On this day in 1779, Americans led by General “Mad Anthony” Wayne launched an attack. Americans had lost the fort at Stony Point to the British several weeks earlier. Now, they would take it back!
The plan of attack resulted from the combined efforts of George Washington and Wayne. Washington drew up a plan that he forwarded to Wayne on July 10, but he authorized Wayne to deviate from it “in every instance where you think they may be improved or changed for the better.” Wayne added a feint at the center of the British lines, hoping the diversion would distract the British from the main attacks.
Washington’s plan exploited a flaw in the fortifications. And it called for the attack to be made in the middle of the night—an unusually difficult time to attack. But Washington had confidence in the men who had been selected for the operation. They were among the best that the Continental Army had to offer.
Preparations were made in complete secrecy. Even the men in the attacking force did not know what they were to do until the last minute. Washington’s plans called for them to carry unloaded muskets and to attack with bayonets. (A loaded musket might accidentally fire if someone stumbled on the way to the fort.) Local dogs were killed so they would not bark and raise an alarm.
Despite all these precautions, the mission was risky. There was no night vision back in those days! Instead, Washington asked that the men pin a “white feather or Cockade, or some other visible badge of distinction” to themselves so they would be able to identify their comrades in the dark. Taking the fort would be no easy task. Some men, including Wayne, drew up wills in the hour before the attack.
Shortly before midnight, the men were at their appointed locations. They sloshed across a marsh and descended upon the fort. The battle was quick and decisive. Soon, the men were shouting a watchword, indicating that the works had been forced: “The fort’s our own! The fort’s our own!” The fort was soon in American possession.
At 2:00 a.m., Wayne sent a brief note to George Washington:
“The fort & garrison with Col. Johnston are ours. Our officers & men behaved like men who are determined to be free.”
You won’t be surprised to hear that such a stunning victory provided a morale boost to the Patriot cause. Importantly, the battle proved to be the last major military action in the northern theater of the war.
Permalink: http://www.taraross.com/2016/07/this-day-in-history-americans-defeat-the-british-at-stony-Point
Gentle reminder: History posts are copyright © 2013-2016 by Tara Ross. I appreciate it when you use the Facebook “share” feature instead of cutting/pasting.
@DMS-PMS @stonewall_jackson @AZZMAN75 @Eyes4Vols @PowellVolz @PredVol
The plan of attack resulted from the combined efforts of George Washington and Wayne. Washington drew up a plan that he forwarded to Wayne on July 10, but he authorized Wayne to deviate from it “in every instance where you think they may be improved or changed for the better.” Wayne added a feint at the center of the British lines, hoping the diversion would distract the British from the main attacks.
Washington’s plan exploited a flaw in the fortifications. And it called for the attack to be made in the middle of the night—an unusually difficult time to attack. But Washington had confidence in the men who had been selected for the operation. They were among the best that the Continental Army had to offer.
Preparations were made in complete secrecy. Even the men in the attacking force did not know what they were to do until the last minute. Washington’s plans called for them to carry unloaded muskets and to attack with bayonets. (A loaded musket might accidentally fire if someone stumbled on the way to the fort.) Local dogs were killed so they would not bark and raise an alarm.
Despite all these precautions, the mission was risky. There was no night vision back in those days! Instead, Washington asked that the men pin a “white feather or Cockade, or some other visible badge of distinction” to themselves so they would be able to identify their comrades in the dark. Taking the fort would be no easy task. Some men, including Wayne, drew up wills in the hour before the attack.
Shortly before midnight, the men were at their appointed locations. They sloshed across a marsh and descended upon the fort. The battle was quick and decisive. Soon, the men were shouting a watchword, indicating that the works had been forced: “The fort’s our own! The fort’s our own!” The fort was soon in American possession.
At 2:00 a.m., Wayne sent a brief note to George Washington:
“The fort & garrison with Col. Johnston are ours. Our officers & men behaved like men who are determined to be free.”
You won’t be surprised to hear that such a stunning victory provided a morale boost to the Patriot cause. Importantly, the battle proved to be the last major military action in the northern theater of the war.
Permalink: http://www.taraross.com/2016/07/this-day-in-history-americans-defeat-the-british-at-stony-Point
Gentle reminder: History posts are copyright © 2013-2016 by Tara Ross. I appreciate it when you use the Facebook “share” feature instead of cutting/pasting.
@DMS-PMS @stonewall_jackson @AZZMAN75 @Eyes4Vols @PowellVolz @PredVol
