Major-General in the American Army.

ANTHONY WAYNE, a major-general in the American army, occupies a conspicuous station among the heroes and patriots of the American revolution. He was born in the year 1745, in Chester county, in the state, then colony, of Pennsylvania. His father, who was a respectable farmer, was many years a representative for the county of Chester, in the general assembly, before the revolution. His grandfather who was distinguished for his attachment to the principles of liberty, bore a captain’s commission under King William, at the battle of the Boyne. Anthony Wayne succeeded his father as representative for the county of Chester, in the year 1773 ; and from his first appearance in public life, distinguished himself as a firm and decided patriot. He opposed, with much ability, the unjust demands of the mother country, and in connection with some gentlemen of distinguished talents, was of material service in preparing the way for the firm and decisive part which Pennsylvania took in the general contest.

Military Service
In 1775, he was appointed to the command of a regiment, which his character enabled him to raise in a few weeks, in his native county. In the same year, he was detached under General Thompson into Canada. In the defeat which followed, in which Gen. Thompson was made a prisoner, Col. Wayne, though wounded, displayed great gallantry and good conduct, in collecting and bringing off the scattered and broken bodies of troops. In the campaign of 1776, he served under Gen. Gates, at Ticonderoga, and was highly esteemed by that officer for both his bravery and skill as an engineer. At the close of that campaign he was created a brigadier-general.

Battle Of Brandywine
At the battle of Brandywine, he behaved with his bravery, and for a long time opposed the progress of the enemy at Chad’s Ford. In this action, the inferiority of the Americans in numbers, discipline and arms, gave them little chance of success; but the peculiar situation of the public mind was supposed to require a battle to be risked : the ground was bravely disputed, and the action was not considered as decisive. The spirit of the troops was preserved by a belief that the loss of the enemy had equaled their own. As it was the intention of the American commander in chief to hazard another action on the first favorable opportunity that should offer, Gen. Wayne was detached with his division, to harass the enemy by every means in his power. The British troops were encamped at Tredyfrrin, and Gen. Wayne was stationed about three miles in the rear of their left wing, near the Paoli tavern, and from the precautions he had taken, he considered himself secure ; but about eleven o’clock, on the night of the 20th September. Major-General Gray, having driven in his pickets, suddenly attacked him with bayonets. Wayne, unable to withstand the superior number of his assailants, was obliged to retreat; but formed again at a small distance, having lost about one hundred and fifty killed and wounded. As blame was attached by some of the officers of the army, to General Wayne, for allowing himself to be surprised in this manner, he demanded a court martial, which, after examining the necessary evidence, declared that he had done every thing to be expected from an active, brave, and vigilant officer; and acquitted him with honor. A neat marble monument has been recently erected on the battleground, to the memory of the gallant men who fell on the night of the 20th September, 1777.

