The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-03-07
A DEED OF DARING
One of Mad Anthony Wayne's
Remarkable Achievements.
ST0RMING OF STONY POINT.

Z
Success Was Won at the Point of tn
Bsyonet, Was One Of the Most Dss
perate 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 When he was superseded In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 %. 1873, less amblti-
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 life-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
impregnable. Stony Point was an is
land and the fortress was built on a
rock which was precipitous and rough.
IL was guarded by three redoubts and
protected by a double abatis of logs
that extended across the peninsula.
The post was garrisoned by cor men,
who felt so secure in their position that
they were wont to refer to the post as
the Little Gibraltar"
On July II General Wayne assem-
bled all his troops at Sandy Beach, |
and at that moment none of his sol |
dlers 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 I'M
der penalty of death By o'clock
that night they were within one and
)ne-half miles of the British fortress.
Then the men were told OF the desper-
lite work ahead OF them and the bat
lie order read
No man was allowed to load his
nusket, and the battle was to be won
IT lost with the bayonet alone. One
'ortion of the order provided that any
nan found retreating single foot
vas to be put TO death at once.
Close to midnight the order to ad-
ance was given. The fort was to be
ttacked from all sides. Once In mo-
lon General Wayne lost no time. The
british opened fire with guns, both
reat and small. Seventeen of the
wenty men in one advance guard
ere shot down, but the companies In
lie rear eagerly pressed on. General
Jayne himself struck in the head
18th n musket ball. fell stunned. He :
covered In moment and, rising on u
lie knee. shouted: March on! March
/" Then. turning to his aids he {
,gged them to take him into the fort
that II his wound was mortal he
ould die at the head of his column.
General Waynes wound drove his II
flowers to frenzy They dashed d
} the hill and battered down all OPP &C
sition. Colonel Fleury, a French lie
icer In the American service, at the u
ad of his determined band forced &C
) way up the redoubt and as the CT
ldiers poured into the fort grasped a'
2 British flag and lowered It, The 81
tory was complete. The British ID
i 90 killed and 543 taken prisoners.
whom 20 were wounded. The CT
nericans lost 10 killed and had SO lei
unded. IL was one of the most 10
ring and desperate incidents of any
T.
rom every point of view the storming
Stony Point was a remarkable feat tn
arms. but back OF the success Of hi:
{ night was story of preparedness. fol
cause which has always been over me
dowed by the brilliancy of the re-
t. General Wayne had trained his inl
n. stimulated their pride. enforced sh,
d discipline. had them at the point KIN
attack at the right moment and Sill
n with inspiring valor led them. old
he victory at Stony Point naturally orr
used a tremendous enthusiasm, and
anne at the right time. The coun-
was depressed If not quite discour- A
d. ana Stony Point was like tonic. Wa
ave the people more strength. more dea
rage and at a time when they sad g
needed It. Not only did General 80
vne receive official recognition, but {
was in receipt of hundreds Of con- strt
.ulatory letters expressing popular is
professional opinion. = Chicago VIII
IS. kill