THE STORY OF GENLRAL -t^ '' The patriots Lattled desperately for their lost prize." Chap. 2 Young Folks' Colonial Library THE STORY OF General Anthony Wayne (MAD ANTHONY) The Hero of Stony Point By PERCY K. ^ITZHUGH NEW YORK : McLOUGHLIX BROTHERS LIBRARY of CONGRESS Two CoDies Received JUL 18 1906 I ILASS CC XXc. No. COPY B. Copyright, 1906. by McLouGHLiN Brothers, New York The New Recruit CHAPTER I CHAPTER n A Helpixg Hand li Despair and Hope CHAPTER HI CHAPTER IV Midnight CHAPTER V Darkness 48 CHAPTER VI Dang anger 58 CHAPTER VII Safety 68 CHAPTER VIII 1781 CHAPTER IX Rest 91 General Anthony Wayne (MAD ANTHONY) BORN 1745 DIED 1796 CHAPTER I. THE NEW RECRUIT W HEN the war for In- dependence broke out, the Continental Congress voted that it was a matter of great importance to induce the people of Canada to join the fight for freedom, and, in case they should refuse, to treat them as a part of the oppres- sive enemy and take their land by force. So a large division of the Continental army started northward to attack Quebec and Montreal. 6 STORY OF Many a man who afterward became famous, and whose name is gratefully remembered now, joined that gallant army of invasion. And one who made a glorious record that he afterwards disgraced, fought gallantly among them and was carried bleeding from the field. But an enemy which no patriotic legion could resist was there to meet them — the wind and snow and rain — and this great adversary, when it needed re-inforcements, sought the aid of famine and disease, until the splendid force of patriots who had journeyed there with hopeful hearts was reduced to a few starving and emaciated men. When the roll was called' in that army, whole regiments failed to answer. This all happened in 1775. They climbed the heights of Abraham to take Quebec and failed. They approached it from the other side and failed again; and in that brave assault upon the old walled city, where Wolfe had fallen but a few short years before, Montgomery fell dead. Here GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 7 in the bleak and icy North, General Thomas died of small-pox in his little tent. And here the val- iant Schuyler fell ill from exposure to the cold. They stayed among these merciless walls of ice and clouds of snow all winter until five thousand of them had perished. JNIisfortune, sickness, failure, cold and hunger had attended their ca- reer. It was a sad opening for the grand war. Finally the remnant of this freezing, spiritless host, without shoes, their uniforms in rags, their little boats dashed to pieces in the blinding tem- pests on the northern rivers, eating the faithful dogs that followed them, to keep alive; made its way into a camp which General Sullivan had formed at Soral, a little distance above Mon- treal. Here, they nursed their sick and buried their dead and battled with the snow and sleet till milder weather came. To this exhausted band of suffering patriots, came young Anthony Wayne, a farmer and sur- veyor of Pennsylvania, with a little regiment of 8 STORY OF volunteers. His arrival must have broken, like a ray of sunshine, on the hapless band. Wjherever this young man went there was cer- tain to be fighting. He had fought all the way from Philadelphia. He was the gayest, merriest patriot, that ever drew a sword! There were some commanders who could journey miles with- out encountering an enemy, but HE was sure to meet them everywhere. They seemed to be made to order especially for his benefit and diversion. He had a faculty of coasting into danger wher- ever he was sent. He adored liberty, he de- spised tyranny , and he loved war for its own sake. He had begun to fight when he was ten years old. This young man was born on a farm in Ches- ter County, Pennsylvania, on New Year's day 1745. Perhaps he made a New Year's resolution then and there to fight whenever the occasion of- fered. At any rate, he began his active oper- ations before long. When he was old enough his parents sent him to a school nearby, where he GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 9 formed a regiment of infantry, and took com- mand of all the other boys, as if he were a commis- sioned officer. His teacher sent word home that he upset the minds of all the other boys by raising sieges, fighting battles, appointing captains and lieutenants, and building forts and barricades. When he grew to manhood, he became a surveyor, as young Washington had done, and won the no- tice of Benjamin Franklin for his spirit and in- telligence. The wise old man in his fur cap and big spectacles rather admired reckless- ness, for he had been quite a boy in his day, so he recoimnended young Mr. Anthony Wayne, to a company of land speculators who were lay- ing out some territory in Nova Scotia, which the British had taken from the French in the recent barbarous war. And they sent the young sur- veyor up into old Arcadia, the saddest spot in all the land, to represent them there. In 1767, he married and settled down to be a farmer in the Quaker Colony of William Penn — 10 STORY OF He took command of all the other boj^s. — Page 9. GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE ]] the place where he was born. Here he Hved quietly and contentedly, watching with concern, the events which were rapidly shaping themselves, and which were soon to lead into a glorious and righteous war. When the battle at Lexington had spread the alarm over the country, and stout old Ethan Al- len had taken the forts on Lake George and Lake Champlain, it occurred to young Anthony that he would like to have a hand in all this ; so he came forth from his pleasant home and was made a Col- onel by the Congress which was then in session at Philadelphia. He buckled on his belt and or- ganized his regiment and started north towards Crown Point and Ticonderoga and the land be- yond. As he was one of the bravest, staunchest patri- ots that fought for independence in those six long bitter years, let us follow him throughout that stirring period which was given to our first great war. 12 STORY OF When this gay young patriot reached the Army of the North, he must have been a httle disap- pointed to learn that the fighting was all over. He found the camp a hospital, filled with forlorn and dying men, with officers weary and depressed from failure and defeat, and spent with fruit- less toil. The northern campaign,conceived in hope and enthusiasm, had been a horrible and dismal failure. Exactly how our hero managed to arrange a battle, I do not know. But he went out hunting for a British company, and found one stationed down the St. Lawrence river. Of course a fight ensued. He was cannonaded by the enemy and had to retreat through a muddy, briary swamp. Soon he reached an open plain where he formed his men in battle array and forced the Britishers to run. A skirmish followed and after a brave re- sistance from a force more numerous than his own, he was compelled to retire. GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 13 Before very long the entire northern army was transferred to Ticonderoga down on Lake George, the fort which Ethan Allen had surprised and taken some time before. Here, emaciated and half naked, the pitiable, straggling remnants of the Ai-my of the North were nursed and cared for within the borders of their own land. And here Colonel Anthony Wayne was soon promoted to the rank of brig- adier general and given command of the fine old fort. He endured the peace and ease of this quiet post as long as he could and then sent word to General Washington in New Jersey that he would like to join the main army vvhere some lively fighting was going on. The commander- in-chief invited him to proceed to headquarters, and before long he had an opportunity to dis- tinguish himself as a remarkable military genius. CHAPTER II A HELPING HAND T HE next two years were busy ones for Gen- eral Wayne. He was in close touch with the main army dur- ing all that time. It did not take the commander-i n-c h i e f long to discover that the young general was remarkable in many ways. There were various splendid qualities in his character, but one he had which shone out boldly over all the rest — his cour- age. He did not know what fear was. He pre- ferred to be in front of a cannon rather than be- hind it. How he ever got through the war alive 14 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 15 is a mystery. Yet he not ooly did this but he con- tinued fighting after everyone else had stopped. He was probably the bravest man that ever lived. He ran into danger with as much delight as most people take in running out of it. The enemy made fun of him with their tongues and dreaded him in their hearts. Washington and Greene were brave enough but Anthony Wayne was a puzzle to both of them. He was always at the head of his column — always at the post of danger. He was not afraid of Howe, or Clinton, or Corn- wallis or the whole British army — he was not afraid of caimon or musketry — he was not afraid of hunger or starvation — he was not afraid of smallpox — he was afraid of nothing. He hated the enemy with patriotic ardor. He loved the din and tumult of war. He made more suggestions and urged more perilous enterprises than all the other generals put together. He did not always win, but he enjoyed the fighting just the same. When he marched against an opposing force he 16 STORY OF cared nothing whatever for their number or equipment. He was startlingly bold and original. He moved like lightning. One thing he did has come down in history as a work of military genius. He was different from all the other generals. This man, to whom our country owes so much was generous, patriotic and forgiving. When he notified the commander-in-chief of his victories, he always