Norwich bulletin., 1922-09-06
FAMOUS NICKNAMES
aMAp ANTHONY. WAYNE.

The nickname of Mad Anthony att tached to the name of Gen. Anthony Wayne, of Revolutionary fame, was due to no trace of insanity. but instead to the mans wild, reckless courage in plunging into battle where the odds against him seemed hopeless. He had other nicknames, too, Dandy Wayne" being one of them. because of his ab- surd love for wearing fine clothes in the wilderness and in battle. The h. dians gave him the name of 'fBlack Snake" from the swift and deadliness> of his attack.
 At the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, Sir Henry Clinton said of Wayne: Wherever Mad Anthony" Wayne, there's always a fight That's what he is there for.'' and Clinton had sufficient experience to know whereof he spoke.
 In many ways Mad Anthony" Wayne was the most remarkable figure in the Revolution. He was hero of many des- perate exploits, and every school history tells how. fearless and dashing. he took Stony Point, and with almost equal ern phasis they relate the story of how he saved the Northwest.
 At the battle of Monmouth Wayne fought with such desperate valor. and led his troops to the charge with such impetuosity. that he drew forth expres- sions of admiration from Washington. The greatest achievement of Wayne. however, was the storming of Stony Point on July 15. 177s and it's successful re- suit was one of the striking turning points of the efforts to free the colon ists. On the previous day, Wayne as- ssmbled his troops at Sandy Hook, and at that moment, not a man knew the plans of their commander. On the morn- ing of the 18th, Mad Anthony" called out his men on parade and his orders
 were that the men should appear fresh l shaved, and with their hair well powder ed.
 1 At noon the march for Stony Point be- gan over a wilderness train and in per. i feet silence Not a man was allowed to leave the column under penalty oi death. By eight at night they were 1 within less than two miles of the Brit
 ish fortress. Then they were told of the
 desperate work ahead of them and ths 1 battle order was read.
 l No man was allowed to load his mus
 ket and the battle was to be won or lost
 with the bayonet alone. The assault
 was begun at 11.30 at night. Shortly ! afterwards, Mad Anthony" was strucl l in the head by a musket ball, and fel l stunned. He was thought to be mortallJ 1 wounded. He recovered in moment however, and rising. on one knee shouted 1 March on" Then, turning to his aides 1 he begged them to take him into tn, fort, so that, if his wound would prov,
 mortal, he would be at the head of hi 1 column.
 Gen. Wayne's wound drove his fol lowers to frenzy. They dashed up tn I hill and battered down every opposi ThA Qf A rio their point and hauled down the Britisl flag. Wayne reported to Washington ,t the capture of' the fort and that hi Il men behaved like men determined to b
 free.
 The victory at Stony Point naturall aroused Q tremendous enthusiasm, an it came at the right time, when the coun try was depressed, if not quite discour aged. Not only did Mad Anthony re
 ceive the thanks of congress and goI and silver medals, but he was in re ceipt of hundreds of congratulatory jet ters expressing popular and Trofessions approval.
 Wayne's success in the North wa ] to be followed by an equal exhibition ( . his bravery and a ring in the South ] 2 was during the campaign in Virgini that Wayne received his nickname (
 Mad Anthony" One of Wayne's soldier
 was man who was n.Z we'll balance
 mentally. He was very useful, howeve : as a spy and was given some libertie . in camp. But he would get drunk, an - upon such occa asions he generally lande
 in the guard house. On one of thes
 occasions the sergeant reported that c n the next occasion he would be locke :, up and would receive twenty-one lashe Then" said jJemy. Anthony is ma Clear the way for Mad Anthorv 3 friend" The story spread and it ga,
 an opportunity for those who were el
 yious of Gen. wayneis success to app ,.l the appellation sneeringly. but the peep !. applied it only in praise.