in front of the main work; and, about half way down the hill, were two rows of abattis.  The batteries were calculated to command the beach and the crossing place of the marsh, and to rake and enfilade any column which might be advancing from either of those points towards the fort.  In addition to these defences, several vessels of war were stationed in the river, and commanded the ground at the foot of the hill.  The garrison consisted of about six hundred men, commanded by Colonel Johnson.

General Wayne arrived about eight in the afternoon at Spring Steel’s, one and a half miles from the fort; and made his dispositions for the assault.

[Sidenote:  General Wayne surprises and takes Stony Point.]

It was intended to attack the works on the right and left flanks at the same instant.  The regiments of Febiger and of Meigs, with Major Hull’s detachment, formed the right column; and Butler’s regiment, with two companies under Major Murfree, formed the left.  One hundred and fifty volunteers, led by Lieutenant Colonel Fleury and Major Posey, constituted the van of the right; and one hundred volunteers under Major Stewart, composed the van of the left.  At half past eleven the two columns moved to the assault, the van of each with unloaded muskets, and fixed bayonets.  They were each preceded by a forlorn hope of twenty men, the one commanded by Lieutenant Gibbon, and the other by Lieutenant Knox.  They reached the marsh undiscovered; and, at twenty minutes after twelve, commenced the assault.

Both columns rushed forward under a tremendous fire.  Surmounting every obstacle, they entered the works at the point of the bayonet; and, without discharging a single musket, obtained possession of the fort.

The humanity displayed by the conquerors was not less conspicuous, nor less honourable than their courage.  Not an individual suffered after resistance had ceased.

All the troops engaged in this perilous service manifested a degree of ardour and impetuosity, which proved them to be capable of the most difficult enterprises; and all distinguished themselves, whose situation enabled them to do so.  Colonel Fleury was the first to enter the fort and strike the British standard.  Major Posey mounted the works almost at the same instant, and was the first to give the watch word—­“The fort’s our own.”—­Lieutenants Gibbon and Knox performed the service allotted to them with a degree of intrepidity which could not be surpassed.  Of twenty men who constituted the party of the former, seventeen were killed or wounded.

Sixty-three of the garrison were killed, including two officers.  The prisoners amounted to five hundred and forty-three, among whom were one lieutenant colonel, four captains, and twenty subaltern officers.  The military stores taken in the fort were considerable.[18]

[Footnote 18:  The author was in the covering party, visited the fort next day, and conversed with the officers who had been engaged in storming the works.]