spoke affectionately and proudly of his men, and he never mentioned his own wounds. No wonder that he was worshipped. Such a man is always worshipped. The history of this good and brave man's deeds, if they were told in full, would be a history of the war. But we must be content with follow- ing him here and there, in his rapid course, taking hasty glimpses of him as he appears and disap- pears and reviewing hastily some of the events in w^hich he had a part. I must not forget to tell you how he looked, for his countenance attracted many before they knew the sort of man he was. GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE |7 He had a meny, reckless face — a "dare devil" face as we would call it now — with a breezy dash- ing way about him, and with twinkling eyes. He wore a dingy old red coat with an old hat trimmed with torn lace, which he usually wore on the side of his head. At the time that General Wayne arrived to cast his fortunes with the main army General Wash- ington had almost succeeded in driving the British out of the New Jersey colony. The young Gen- eral from the North presented himself to the chief at Morristown and was given command of eight regiments formed into two brigades and called the Pennsylvania line. With these brig- ades he sallied forth against the few British de- tachments that still remained in Jersey. These he forced into Amboy with his new and undrilled troops, from which place they soon departed for their stronghold in New York, and the patriots had the pleasant consolation of seeing the en- tire Jersey colony quite their own. 18 STORY OF But what would the British do next? In the harbor of New York stood the splendid squadron of Lord Howe. It might go up the Hudson river to join the victorious and terrible Burgoyne. But it did not do anything of the sort. It turned about and sailed southward and went up Chesa- peake Bay to take the capital of the land, where Congress was in session, the city of Philadelphia. That was a dangerous move for the patriotic cause. But it was a good trick. As soon as General Wasliington was satisfied of this he despatched General Wayne to Wil- mington to head off the intruders. Before long the whole of the New Jersey army was gathered in Pennsylvania resolved to protect the seat of government from British occupancy and control. Washington with his forces had passed through Philadelphia to the country west of the city where the Schuylkill river, as crazy and crooked as a streak of forked lightning, comes winding down to pay its respects to the Quaker city and shoot off GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 19 west again. But the army of invaders landed at the head of Chesapeake bay and pressed on boldly toward the wicked city where the Declara- tion of Independence had been passed. The first interruption which they met with was when they were called upon to give battle at the Brandywine, a small river, where General Wayne was stationed at a ford across the narrow stream. Here, A\hile a fierce conflict raged between the main armies, the gallant Wayne remained all day with his own brigade. Across the shallow stream were seven thousand Hessians whom he held at bay. These hired foreigners who had no interest in the war but for the money they received were the crudest soldiers in the whole army of Great Britain. Wayne opposed them with skill and bravery which became the wonder of that day. They could not pass while he was there. His gallant soldiers formed a wall which even cannon balls seemed not to destroy or weaken. The Ger- man troops poured volley after volley of shot 20 STORY OF across at the Pennsylvania line, but the line re- mained unbroken. The shooting and cannonad- ing were of no avail. They could not drive the fearless general from his post. He had been de- tailed to protect Chad's ford and he did it with courage and success which were miraculous. The number he repulsed and kept at bay was five times greater than his own. All day long the gallant, fearless, reckless general kept his stand amid the roar of musketry and fearful onslaughts by the hired regiments across the stream. Per- haps he had a special hatred for them. All day long the main body of the Continental army disputed inch by inch the power of the British to advance. But the day was lost — lost to the patriots in an honorable and glorious defeat, which they were forced to suffer at last. The holding of Chad's ford in that battle of the Brandy wine was the bravest action of the day and it was wildly applauded throughout the land. The British marched victoriously on and before GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 21 long were within twenty miles of Philadelphia. Here, Washington resolved to engage the enemy again and stop, if possible, their march upon the Quaker city. Another battle was fought while the rain poured down in torrents until the powder and cartridges of the armies became saturated and both sides surrendered meekly to the Wind- ing stonn. Soon, General Wayne was stationed on the road to stop the British baggage wagons as they passed. Here, at midnight, he was sur- prised by a tremendous force whose leader had learned of the American position from a Tory spy and cruel massacre of the patriots ensued. General Wayne escaped with many of his troops but some were heartlessly and needlessly murdered. The principal thing the British gained in that awful raid was the hatred of General Anthony Wayne, a thing which they could have very well afforded to do without. The army of King George marched on and soon with shouts of triumph and a baggage train 22 STORY OF ten miles long entered Philadelphia and started housekeeping for the ^\ inter. Congress was driven from the city and the future for the op- pressed and struggling patriots, looked dubious indeed. After this followed the battle of Germantown where Washington tried in vain to regain the city and where General Wayne fought bravely through that sorrowful day. In the midst of a dense fog the patriots battled desperately for their lost prize and in the front ranks, charging furiously with his brigade, was Anthony Wayne, the first to take the field and, as usual, the last to leave it when the Continental forces gave up in despair. The British now held Philadelphia a:id New York, and even Ticonderoga, the stronghold of the North, had been recaptured by Burgoyne. No wonder that Anthony Wayne felt it necessary to write to his wife down on the old farm in Chester County to bear up under the distressing news — GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 23 that better times were near at hand. He was al- ways hopeful, always cheerful amid disaster and defeat, and he looked with confidence and trust through the suffering and discord which sur- rounded him, believing that the clouds must clear away in good time and fortune smile upon the glorious cause. So he went on fighting with a light heart. CHAPTER HI DESPAIR AND HOPE A T about the time that General Wayne and his division were on their way to save the Capital City and General Washington was passing through it to meet the advancing forces of Great Britain, there landed in Philadel- phia a young man less than twenty -one years old. He had left a home of w^ealth and luxury in France and a fair young bride to join the fight for independence the news of which had fired his young soul. This young man was the Marquis de Lafayette who had left his native France against the protests of his f am- GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 25 ily and the urgent pleadings of his friends at home to cast his lot together with his splendid for- tune with the patriotic army of our land. This brave young soldier joined the army before the battle at the Brandywine was fought, and he proved to be a powerful and loyal ally to the cause. Now came the terrible winter at Valley Forge where the starving and defeated army sought repose; and where the cavalry of the gale and the infantry of the blast besieged them in their frail log huts. During those fearful months — those days of misery and despair — General Wayne was the good angel of the camp. He purchased clothing for his ragged Continentals with his own purse. The torments that the troops endured fell heavily upon his own soul. Many a night did the brave commander lead some for- aging party into the neighboring country, over the bleak hills, to bring back cattle and provisions to the distressed camp. The suffering of the patriot army was pathetic 26 STORY OF — terrible. All about on the white snow which covered the camping ground could be traced the spots of blood which had dropped from frost- bitten and bleeding feet, and which made little dotted scarlet trails from hut to hut. Maybe you think that it w^as sport to be a Continen- tal Soldier! They had no blankets and sat around their fires throughout the long cold nights to keep from freezing to death. With his usual cheerfulness and zeal the leader of the Pennsylvania line went forth from these scenes of hunger and poverty into New Jersey, where he engaged in many skirmishes in search of food and always came back like the astonishing Paul Jones, loaded down with prizes of various sorts. What those brave men of the Continental army suffered in that awful midnight of the war, the hardships and privations they endured, the fear- ful agony they bore in silence while the British army was dancing to merry music in Philadel- GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 27 phia and New York will never be told in all the fulness of its horror. But this we know^ — that General Wayne was active in relieving the suffer- ing and want, that he was not too arrogant nor proud to do the duty of a common soldier and that, when they marched forth in the