Year: 1879




The time fixed for the assault was the night of the 18th
of july Starting out from sandy Beach, fourteen miles
above Stony Point this date, Wayne and his
twelve hundred infantry took up the line of march
and paths excessively bad and that it
eight clock the evening before the reached the VII
cnity the enemy position Compeledto pass high
mountains deep morasses and through difficult
vines, the column stretched out the greater part of
the way in single file and only recovered formation
the final halt The point where they stopped near the
house Of Springsee, mile and half from the Brit
sh works, and there Wayne made the last disposition for
the assault First he went forward with his principal Off
GERS and reconnotred the approaches to the fort Return
ing he divided his force into two stormng coumnsso fa
modifying Washingtons pan whchproposcd but such
coumnand arranged all details 1t interesting to note
that one the last things the bold soldier down do
was to write letter friend, expressing his emotions
on the eve of the desperate work he supposed he had in
hand and to request the education of his children be
provided for. Il called to sup he wrote, ,but where
to breakfast? Either with the ensmy lines in triumph


The plan as finally decided upon advance snutan
eousy the right and left and break through into the
works from opposite points Ills right column, which
Wayne made the stiohges. was composed OF FeDger
Virginia men, then Meigs' Massachusetts, following The
left consisted the and Mayanders under
Butler and Murfrees North Caronians in the The
final instructions the corps pointed and mpera-
tive. Boil columns to To the assault with
loaded muskets and do the work with the alone
If any should attempt to load his piece the way
he was be put death upon the spot The utmost
silence was be observed until the main work gained
when ALL as they entered to shout the wachword of
the night--s'Ihe forts 0oR To distinguish them
from the enemy in the darkness of the night every soldier
and officer was ordered fix piece of white paper in he
conspicuous part OF his hat cap That the main
bodies might with few obstacles possible in
their forward course each to be preceded by ororn
hope which act surprise party and still in
front this be placed twenty volunteers undera
determined officer who to cut away the abatis For
the right column the iorlorn hope consisted OF one hun
dred and fifty under the gallant De Feuy, and the
advance guard of twenty under Lieutenant Knox, of the
Ninth Pennsylvania for the left column Major Steward
led the party and Lieutenant Gibbons of the Sixth
Pennsylvania the other These officers had been assigned
posts of honor either by lot because of their
previous knowledge of the ground Finally, all things
arranged, the whole body moved forward, at halfpast
eleven o'clock night with steadness and deter
mination that urged nothing but success.


AS in the of all military exploits where victory de-
pends upon precision and rapdity the assault which now
occurred accomplished remarkable brief space of
time. Three quarters of hour after midnight, and all
was over Even Caesars condensed dispatch would
been long the result The light infantry
came, and conquered. They saw" nothing it dark


Twelve clock the time of the actual charge be-
gin To reach the Point within assaultng distance it was
necessary to cross the intervening marsh as quickly
sble Here there unexpected obstacle in the
time just then, but fortunately not fatal loss AS the
columns neared the enemy, Murfree and his North
Caronians by previous instructions took position direct
y in front of the British works, and opened rapid and
continuous fire. for the purpose OF drawing attention
themselves while the stormng parties moved silently
on the right and left This contributed TO the night
success Immediately there is hot work progress The
hopedfor surprise out of the question: for the enemies
pckets have given the alarm In ten minutes eyery man
the garrison up completely dressed and his proper
station If the fort to be taken now only hard fighting
do it. Meanwhile mighty courage and resolution





momentum The valiant Wayne, determined to share the
perlsas well the gloes OF the enterprise leads the right
column, spear in hand Not faters. AS they ap-
proach formidable lines of abats which stretched
across point front of the main works. the fire from
the enemys mnsketry becomes tremendous and inces-
SAINT Although account of the darkness much of it's
effect is lost, nevertheless here and there begin
ranks of the light infantry Lieutenant Colonel
Hay of Pennsylvania, bravey fighting at the head of
his battalion, is wounded in the thigh Captain Ezra
Yale College the opening Of the war; but veteran
of four campaigns and belonging Colonel Starts First
Though week from loss of Blood he makes his way into
the fort shot breaks the standard of Meigs regiment
but Ensign Ibhabod Spencer the colors off, winds
them round his and keeps chageng Out of
ty of of the advance parties either
killed wounded. But on the two columns 60. The
ascent rocky precipous 1t takes time open