I'm the head
with a musket ball, fell stunned. He
recovered in moment and rising on
one knee, shouted: "March on! March
onw Then, turning to his aids he
begged them to take him into the fort
so that IL his wound was mortal he
would die at the head Of his column.
General Wayne's wound drove his
followers to n frenzy. They dashed
up the hill and battered down all op-
position. Colonel Flcury, n 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 1t. The
victory was complete. The British
lost SO killed and 543 taken prisoners,
Of whom 20 were wounded. The
Americans lost - killed and had 50
wounded It was one OF the most
daring and desperate incidents of any
war
From every point OF view the storminc
OF Stony Point was remarkable feat
| OF arms. but back OF the success OF
that night was story OF preparedness
the cause which has always been over
shadowed by the brillianCy Of the re.
! suit General Wayne had trained his
men, stimulated their pride, enforced
rigid discipline. had them at the point
OF attack at the right moment aac
then with inspiring valor led them.
The victory ut Stony Point naturally
aroused tremendous enthusiasm, an
it came at the right time. The corn
try was depressed if not quite d'S"ol
aged and stony Point was like Il tonic
It gave the people more strength, NOR,
courage and at time when they sad
ly needed it Not only did General
Wayne receive official recognition, hut
he was in receipt OF hundreds OF con
gratulatory letters expressing popular
and professional opinion. - Chicago
News.