spring, worn and thin, a pitiable band, he accompanied them full of hope and courage and with a light heart. And then came the battle of Monmouth where Molly Pitcher, carrying water to the famished troops, saw her husband shot down by the enemy, saw him drop dead beneath the cannon he was loading, and rushing to the vacant place, loaded up the gun herself and sent its contents crash- ing among the red-coats! General Washington made her a lieutenant when the fight was over and gave her a soldier's half -pay for life. Oh, that was an exciting day. General Clinton who had succeeded Lord Howe as chief commander of the British forces, withdrew his troops from Philadelphia on hear- 28 STORY OF ing that a large French fleet was approaching. The army of Great Britain with an endless amount of baggage broke up housekeeping in a great hurry and started for New York. General Washington had suspected that they would do this and hastily leaving the camp at Valley Forge pursued them across New Jersey. There was a good deal of marching and counter-marching be- tween the two armies before they finally met on the plains of Monmouth which is near the present town of Freehold. It was a memorable day. Amid the songs of birds and the sw^eet scent of wild flowers, the air seemed laden with all the wealth and richness of summer. For Nature is always extravagant and never poor. It was Sunday morning. The sun rose up a dull red in the hazy light of morn, an ominous promise of the heat it would pour down upon the thirsty land that day. Those who told the story of that tranquil Sabbath morning after the war had closed, said it was the hottest, GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 29 sultriest day of all the year. It was the twenty- eighth of June 1778. Many a delicate little flower that opened its face that morning on the great field and looked up to heaven out of the thick green grass, was trampled down in human blood before the day had closed. Off in the dis- tance the church bells could be heard ringing. On that calm and fragrant morning twenty thousand men took up the cruel implements of war while Mature smiled pleasantly upon them. The bright red uniforms of one army, its tinselled epaulettes and polished buttons, and the glitter- ing steel of swords and bayonets, shone dazzling in the glai'ing sunlight. The other army was a host of long-haired, lanky, ill-clothed men who had come forth out of Valley Forge. This hapless patriotic legion had been follow- ing upon the rear of the British army when Gen- eral Washington ordered Major General Chas. Lee to advance and attack the British rear guard. The main army, under the commander-in-chief, 30 STORY OF was to follow and engage Sir Henry Clinton's entire force. With General Lee and his advance detachment were Lafayette and Wayne. Lee was in command. They hastened on until their regiments were almost within striking distance of the British rear guard. No one knows the thoughts which were revolving in the mind of General Lee that day. Xo one has been able to determine surely, what he meant to do. But we know what he was told to do and that he did not do it. We know what he said that he would do — and that he broke his word. Calling General Wayne, the man who was afraid of nothing, he ordered him to ride ahead with seven hundred men and attack the left rear guard of the enemy, stating that he would follow closely after with the remainder of the advance force. Riding boldly down the line with his handful of men the fearless Wayne, danger-blind as some people are color-blind, opened fire on the astonished rear guard of Sir Henry Clinton's GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 31 I wish to know, sir, the meaning of this confusion." — Page 33. 32 STORY OF army. The fire was instantly returned by a fear- ful volley and then, furious at the attack, a large force of Britishers charged upon the little Con- tinental band. Shrieking his orders like a mad- man and waving his sword Anthony Wayne led his band of soldiers forward and repulsed the British onslaught. Again he was fired upon and driven back. Rallying his soldiers for another charge he looked behind him for the regiments that were to follow, but Lee with his advance division was no where to be seen. Soldiers from the main body of the British army now rushed wildly to the rear guard. Swelling in numbers with every second the red-coats bore down once more with terrific fury on the little patriotic force. And once more, Wayne advanced into their very midst, doing terrible damage. But it was like try- ing to stay the waves of the ocean. The whole British army were turned about and rapidly rein- forcing the rear guard. Overwhelmed, the gal- lant General Wayne was forced to retreat to the GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 33 main body of the Continental army. As he gal- loped back he overtook many soldiers and officers hastening in the same direction. They had been ordered to retreat but they did not know why. None of them had seen any fighting. The troops under the commander-in-chief were three miles to the rear, marching forward. When General Wayne, blood-stained and dripping with the heat, was within a few yards of the chief, he saw Lee riding up to General Washington from the disorder and confusion of his retreating force. Washington was looking about him amazed. Turning to Lee in a towering rage he demanded to know the meaning of his retreat. "I wish to know, sir," he thmidered, "the mean- ing of this confusion!" Lee tried to explain, but General Washington, white with anger, ordered him to the rear. For the rest of that long, hot, bloody day, the man who had shifted his dangerous responsibility onto another vrho he knew would not refuse or shirk 34 STORY OF it and who had then deserted him amid the fire of battle and retreated to the rear, watched the action of the main forces in haughty silence from a dis- tant hill and on the following day was arrested for his cowardly and treacherous action, and sub- sequently dismissed from the service of his coun- try in disgrace.* And ever since, there has lurked about the name of Lee, the dark suspicion that his crime was deeper than it looked, that his cowardice should have a blacker name, and that the man who re- treated to the rear before the battle had begun, in- tended to give the British an advantage which would have enabled them to win the day. After this disastrous failure of his plans. Gen- eral Washington hastened to bring order out of discord, to rally the scattered and frightened troops and lead them forward. Meanwhile the British were bearing down upon them rapidly. It was necessary to form some regiments instantly * Gates and Lee were both Englishmen by birth. GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 35 to meet the advancing foe while Washington pro- ceeded to the rear where his army was approach- ing. Of course Wayne was delegated to this post, and he held it gallantly against the British fire until the two great armies met in battle array on that vast field and fought with desperation until the sun went down and darkness came to hide the gruesome horrors of that fearful day. Some think that the battle of Momnouth was an American victory, and such, indeed, it seemed to be. But others think that it resulted merely in an American advantage. But it was not a British victory, you may be assured. CHAPTER IV MIDNIGHT THE night after the battle of ]\Ionmouth both armies rested on the bloody field intending" to continue fighting the next day; but Sir Hem-y Clinton must have changed his mind in the dark hours of the night, for when the bright sun rose again on that awful plain, the red- coat legion with its wounded and its baggage, had gone away. They retreated to Sandy Hook and soon crossed over to Xew York which was a GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 37 sort of "home, sweet home" home to them when- ever they had been in trouble. Here they settled down to social pleasures, the officers gambhng on a large scale and the privates gambling on a small scale ; and they danced and sang and drank toasts and were exceeding merry; and they gave din- ners and bowed low and made fine speeches and offered their arms to fair ladies and spent their money with a free hand and sent misleading and untruthful messages to parliament and cursed the rebels and gave three cheers for King George. The next we see of our hero he is encamped with his brigade at Stony Beach on the Hudson river about fifty miles above New York. Jutting out into the water about fourteen miles below him is a little mountainous knob of land which in July 1779 was in the hands of the British and a strong detachment of the red-coat army had been stationed there. It was in reahty, a little round hill which was separated from the mainland by a wide and treacherous marsh. 