Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-07-11


command and stormed Stony Point with sword In
hand on July 1916, l779 and from that time on
ne was known by the adorng sodiery Of the
Continental army as Mad Anthony"
That nickname was true so far as It reflected
his daredevil courage But 1t was not true so far
as 1t suggested recklessness and lack Of caution
His later career as cool and wary commander
OF the forces sent against the trickiest OF enemies
the Indians Of the Old Northwest proved that
for after the famous Battle Of Fallen Timbers
west-bound emigrants floating down the Ohio
sang
Wayne, Anthony Wayne!
Free Is the river from to mouth
free are the streams of the North and South.
Praise to Anthony Wayne
Wayne's capture of Stony Point was the high
spot of the year 17Tg. During that summer Wash
ington and Clinton, the opposing commanders
were wariy watching each other near New York
Some time before that the Americans had begun
the erection Of a fort at Stony Point on the Hud-
son. Stony Point was bold promontory, reach
ing out@half q mile into the river from the
rocky, wooded shoreline and at It's greatest height
about $50 feet above the water. 1t vas an i'm
portant position because 1t guarded Kings ferry
which crossed the Hudson to Verpancks Point on
the east side and which was a link In the Amer
lean line of communications between New Eng
land and Washington's former position In New
Jersey
Before the Americans could complete the fort
however, Clinton captured the place and finished
the job himself. Inland Stony Point sloped down
to treacheruus swamp and to protect this APP.
proach two lines of abattis were constructed
On the summit the British mounted seven or
eight batteries with communicating trenches and
riile-pits and they also fortified natural stone
bastan on the east where government light
house now stands The place was garrisoned
Wit no NJ Driti In
fantry under Lieut.. Col. Henry Johnson, a
grenader company of the Seventy-frst regiment,
some Tories, and number Of arterymen to
man the guns, about GOO In all. They called 1t
Little Gibraltar and believed that 1t could not
be captured.
Soon after this Clinton began sending out raid
Ing parties which ravaged the countryside for
miles around. Thereupon Washington deter
mined to try to capture Stony Point, not only to
put stop to the raids but also as dramatic
gesture to show Clinton that, despite his appar
ent advantage in the maneuverlng thus far, the
Continental army still force to be reckoned
with. He resolved to carry Stony Point by storm
In night attack and the man he selected for the
job was the one man who could most likely sue
coed. Gen. Anthony Wayne, a Drlgadier In com
mand Of the Pennsylvania line.
Wayne had proved his mettle In several bat
ties, notably at Monmouth. He distinctly an
assault commander. lie DeUeYeu InaL the
Americans accustomed to put too much re
lance upon their rifles and their craftsmanship.
and Baron Won Steuben had found him a ready
convert to the value Of the bayonet Iii Is said
to have remarked that he would rather
lead men with bayonets and one charge Of pow.
der than men with forty charges and no bayo
nets. He also n strict dlscipnarian and
firm believer In the value OF smart uniforms and
well-kept equipment for maintaining the morale
of the soldiers he commanded. In fact his
earliest nickname was Dandy Wayne"
In preparation for the attack on Stony Point
Washington had recently formed his light In
Sfantry into separate brigade and ready to
give this command to Wayne. According to the
story, Washington asked Wayne If he would ac
cept the Job Of storming Stony Point "Ill storm
hell, General, II yoL will plan It," was Wayne,s
reply, whereupon Washington, with quiet smile,
replied, "Perhaps we'd better try Stony Point
first" So the two men began planning the cap
ture Of that place.
For several days before the proposed attack
American scouts had been operating around
Stony Point, seeking to learn all they could about
the garrison, cutting off farm supplies that we're
going into the fort and preventing the British
80 far as possible, from obtaining any informa-
ton about the movements OF the Continental
forces, Upon Washlngton's orders, all OF the
dogs for three miles around the fort were pri-
pd thpv cpuld