Battle Of Germantown
Shortly after was fought the battle of Germantown, in which he greatly signalized himself, by his spirited manner of leading his men into action. In this action he had one horse shot under him, and another as he was mounting, and at the same instant, received slight wounds in the left foot and left hand. In all councils of war, Gen. Wayne was distinguished for supporting the most energetic and decisive measures. In the one previous to the battle of Monmouth, he and General Cadwalader were the only officers decidedly in favor of attacking the British army. The American officers are said to have been influenced by the opinions of the Europeans. The Baron De Steuben, and Generals Lee and Du Portail, ‘whose military skill was in high estimation, had warmly opposed an engagement, as too hazardous. But
General Washington, whose opinion was in favor of an engagement, made such disposition as would be most likely to lead to it. In that action, so honorable to the American arms, General Wayne was conspicuous in the ardor of his attack. General Washington, in his letter to congress, observes, ‘ Were I to conclude my account of this day’s transactions without expressing my obligations to the: officers of the army
in general, I should do injustice to their merit, and violence to my own feelings. They seemed to vie with each other in manifesting their zeal and bravery. The catalogue
of those who distinguished themselves, is too long to admit of particularizing individuals. I cannot, however, forbear mentioning Brig. Gen. Wayne, whose good conduct
and bravery, throughout the whole action, deserves particular commendation.”* “•
Among the many exploits of gallantry and prowess which shed a luster on the fame of our revolutionary army, the storming of the fort at Stony- Point has always been considered one of the most brilliant. ‘ To Gen. Wayne, who commanded the light-infantry of the army, the execution of the plan was entrusted. Sector 7 was deemed so much more essential to success than numbers, that it was thought unadvisable to add to the force
already on the lines. One brigade was ordered to commence its march, so as to retch the scene of action in time to cover the troops engaged ; n the attack, in case of any un-
looked for disaster ; and Major Lee, of the light-dragoons, who had been eminently useful  obtaining the intelligence which led to the enterprise, was associated with General
Wayne, as far as cavalry could be employed in such a service. The night of the 15th of July, 1779, was fixed on for the assault ; and it being suspected that the garrison would
probably be more on their guard towards day, twelve was chosen for the hour.
Stony-Point is a commanding hill, projecting far into the Hudson, which washes three fourths of its base. The remaining fourth is, in a great measure, covered by a deep
marsh, commencing near the river on the upper side, and Continuing into it below. Over this marsh, there is only fle crossing place, but at its junction with the river is hardy beach passable at low tide. On the summit of this hill was erected the fort, which was furnished with a sufficient number of heavy pieces of ordnance. Several breast-works and strong batteries were advanced in front of the principal work, and about halfway 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 defenses,
several vessels of war were stationed in the river, so as, in a considerable degree, to command the ground at the foot of the hill. The fort was garrisoned by about six hundred men, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson. At noon of the day preceding the night of the attack, the light-infantry commenced their march from Sandy-beach,
distant fourteen miles from Stony-Point, and passing through an excessively rugged and mountainous country, arrived about eight in the afternoon at Spring Steel’s, one and a half
miles from the fort, where the dispositions for the assault were made.  It was intended to attack the works on the right and left flanks at the same instant. The regiment of Febiger: and of Meiggs, with Major Hull’s detachment, formed the right column, and Butler’s regiment, with two companies under Major Murfrce, 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 Stuart, composed the van of the left At half past eleven, the two columns moved on to the charger;  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, whose duty it was to remove the abatlis, and other obstructions, in order to open a passage for the columns which followed close in the rear. Proper measures having been taken to secure every individual on the route, who could give intelligence of their approach, the Americans reached the marsh undiscovered. But unexpected difficulties having been experienced in surmounting this and other obstructions in the way, the assault did not commence until twenty minutes after twelve. Both columns then rushed forward, under a tremendous fire of musketry and grape slot.. Surmounting every obstacle, they Entered the works at the point of the bayonet, and without