38 STORY OF When the tide was low this httle island claimed to be a peninsula and when the tide was high the peninsula claimed to be an island. But whatever it was, it was a British stronghold, there was no doubt of that, and the crooked old stone fort up on the brow of the hill was well fortified. It had belonged to the Americans before Sir Henry Chnton took it and fixed it up, and now with its new guns and the breastworks all around it and its comfortable barracks, it was a very respectable sort of fort. The only thing that General Wayne had against it was that it was English, otherwise he liked it. If ever Nature in her wisdom made a place to build a fortress. Stony Point was that place. Surely it was put there on purpose for a fort. You had to go through a great broad, marshy, dangerous vestibule and then up a rugged little hill, like a bowl upside down, and surrounded by water on three sides. While Anthony Wayne was in the neighborhood he often passed the GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 39 quaint old place and longed to have it for his own. On one occasion he suggested to General Washington that they storm it. "Could you do it?" the commander asked. Anthony Wayne said not only that he could but that he would. General Washington went to the point and examined it. He explored the country round about the place, and looked up at the fort. He examined the marsh and shook his head grave'ly. Still, the suggestion interested him, for the possession, if it could be gained, would be a valuable one indeed. With this fort in the hands of the British, their power in that locality was likely to spread to alarming proportions. The commander-in-chief, who was always cautious, said that he would think it over, which he did and finally gave his consent. But he feared that he was consigning his brave assistant to horrible and certain slaughter. On the night of July sixteenth, 1779, General Anthony Wayne ordered his regiments to be sum- 40 STORY OF moned for review. That day he sent a little party down the road toward Stony Point to seize and kill all the dogs they could discover on the way. The work to be done that night must be done in silence. It was eleven o'clock at night when the general, with his usual smile, walked up and down his line, speaking pleasantly with all the men. His heart seemed light as usual, and his mind, so far as any one could see, was free from fear. Yet every single general in the army who knew the nature of the work on hand believed that Gen- eral Wayne was going headlong to his death. The regiments were ordered by their several lead- ers to march as quietly as possible. They were or- dered to unload their muskets and each man was given a piece of white paper to pin on the front of his hat in order that the Continental soldiers might be distinguished from an enemy in the dark. The brigade was then wheeled about and marched southward. It was an hour or so past midnight when the GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 41 troops, not knowing what they were expected tc do, reached the marsh which separated the British stronghold from the land. Here the troops were halted and Anthony Wayne went to take a little refreshment at a farmer's house nearby. He aU a hasty meal and then sat down and wrote the fol- lowing letter to a friend. The hostess who handed him the ink and paper said afterward that he looked quite gay and happy and thanked hei cordially and with a twinkle in his eye. ''My dear Delaney. This will not meet your eye until the writer is no more. * * * / know that friend- ship will induce you to attend to the education of my little son and daughter. I fear their mother will not survive this stroke. Please go to her and lend her your kind offices and protection. I send my best wishes to you and your family and to all friends. * * * Yours most sincerely Anthony Wayne. 42 STORY OF He then went out and down the road to where his troops were waiting. The men were again reminded to unload their muskets if any con- tained ball and powder. They were then told to examine their bayonets and see that these were strongly fixed. The password to be used was then made known to the soldiers ;"The fort's our own!" They were instructed to shout it lustily when it should bid fair to be true. They were further cautionecf as to the necessity of perfect silence in all their movements. Two advance guards were then sent forward to tie the sentinels and gag them. The brigade was then divided into two divisions one of which was led by Gen- eral Wayne. They crossed the marsh without a sound and one division proceeded to ascend the hill on the right while the other pressed up the opposite slope. As they neared the fort the gar- rison was aroused and turned a heavy cannonade upon them and sent a fierce volley of gi-ape shot into one of the ascending columns. But the two GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 43 "The fort's our own ! " — Paare 4-5. 44 STORY OF columns with their bayonets fixed advanced steadily and silently and closed in upon the for- tress like the steel jaws of a great machine. Up opposite sides of the hill the two divisions came in grim silence through the dark. On, on, on, they came — slowly, mechanically, and forcing their way at the points of their steel spikes into the very face of a fearful fire from the awakened and fur- ious garrison! And the two divisions met in the center of the fort at the same moment having pushed their way into the stronghold without the firing of a single gun! Scaling the parapet on either side the assailants poured into the fortress and sent up a cry that sounded over the black river. "The fort's our own! The fort's our own!" And it w as. But where was the beloved com- mander? Out near the breastworks a little dis- tance from the fort, they found him bleeding, with a musket ball in his head. About him was a pool of blood. His face was ashy pale. The GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 45 stream of life was ebbing fast. Major Hull, one of his officers, found him there after the patriots had entered the fort. He had heard the shouts, and drawing the officer toward him, said in a failing voice, "Have them carry me in so I may die at the head of the column." And raising his arm he tried to wave it and say, "The fort's our own," but it fell limp and powerless at his side. He was canned into the fort, bleeding, dying, but in triumph. They bore him to the British commander and held him while he received the formal surrender of the garrison. The British soldiers looked at him curiously and reverently. His own men gathered about him and cheered until the neighboring highlands, under the inspiration of those lusty cheers, caught up the swelling sound as it poured forth, and tossing it from hill-top to hill-top, from cavern to cavern, from glen to glen, mingled it with the shrieks of night-birds high up in their craggy nests and proclaimed, "The 46 STORY OF fort's our own — the fort's our own!" and sent the joyous echo back through cloud and darkness to the conquered fort. The night passed and still the patriot lingered. And many in the British camp across the stream asked what sort of thing this "liberty" must be if men would go to such extremes to win it. In the morning they held him up in order that he might report the enterprise to General Wash- ington with his own hand. He wrote this note and it was carried by a messenger to headquarters. Dear General — The fort and garrison are ours — Our officers and men behaved like men determined to he free. Yours Sincerelif, Anthony Wayne. No mention of his own wound or of his con- dition. The men who worshipped him nursed him tenderly and soon the scales of life began to turn slightly in his favor. And he lived to be com- mander in chief of the U. S. Army. In good time GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 47 he recovered, for as he said himself, he could not afford to die — he was too busy. Before long we find him with his faithful followers encamped near Haverstraw^ on a slope along the Hudson River. CHAPTER V DxVRKNESS N OW that we have Gen. Wayne and his Uttle army safely quartered near Haverstraw, let us wander up the moun- tainous west bank of the Hudson for a hasty glimpse of the garrison at West Point. It is sixteen miles up the river and the jom'ney is over rugged peaks and through deep and crooked vallej^s. We cannot bend our steps along the water's edge, for there is no room to walk between the rocky ledges and the shore. Civilization has carved a narrow shelf along the brink of the beau- 48 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 49 tiful stream since then where thundering trains go iTishing back and forth following in their course the graceful turns and rounded bays of the placid river. High up on rolling ground a mile or so above the camp at Haverstraw is a small white house overlooking the broad river. In it lives a man named Smith. Both the house and its occupant will play a leading part in the story we have to tell. Two miles further over steep and rugged heights and we can look down toward the shore and see what there is remaining of the old fort at Stony Point. There is a public ferry here which goes across to Ver plank's Point almost op- posite on the eastern shore. When w^e get above King's ferry we are within the limits of the gar- rison at West Point. First we pass Fort Clin- ton, then Fort Montgomery, and then, high upon the brow of the mountain. Fort Putnam overlooking the country roundabout from its mighty pedestal which rises majestically among 50 STORY OF the rolling, clustering hills. Nearly all the ammu- nition and provisions that the army owns is stored within this fort. The river is quite narrow here and looking over we can plainly see Fort Constitution on its little island, and just below it a long, low mansion on the summit of a woody hill which rises from the shore. This mansion is the headquarters of the commander of the gar- rison, the defender and protector of these forts with all their priceless stores — General Ai-nold. Down at the shore near his house is a clumsy skiff in which the general crosses the river each day to inspect the works. The long, low mansion was once the residence of a gentleman named Robinson who went over to the British when the w^ar began, but as he could not take the fine old homestead with him it became the property of the Americans. General Arnold is a little lame from a wound that he received at Saratoga while fighting against Burgoyne. He has seen active service GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 5] for the past five years and now he is enjoying the more peaceful