having discharged a single piece, obtained complete possession of the post. The humanity displayed by the conquerors was not less conspicuous, nor less honorable, than their courage. Not a single individual suffered after resistance had ceased. All the troops engaged in this perilous service manifested a degree of ardor 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 watchword — ‘ 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. Out of twenty men who constituted the party of the former, seventeen were killed or wounded. The loss sustained by the garrison was not considerable. The return made by Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, represented their dead at only twenty, including one captain, and  their wounded at six officers, and sixty-eight privates. The return made by General Wayne states their dead at sixty three, including two officers. This difference may be accounted  for, by supposing, that among those Colonel John  supposed to be missing, there were many killed. 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 also considerable. The loss sustained by the assailants was by no means proportioned to the apparent danger of the enterprise. The killed and wounded did not exceed one hundred men. General
Wayne himself, who marched at the head of Febiger’s regiment in the right column, received a slight wound in the head, which stunned him for a time, but did not compel
him to leave the column. Being supported by his aids, he entered the fort with the regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Hay was also among the wounded. The intrepidity, joined with humanity, its noblest compartion, displayed on that occasion by General Wayne and his brave followers, cannot be too highly esteemed nor too frequently commemorated.
Marshall’s Life of Washington, General order for the attack. The troops will march at o’clock and move by the right, making a short halt at the creek, or run, on this side, next Clements’ ; every officer and non-commissioned officer will remain with, and be answerable for every man in his platoon ; no soldier to be permitted to quit his ranks on any pretext whatever, until a general halt is made, and then to be attended by one of the officers of the platoon. When the head of the troops arrives in the rear of the hill, Colonel Febiger will form his regiment into a solid column of a half platoon in front as fast as they come up. Colonel Meiggs will form next in Colonel Febiger’s rear, and Major Hull in the rear of Meiggs’, which will form the right column. Colonel Butler will form a column on the left of Febiger.  and Major Murphy in his rear. Every officer and soldier will then fix a piece of white paper in the most conspicuous part of his hat or cap, as a mark to distinguish them from the enemy. At the word march, Colonel Fleury will take charge of one hundred and fifty determined and picked men, properly officered, with arms unloaded, placing their whole dependence on fixed bayonets, who will move about twenty paces in front of the right column, and enter the sally-port : he is to detach an officer and twenty men a little in front, whose business will be to secure the sentries, and remove the abattis and obstructions for the column to pass through. The column will follow close in the rear with shouldered muskets, led by Colonel Febiger and General Wayne in person when the works are forced, and not before, the victorious
troops as they enter will give the watch-wordwith repeated and loud voices, and drive the enemy from their works and guns, which will favor the pass of the whole troops : should the enemy refuse to surrender, or attempt to make their escape by water or otherwise, effectual means must be used to effect the former and prevent the latter. Colonel Butler will move by the route (2,) preceded by one hundred chosen men with fixed bayonets, properly officered, at the distance of twenty yards in front of the column, which will follow under Col. Butler with shouldered muskets*. These hundred will also detach
a proper officer and twenty men a little in front to remove the obstructions .; as soon as they gain the works, they will also give and continue the watchword, which will prevent confusion and mistake. If any soldier presume to take his musket from his shoulder,
or to fire, or begin the battle until ordered by his proper officer, he shall be instantly put to death by the officer next him ; for the misconduct of one man is not to put the
whole troops in danger or disorder, and he be suffered to pass with life. After the troops begin to advance to the works, the strictest silence must be observed, and the closest attention paid to the commands of the officers.  The general has the fullest confidence in the bravery and fortitude of the corps that he has the happiness to command the distinguished honor conferred on every officer and soldier who has been drafted into this corps by his Excellency General Washington, the credit of the states they respectively belong to, and their own reputations, will be such powerful motives for each man to distinguish himself, that the general cannot have the least doubt of a glorious victory ; and he hereby most solemnly engages to reward the first man that enters the works with five hundred dollars, and immediate promotion, to the second four hundred dollars, to the third three hundred dollars, to the fourth two hundred dollars, and to the fifth one hundred dollars ; and will represent the conduct of every officer, and soldier, who distinguishes himself in this action, in the most favorable point of view to his Excellency, whose greatest pleasure is in rewarding merit. But should there be any soldier so lost to every feeling of honor as to attempt to retreat one single foot, or skulk in the face of danger, the officer next to him is immediately to put him to death, that he may no longer disgrace the name of a soldier, or the corps or state he belongs to. As General Wayne is determined to share the dangers of the night so he wishes to participate in the glory of the
day in common with his fellow soldiers.” Immediately after the surrender of Stony Point, Gen. Wayne transmitted to the commander in chief, the follow laconic letter :