duty of protecting these high- land forts. But the duty is a serious one for all that for if these strongholds with their precious stores were to fall into Sir Henry Clinton's hands it might end the war and with it all the high hopes of liberty and independence which have withstood defeat and poverty for five long years. Let us wander back again over the mountains and through the narrow wooded passes to our camp at Haverstraw. See how placidly the river hurries on in its journey to the sea! The white house up on the green hill just below Stony Point is bright in the morning sunlight! How plainly one might look across the river from the large square window on the second floor. We may fall into the narrow beaten path which comes winding down from the lonely house, and, fol- lowing it, pick our way along to Haverstraw a mile or two below. Here the light infantry brigade with its gallant 52 STORY OF and beloved commander, is enjoying a little repose. General Wayne is now a famous man, and all the troops are proud of him as well they may be. The daring enterprise at Stony Point and its wonderful success had raised him to the highest pinnacle of glory. It had been the bright spot of a dark and sorrowful year. He enjoyed the confidence of Washington — a more enviable pos- session than all the spoils of war. Major Gen- eral Lee, selfish and conceited as he was, and hating him in the bargain — could not refrain from saying that he had never known of any act so bold and original in the history of any war. Congress voted a gold medal to the hero and the commander-in-chief wrote a glowing letter in his praise. In those days nicknames were quite the fashion, as they always are in times of war, so the good people put their label on the gallant general as they had done on Marion and Sumter and he was known throughout the colonies as GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 53 "JMad Anthony Wayne," not because he lost his temper but because his reckless daring seemed to some as quite insane. One night in the pleasant September, when the regiments near Haverstraw were resting quietly and lonely sentinels marched silently back and forth about the sleeping camp, a little boat with muffled oars glided noiselessly through the darkness toward the western shore. It bore three men who talked in whispers when they spoke at all. Out in midstream that night there rode at anchor, a British sloop of war, and the rippling watery path which the little row-boat left behind it as it glided silently along, could be traced back to this British vessel. The little row-boat made its way into a secluded cove overhung with trees and thick with foliage where one of the men alighted, and looking cautiously about him, hastened up a narrow beaten path to a glen not far away, where another figure in a long, loose cloak, was pacing anxiously back and forth. If 54 STORY OF Sitting down upon a rock they began to talk in whispers.— Page 55. GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 55 we could have seen this figure waiting in the darkness, we might have noticed that it was a Ht- tle lame. The man who came up from the row-boat was young and handsome and of gentle breeding. Beneath his outer garment he wore the uniform of his royal IMajesty — George the III. The two greeted each other in an undertone, and sitting down upon a rock began to talk in whispers. What they said there in the darkness no one knows, but the man wiio was a little lame gave the younger man some maps and charts and pa- pers whch have been preserved. These described the garrison at West Point and told in detail how it might be taken by the enemy. Hour after hour they sat there until finally the first pale light of morn was visible through the tall trees. But still they talked. The night was turning slowly now from black to gray — but the whis- pered conference went on. One of the men from the little boat came up to tell them that day was 56 STORY OF approaching and that if they waited longer in the grove they might be seen. They listened to his warning and he led the way along a path, not down toward the river, but up toward Haver- straw. This man was Joshua Smith, the owner of the house we noticed. Hurriedly and silently they made their way along the path until they were within the village, where a sentinel stopping them, demanded to know their business. The man who was a little lame gave the countersign and the soldier allowed them to pass on. "My God!" said the young man who wore the British uniform "I am within the American lines! I was warned and instructed against — " but the others told him that he had no cause for fear and the trio hastened on. They traversed the same path from which we saw the white house on the hill, and to this very house its owner was leading his companions now. Here in this house, overlooking the Hudson, the two men talked, while the sun broke through the GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 57 mist on the river, and poured its radiance down upon the highland forts. Pleasantly the rippling currents, golden in the sunlight, beat against the British sloop of war which still rode at anchor in the wide stream. Loudly the bugle sounded in the fresh clear air and the regiments at Haver- straw rose again from their slumbers. Stealthily the man who was a little lame hastened from the house and down the hill where his own little skiff was waiting at the shore. And now there was no need for secrecy. Step- ping into the boat and telling his men to row as rapidly as possible, the little skiff moved boldly up the stream, past Stony Point and King's ferry, past Forts Montgomery and Clinton where soldiers near the shore saluted as it passed along, until the little craft turned its prow full toward the eastern shore and soon the general was landed at his headquarters. CHAPTER VI DANGER T HE young British officer was Major John Andre the particular pet of Sir Henry Clinton who was then enjoying himself in New York. The young man had come from the city to the sloop Vul- ture with instructions to transact the fearful busi- nesss there and then return. He had been instructed not to go within the American lines but he had allowed himself to disobey instructions, and in trying to destroy or prevent the liberty of America, it looked very much as if he had parted with his own. It was high time that he returned to the 5S GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 59 Vulture. But this he could not do. While Gen- eral Arnold had been with him in the early hours of the morning they had heard the firing of guns, and looking from the large square window on the second floor of Smith's house, they had seen the Vulture disappearing down the river, driven by some American batteries on the eastern shore. As the vessel passed from sight behind the range of hills and the firing died away, hope died also in the young man's heart. He had in his possession the secrets of the garrison at West Point, a de- scription of how its commander would scatter his troops, make a show of resistance and then sur- render to the enemy. He held the details of the blackest plot that ever had been formed — a plot contrived by Benedict Arnold, to sell his country for a price. The young man had a pass which General Arnold had given him to enable him to return by land in which he was described as a certain John Anderson who had been to the American headquarters on public business. After 60 STORY OF an anxious day young Major Andre with his pass, and with a complete disguise which his silent host had given him, set forth in the darkness, and crossing the river at the public ferry a mile or two above the house, bent his steps southward toward Dobb's ferry which was just below the American lines. How far off must have seemed New York that night ! Smith accompanied him part w^ay and then left him to whatever fate or happy fortune had in store. The traveller made his way along inquiring the direction as he journeyed on and avoiding the suspicious glances of many whom he passed. All along the country skirting the eastern bank of the Hudson Continental regiments were stationed here and there. We may be sure that every sound within the woods along the quiet country roads, made him start and shudder and filled his mind with dread and fear. Once a sentry stopped him and asked him who he was and demanded to see his pass. But the signature of General Arn- GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 61 old quieted all doubts, and the sentry allowed him to pass on. He slept at a farm house over night and after breakfast started forth again with his precious packet, and new hope of safety and suc- cess sprang up within his heart. Surely with his magic pass he could make his way along without delay or danger and once within the British lines below Dobb's ferry, he could hasten with his val- uable papers to New York. It will be a proud moment when he can hand his packet to Sir Henry Clinton. And then what will Sir Henry Clinton do? Why, he will send his army up the river to West Point, some by water and some by land, and the capture will be very easy. The great iron chain across the stream at Fort Putnam will have a weakened link so that it may be easily broken asunder by the vessels as they pass. The garrison will be weakened so that it cannot resist, and then Sir Henry Clinton, the hero, will take the highland forts. 62 STORY OF Through woods and fields the traveller jour- neyed' on, unsuspected and unharmed. As there does not seem to be the slightest doubt that he will reach the British lines in safety, let us return to West Point and leave him to press on. It was the third day after the meeting in the dark grove below Haverstraw. Three times had the bright sun risen over the Hudson River and found the flag of the United Colonies there to greet it — waving cheerily above the highland forts. Anxiously and impatiently did Benedict Arnold scan the river from his porch for the ap- proach of Sir Henry Clinton's fleet. The delay annoyed him for the forts were ready to deliver whenever the enemy should come to get them. Still they did not come, and the general was growing nervous. That same day. General Washington with his secretary, young Alexander Hamilton, and La- fayette and others of his staff was on his way from Hartford and had promised himself to visit Gen- GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 63 eral Arnold's quarters and inspect the forts across the river. The commander-in-chief sent his aid-de-camp and Hamilton ahead to say to General Arnold that they would breakfast with him, but the chief did not arrive in time, so the general with his family and their guests, sat down alone. Mrs. Arnold talked gaily but her husband was moody and abstracted. Scarcely had ten minutes passed when the sound of horses' hoofs could be heard in the distance and in a few sec- onds a rider dismounted at the door and a letter was brought into the dining room and handed to General Arnold. He tore the seal and read it while the others waited. As he scanned the note his countenance turned pale, but otherwise he gave no sign of nervousness or fear. It was not so bad. The letter was from the commander of an American outpost in the direction of White Plains and informed the general that a certain man calling himself John Anderson and having a pass which he claimed to have been signed by 64 STORY OF Arnold had been aiTested near Tarrytown and discovered to be a British spy. They supposed, of course, that General Arnold's name was forged or that the pass was stolen. He was very much relieved, and proceeded to read the postscript. This stated that the papers found on the prisoner had been forwarded to General Washington who was known to be on his way to West Point ! General Arnold did not stir. What was that? The sound of horses' hoofs again? The other messenger with the tell-tale papers? If so he would give them to young Hamilton for the commander-in-chief. Or per- haps General Washington himself was coming at last. Or perhaps it was only General Arnold's conscience playing tricks. He recovered himself and glanced from the window, deathly pale. It was only the impatient animal that had brought the news from White Plains. Surely it sounded further off! "Gentlemen," said the general, taking hold of GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 65 his chair and moving it ne'tvously as he spoke, "I have an important communication which calls me across the river to the forts. I must beg you to make my excuses to General Washington and I will return as soon as possible.'^ He hurried from the room to the chamber above, followed by his wife. He told her in a few hurried sentences that his life depended on his reaching the British lines without delay. She staggered and fell to the floor. He had no time to raise her, but rushing from the house and down the little hill on a horse which he had or- dered ready, directed his servants to row him toward the British sloop of \^ ar which was riding at anchor down the stream — below the point where it had been before. He was armed with t^^o pistols and the bewildered, frightened boat- men dared not disobey. Thus with danger and dishonor and discovery behind him, with murder in his heart, with the two pistols clasped tightly in his hands, with desperation in his eyes, his 66 STORY OF He told her in a few hurried sentences. — Pa":e 66. GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 67 scheme a miserable failure, the flying traitor in his little boat glided swiftly down the fair and placid Hudson river until he reached the British man of war. And then, limping on to her deck, this man, Benedict Arnold, whose blood had been shed at Saratoga and Quebec, the brave and gal- lant leader who had won the praise and confi- dence of Washington, who had raised his hand and taken the solemn oath of allegiance at Val- ley Forge, gave himself, as he had meant to give the highland forts, to Sir Henry Clinton and the army of King George. n ^rM^ CHAPTER VII SAFETY B EFORE long Gen- eral W ashington arrived with Lafayette and his other officers. He was told that General Arnold had been called across to West Point. The only ^ person in the house who knew the truth was the traitor's fair young wife and she was reported by her servant to be unwell and unable to see the guests. The commander took a hasty breakfast and went across to West Point with his suite to meet Gen- eral Arnold and inspect the forts there. At Fort Putnam he was told that the general had not been there for two days. Yet there was no room for 68 GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 69 suspicion or distrust in his generous mind. He supposed that some mistake had been made. Like the courteous and honorable gentleman that he was, he thought no evil, but proceeded to in- spect the forts. After an hour or so, the chief with his attendants started across the river to re- turn to headquarters. As they neared the east- ern bank young Hamilton was noticed by them hurrying toward the shore. He held some papers which a messenger had just brought. These he handed to General Washington as the chief landed, who opened them and learned of Arnold's guilt. He stood a moment in silence, and then turning to Lafayette and handing him the papers, said sadly, "Whom can we trust now?" The brave big-hearted man seeing the clouds of danger and disaster gathering thick about him, was losing hope at last. He had answered the call to arms five years before in the prime of vigorous manhood, and he had taken upon him- self as great a burden as man had ever borne. 70 STORY OF Refusing any pay he had quietly gone about the mighty work he had to do. He had known the insults and ridicule of the British Gage and his tinselled officers. He had known the insolence and jealousy of Gates and the treacherous de- signs of Lee. He had heard the clatter of idle tongues against him and had seen a scheming, lying, jealous faction growing up in Congress to deprive him of his command. He had lived to see his army ill-fed, discouraged, and forlorn. He had suffered from wind and snow at Valley Forge among the men — suffering all, enduring all, with calmness and v/ith patience. It was now the last year of the war and he had grown old in the service. Whom could he trust now^? He took the papers back from Lafayette and then he took his spectacles off and folded them and put them away, without a word. When he reached the house he asked to be conducted to Mrs. Arnold and on being shown to her apart- GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 71 ment he expressed his sympathy and asked if there was aught that he could do for her happi- ness or comfort. Then he came down into the dining room where Lafayette and Hamilton and others were waiting. "Come gentlemen," said the commander-in- chief in a quiet tone, ''since ]Mrs. Arnold is ill and the general absent, let us sit down without ceremony." Silently they ate the meal but the question he had asked was still imansv,ered; whom could he trust now? The garrison at West Point w^as scattered and the British were expected up the river at any time. No one knew the extent of Arnold's scheme nor whom the traitor had em- ployed. In his doubt and fear the general's thoughts as if by instinct turned to the little camp at Haverstraw and "Mad Anthony Wayne." A messenger was sent in haste to summon the hero of Stony Point with his brigade. It was late at night when the messenger on his 72 STORY OF foaming, panting horse dashed into camp. Ask- ing at once for General Wayne, he told in a fv^w hurried sentences of Arnold's treason and gave him General Washington's summons to proceed to West Point for the protection of the forts. In less than ten minutes the beating of drums could be heard, calling the sleeping regiments to arms. The men, rising instantly, shouldered their muskets and fell into line. And then raising his voice in the darkness Anthony Wayne told them that Benedict Arnold had gone to the enemy and that they must march forward at once to guard the highland forts. It was an hour past midnight when, amid the roar of drums and call of bugles, the light infantry brigade left the camp near Haver straw on their journey to the North. Not a star was in the sky. In less than an hour they reached the house where Andre had been concealed but found it empty for its owner was held a prisoner at head- GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 73 quarters and his family had been sent away be- fore the treacherous meeting in the grove. Over cHffs and crags, through wooded passes and narrow winding valleys and deep ravines, they journeyed northward in the darkness. In an- other hour they passed by Stony Point. Not once did the little army halt on its gallant march. For every man of them believed that the safety of the highland forts was in their hands. Steadily they pressed on, now following some trail and now^ picking their way as best they might through w^oods and tangled brush. Finally they reached a level tract and then they fell into line and the steady monotonous tramp could be heard far ahead. At ^ve o'clock in the morning, the commander- in-chief, pacing the grounds at West Point, heard the muffled sound of drums indistinct in the dis- tance. He heard the forts below saluting. Louder and louder grew the sound. They were passing Fort Clinton. The sound now swelled 74 STORY OF into a mighty roar which seemed to be rolhng swiftly toward him. The mountains echoed it until it died away into the