Stony Point, July 16. 1779.  2 o’clock, A. M.
Dear General — The fort and garrison, with Col Johnson are ours, our officers and men behaved like men determined to be free. “
Yours most sincerely, “
Anthony Wayne

In the campaign of 1 78 1 , in which Lord Cornwallis, and a British army were obliged to surrender prisoners of war, he bore a conspicuous part. His presence of mind never failed him in the most critical situations. Of this he gave an eminent example on the James River. Having been deceived by some false information, into a belief that the British army had passed the river, leaving but the rear guard behind, he hastened to attack the latter before it should also have effected its passage ; but on pushing through a morass and wood, instead of the rear guard, he found the whole British army drawn up close to him. His situation did not admit of a moment’s deliberation. Conceiving the boldest to be the safest measure, he immediately  led his small detachment, not exceeding 800 men, to the charge, and after a short, but very smart and close firing, in which he lost 1 1 8 of his men, he succeeded in bringing the rest under cover of the wood. Lord Conwallis, suspecting the attack to be a feint, in order to draw him into an ambuscade, would not permit his troops to pursue. The enemy, having made a considerable head in Georgia,
Wayne was dispatched by Gen. Washington to take command of the forces in that state, and, after some sanguinary engagements, succeeded in establishing security and order. For his services in that state the legislature presented him with a valuable farm. On the peace, which followed shortly after, he retired to private life; but in 1789, we find him a member of the Pennsylvania convention, and one of those in favor of the present federal constitution of the United States. In the year 1792, he was appointed to succeed General
St. Clair, who had resigned the command of the army engaged against the Indians, on our western frontier. Wayne formed an encampment at Pittsburgh, and such exemplar)’ discipline was introduced among the new troops, that, ou their advance into the Indian country, they appeared like veterans. The Indians had collected in great numbers, and it was necessary not only to rout them, but to occupy their county by a chain of posts, that should, for the future, check their predatory incursions. Pursuing this regular and systematic mode of advance, the autumn of 1793, found General Wayne with his army, at a post in the wilderness, called Greensville, about six miles in advance of Fort Jefferson,
where he determined to encamp for the winter, in order to make the necessary arrangements for opening the campaign to effect .early in the following spring. After fortifying his camp, he took possession of the ground on which the Americans had been defeated in 1791, which he fortified also, and called the work Fort Recovery. Here he piously collected, and, with the honors of war, interred the bones of the unfortunate, although gallant victims of the 4th November, 1791. The situation of the army, menacing the Indian villages, effectually prevented any attack on the white Settlements. The impossibility of procuring the necessary supplies prevented the march of the troops till the summer. On the 8th of August, the army arrived at the junction of the Rivers Au Glaize and Miami of the Lakes, where they erected works for the protection of the stores. About thirty miles from this place, the British had formed a post, in the vicinity of which the Indians had assembled their whole force. On the 15th, the army again advanced down the Miami, and on the 18th, arrived at the Rapids. On the following day they erected some works for the protection of the baggage. The situation of the enemy was reconnoitered, and they were found posted in a thick wood, in the rear of the British fort. On the 20th, the army advanced to the Attack. The Miami covered the right flank, and on tlie left were the mounted volunteers, commanded by Genera Todd. After marching about five miles, Major Price, who led the advance, received so heavy a fire from the Indians,
who were stationed behind trees, that he was compelled to fall back. The enemy had occupied a wood in front of the British fort, which, from the quantity of fallen timber, could not be entered by the horse The legion was immediately ordered to advance with trailed arms, and rouse them from their covert ; the cavalry under Capt. Campbell,
there directed to pass between the Indians and the river, the volunteers, led by General Scott, made a circTiit  to turn their flank. So rapid, however, was the charge of the legion, that before the rest of the army could get into action, the enemy were completely routed, and driven through the woods for more than two miles, and the troops halted within gun-shot of the British fort. All the Indians’ houses and corn-fields were destroyed. In this decisive action, the whole loss of General Wayne’s army, in killed and wounded amounted only to one hundred and seven men. As hostilities continued on the part of the Indians, their whole country was laid waste, and forts established, which effectually prevented their return. The success of this engagement destroyed the enemies’
power ; and, in the following year, Gen. Wayne concluded a definitive treaty of peace with them.

A life of peril and glory was terminated in December, 1796. He died in a hut at Presque Isle, aged about fifty-one years, and was buried on the shore of Lake Erie. A few years since his bones were taken up by his son, Isaac Wayne, Esq. and entombed in his native county and by direction of the Pennsylvania State Society of the Cincinnati, an elegant monument was erected. It is to be seen within the cemetery of St. David’s Church, situated in Chester County. It is constructed of white marble.

Sources:

American Political and Military Biography, 1825

[with minor editing to make readable and suitable for modern audiances]