regular and measured tread of marching feet. And then in the pale light of the breaking morn, a host of dusty and dishevelled uniforms could be distinguished bear- ing in upon the northern fort. And at exactly twenty minutes past five that morning, having traversed sixteen miles of country in four dark hours of the night. Mad Anthony Wayne, dusty and travel stained, presented himself before George Washington, and touching his hat and lowering the point of his sword, apologized for keeping the commander in suspense so long, and awaited orders. If we were to follow Benedict Arnold through the twenty years of life remaining to him, we w^ould have no time to accompany our hero on his future expeditions of patriotism and bravery. Besides, all that would be another story. We followed him a little way because he crossed GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNI JD He apologized for keeping his commander in suspense so long. Page 74 76 STORY OF our path. But with his future life, his sorrow and remorse, his poverty and his disgrace, we have, at present, no concern. Under the protec- tion of the British army, he went to England w^hen the war had closed and there he made his home. But the nation which had accepted the treason came to despise the traitor. The King was friendly to him, hut as his Royal Majesty was not especially particular about the company he kept, this could hardly be regarded as an honor. He offered his services to England when she had picked another quarrel with France, but the British officers declined to serve with him, and his offer was refused. Thus shunned and hated by all honest men, Benedict Arnold, a strange mixture of braver}'' and dishonesty — a good general but a bad man — dwelt among strangers in a foreign land, and died obscure and penniless at the age of sixty- one years. Nor can we follow young Major Andre on GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 77 his perilous journey toward the British hnes nor review the details of his capture. They took the prisoner to Ai'nold's headquarters and then across to West Point and then to the pleasant little village of Tappan where a detachment of Gen- eral Greene's army was encamped. And there they stood him on a cart and tied his hands be- hind his back and fixed a rope around his neck, and when the noose was fastened properly, they drove the cart away, and left him dangling from an apple-tree. CHAPTER VIII 1781 w JTH General Wayne and his division in com- mand at West Point, the British army in New York did not at- tempt its little excursion up the river. The gay young officers amused themselves with private theatricals, which are always harmless, and impersonated Wayne and Greene and even Washington, in their little plays. General Wayne was humorously depicted as a tanner with a heavy leather apron and a currying knife and the man who played the part created quite a hearty laugh among his red-coat audience. Ma- jor Andre had written some time before, a poem of ridicule about the leader of the light brigade C-r GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 79 and the stanzas caused much merriment in the British camp. But in their merry parlor enter- tainments they did not render the storming of Stony Point. Neither did the accomphshed army of Sir Henry CHnton go up the Hudson to the highland forts. They felt, no doubt, that discre- tion was by far the better part of British valor, and remained in their comfortable and peaceful quarters at New York. It w^as about this time that an unfortmiate event took place in the Continental camp. A number of the soldiers under Gen.Wayne, des- perate from want and hunger, organized a revolt and left the army in a body. It was through the good judgment and influence of their beloved commander that their needs were finally supplied, as they ought to have been in the first place, and most of them returned with patriotic enthusiasm to the service. While they were in revolt, Sir Henr}^ Clinton sent some spies among them to make enticing promises and win them over to the 80 STORY OF British cause. But the men who had revolted were not traitors, as his excellency, the baronet, had supposed. They seized the messengers who came to bribe them and turned them over to Gen- eral Wayne politely asking him to hang them as a special favor. The general was very glad to comply. Perhaps I ought to tell you that the poverty of the country at that time was the cause of much dis- couragement among the brave men who fought and that the government, or such government as there was, was in a very bad way. The money with which the troops were paid was worth but a small part of the value printed upon it, and there were some foolish men in Philadelphia who thought that money could be made by a printing press and that there was no cause for anxiety as long as ink and paper held out. When I tell you that plain old Samuel Adams, a modest man and a Quaker at that, paid two thousand dollars for a suit of clothes, you will see that money was not worth GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 81 much in those days, before our country had a sav- ings bank to drop its pennies in and a splendid national debt as we have now. Through all these dark and sad events which it has been necessaiy for us to follow, Gen. Wayne did not lose heart but felt as he had felt the day he first enlisted in the grand old cause that right and justice would one day triumph and that in spite of poverty and defeat and treason and mis- takes ; in spite of ridicule and hardship, a new and glorious nation would be born. And this grand belief, born of his splendid heart, and his deathless patriotism, did not deceive him. For soon it came to pass that those who had attacked the right had simply hurt themselves. It was the dark hour before the dawn. Down in the fair South the commander-in-chief, borne down with care, could see a star of hope. Let us, therefore, leave the Hudson highlands and follow the detachment under Gen. Wayne to South Carolina where Francis Marion and Sum- 82 STORY OF ter have been making the sunny South exceeding- ly cloudy for the British Tarleton for several years, and where the faithful Gen. Greene has now gone to look after the southern campaign. On the 20th of May 1781, Gen. Wayne with his detachment, made up partly from the old brig- ade and partly of other regiments and fresh re- cruits, set out for Virginia where Lafayette was encamped. He met the gallant little Frenchman at Fredericksburgh with about eight hundred men. Here he formed his soldiers into two ba- tallions which were known as Wayne's brigade, and with this splendid little army under him he fought throughout the closing year of the old war. The British army in Virginia was commanded by Lord Cornwallis, who, v/ith his large and well drilled regiments held the country roundabout in his control. The small brigade under General Wayne, being unequal to the British force in numbers, had to be content with checking the raids of British detachments sent out from the main GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 83 army on little expeditions of robbery and the de- struction of military stores. Gen. Wayne en- gaged his time in Virginia much the same as Francis Marion in the Carolinas and he proved to be quite as active and terrible. All this time General Washington in the Xorth v/as forming his plans for the capture of Lord Cornwallis. It had been a hard year in the north- em colonies. The winter was one of the most terrific in the history of our land. The troops quartered about Xew Jersey and New York had suffered terribly from w^ant of food. The army of freedom was poor — fearfidly poor. What wonder that the wretched patriots looked longing- ly toward the South? Before very long my Lord Cornwallis, who had been having things rather his own v/ay in Virginia began to realize that Anthony Wayne was get- ting to be quite a nuisance. Just so sure as the British commander sent a detachment any w^here for any purpose the gallant Wayne would follow 84 STORY OF it and a skirmish would ensue. And the most dis- tressing part was that he enjoyed it so. At Green Springs Gen. Wayne engaged in another one of his "JMad Anthony" enterprizes. In a thought- less and unguarded moment, the British general had allow^ed his army to become divided by a river and General Wayne took advantage of the occa- sion to attack one side, causing great damage and consternation, and retreated in a most mysterious manner. It must have been a discouraging and troublous period just then for his majesty's commander in Virginia. With Marion and Wayne and Sum- ter galloping about the country and doing all sorts of surprising and unaccountable things, with mid- night attacks and sudden skirmishes, it must have seemed advisable to my lord and his friends in South Carolina to come together and seek some safe retreat and not despatch stray regiments and companies about the country. Co-operating with Lafayette who was near him GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 85 with Gen. Greene and others in the South, the gal- lant Wayne by his activity and boldness, by his wonderful originality and skill, prepared the way for the grand event which was then almost at hand. What he could not do with power and numbers, he did with strategy. He was in the confidence of Greene and Washington and had a duty to perform. He was to prepare the way — to ride ahead of the event which Gen. Washington with matchless skill and calculation had contrived and planned. With the heart of a careless boy, with resource and rapidity quite unique, he took from the British army little slices of its power; bothered it, harassed it, surprised it, continually, until Cornwallis, weary and distracted led his large army into Yorktown, from which, after a bitter siege they came forth, humbled and defeat- ed, to battle against American liberty no more. The acting of this last scene in the great bloody drama in which our fathers fought, the gathering of the allied armies of America and France, the 86 STORY OF sudden march of General Washington from the north, the assembHng of the several fleets off York- town in the river, the despair and wrath of Clinton in New York when he saw, too late, the meaning of it all, are too well known to need rehearsal here Besides, the hero of these pages, great and splen- did as were his deeds, v/as but a single|figure in the glorious and thrilling scene. But still he played his part, gallantly, unselfishly, and nobly, as he had done throughout the long and bitter war. The splendid though complicated plans of the commander-in-chief were put in motion, not by himself alone, but by the few of his generals in whose bravery and characters he could place im- plicit trust, in Greene and Lafayette, and Mad Anthony Wayne. From scenes of discouragement and doubtful hopes, from the soil which had been defiled by a low and treacherous plot, from suffering and! want, a vast host of ragged unkempt men, worn and gaunt with hunger, ill clothed, the ridicule of GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 87 Slowly, to the beating of drums, the army of King George III marched out of Yorktown. — Page 90. 88 STORY OF the Society regiments in New York, set forth from the northern colonies to fair Virginia, where kind fortune, loving justice as she does, was about to hand tliem their reward. Ah, Sir Henry Clinton, it is too late now! The die is cast! You had not brains enough with all your arts of war to see what they were going to do. You thought they would attack you in New York. And now you think to keep them back by sending your faithful servant to attack New London in Connecticut. It is too late, they have gone! They gathered about Yorktown in thousands and aided by the French they formed a great hu- man horse shoe around the town whose two ends touched the river where the French and Continen- tal vessels lay. They covered a vast plain outside the city, and every colony was represented there. There was no way out, but through the mighty camp. There were men in that vast concourse who had come through suffering and danger in the seven years just past, who had their shoes tied LOFC GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 89 on with rope, who had hved the cruel winters out at Canada and Valley Forge, who had seen defeat and kept their hope and courage through it all. The scene was not sullied by the presence of a single man who had not helped to make the issue possible. Gates was not there. Lee was not there. But Anthony Wayne, the right-hand man of Monmouth, the friend in need on the Hudson highlands, the genius of Stony Point, was there. And he deserved to be for he had helped to make the way. He had gone down into Virginia to en- counter there a powerful army, arrogant in its un- contested power. And* he had been the first to push Cornwallis to the wall. The siege of Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis, forming as they did the glorious cli- max of the old war, would not have been complete without him. For he was among' the few w^ho, through all the changes of fate and fortune, had seen the end from the beginning. He had fought 90 STORY OF from the snows of Canada to the sultry fields of Narth Carolina. Slowly to the beating of drums, the army of King George III marched out from Yorktown onto the open plain outside and there in his belov- ed Virginia, General Washington received the submission of Lord Cornwallis, and knew that the fight for liberty and independence, was draw- ing to a close. CHAPTER IX B REST UT it was some time before any treaty of peace was signed, though the surrender of Lord Cornwallis was, as he himself knew, the beginning of the end. All that remained was the work of clearing up. General Wayne was sent to Georgia where he fought mitil the British had been driven ^ out of that State. The iahabitants there presented him with a large plantation in testimony of their gratitude and admiration. There were some British odds and ends still left in South Carolina, so the gallant leader proceeded there with his brigade and while other divisions of the Army were packing up and looking longingly toward 92 STORY OF home he continued to battle desperately until the last private in the army of King- George had been withdrawn from the land. The patriot then went home — went home to his farm in Chester county, to his wife and children, to the beloved surroundings he had left with such enthusiasm seven years before. But he was not destined to enjoy this peace and quiet long. The Indians, who had been the allies of the British, were still active in their hostilities, and fright- ful tales of massacre and outrage came in from the gi^at West. In the midst of these reports all eyes turned upon General Wayne, and Wash- ington, who was then president, appointed him commander-in-chief of all the military forces in America with instructions to journey westward and secure peace along the western frontiers. Victory after victory attended him and when he returned to Philadelphia the entire city suspended business to welcome the valiant soldier home. It was an impressive scene — the like of which GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 93 seldom falls to the lot of any character to enjoy. He had lived to know renown, to be the sub- ject of national applause, to hear his name shouted from housetops, to receive all the honors that a grateful country could bestow. He was reverenced, honored, loved. The name of "Mad Anthony" was known throughout the world. His march into the Quaker city when returning from the Indian campaign, was received with universal joy. The whole town was ablaze with flags and banners and with cheering multitudes. The fair maidens hurled flowers at him as he passed along. In every window anxious faces crowded and from balconies and trees scores looked down upon him — all anxious to honor the great Pennsylvanian, the hero of Stony Point, the man, the patriot, the genius ! As the modest, unassuming general rode through town he saw on every hand the public tributes to his glory. Yet he did not understand them for he was a plain and simple man. He 94 STORY OF had begun to fight in obscurity, to do his httle part in carving out his country's freedom, and now he found himself a hero. Taking off his hat and looking curiously about him as if to seek the meaning of it all he rode along while the shouts of thousands of his fellow citizens were ringing in his ears. There is little more to tell, for the inevitable was near at hand. At a military post on the shores of Lake Erie, where the flourishing town of Erie, Pa., now stands, ^lad Anthony Wayne smilingly laid down his burden amid the snows of December in the year 1796, and the most origi- nal soldier of the war for Independence and one of the best and bravest men that ever lived, rested peacefully at last. «; ila Young Folks Colonial Library This series of books will consist of biographical stories of the minor characters in the War for Independence. They are written in a style ap- pealing especially to young people ; but the adult will find them authentic as well as interesting reading. The stories have been carefully pre- pared and deal only in facts, with enough roman- tic coloring to give them freshness and interest. Our young folks will find them a material aid to the study of our country's history. The books are fully illustrated by artists who are well and favorably known. The pictures are in tints with frontispieces done in lithography. Price 40 cts. The following volumes by Percy K. Fitzhugh : The Siory of John Paul Jones. Ethan Allen, the Green Mountain Boy. General Francis Marion, the Bayard of the South. Genera! Richard Montgomery. General Johann De Kalb. Anthony Wayne (Mad Anthony). 890 Broadway, N. Y. McLoughlin's Editions of Recitation Books Something new in the construction of a series of Recita- tion Books for young people, edited and arranged by Matilda Blair, from the writings of some of the most popular authors of prose and verse. Handsomely illus- trated, with frontispieces done in lithography. Cloth, octavo. 160 pp. Artistically stamped in colors. Price 35 cents. WEE PIECES FOR WEE SPEAKERS ' * * Wee Pieces for Wee Speakers ' should be popular with the mothers and teachers who are called upon to provide 'pieces' for the children to speak. All ages and tastes are provided for, with a little girls' and a little boys' section, a special assortment of Christmas selections, and hundreds of verses for older amateur elocutionists. Some very good poetry is included." — ifte Chicago Record-Herald. THE IDEAL SPEAKER " ' This volume fills a long felt want for a handy, relia- ble speaker for the young people. It contains recitations. Just what they are looking for. It will indeed be very help- ful to the school boy or girl who so often cannot find a suitable piece to recite, but will ever find one if they have this book. We gladly commend it and hope it will have the large circulation it so richly deserves." — Southern Star, THE NONPAREIL READER AND SPEAKER " The * Nonpareil Speaker' will be welcomed by parents and teachers for the fresh material graded for all ages." — Boston Herald, "The "Nonpareil Speaker' is composed of humorous verse, dramatic selections, oratory and tableau vivants. The book furnishes evidence that the work of compilation has been well done." — Pittsburgh Chronicle- lelegraph. Other volumes in preparation 890 Broadway, N. Y. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS