Claiborne Davenport, Chapter Three, the Assault on Stony Point

In my last post I recounted the battle of Monmouth, New Jersey. The Continental army fought the british forces commanded by Sir Henry Cllinton to a standstill at Monmouth Courtyhouse, in the stifling heat of June 1779. General Clinton had succeeded Gen William Howe as commander in Chief of the British forces in march of that year. Clinton was ordered to abandon Philadelphia and march on New York. The Battle of Monmouth was an interruption to that goal but only an interruption. Clinton continued on toward New York after breaking off from engaging Gen.Washington at Monmouth.

General Henry Clinton

As Clinton approached New York he siezed a shallow water crossing of the Hudson River known as King's Ferry crossing. This crossing was of great strategic value being one of the southern most crossing points of the Hudson in that area. Clintons main objective was the taking of West Point which was the key to controlling the Hudson river and thus bringing the New England colony under British control. Clinton began massing troops in Kingsbridge, New York, a force of about 6,000 troops in preparation for that objective. There was yet another crucial obstacle that would pose a serious threat to the control of the Hudson, which Clinton could not afford to ignore. Just twelve miles up the Hudson overlooking King's Ferry Crossing were two imposing natural fortifications jutting out over the river.  On the east side lay Verplank's point which was fortified by a small force of 70 North Carolinian Continentals occupying Fort Layfeyette. On the west side jutting out in a peninsula overlooking the river rose an imposing natural, towering, edifice called Stony Point. A small force of 40 continentals occupied Stony point which was lightly fortified. The soldiers were in the process of building a block house on it's rocky heights when the British forces appeared.  Gen Clinton ordered the two forts taken and dispatched 3,000 of his troops for the task. When the British began moving toward the forts the Continentals occupying Rocky point determined to burn the blockhouse, leave nothing of value to the British and abandon the fort. The 70 North Carolinians were not so fortunate. They were surrounded and captured by the British. General Clinton ordered both forts fortified and strengthened so as to make them virtually impregnable to assault. They thus made access to the Hudson in that region solidly in British control leaving Clinton enabled to continue his plan for the assault on West Point unhindered.

General Washington understood the grave nature of the problem before him. In order to attack Clinton the imposing forts which commanded the heights overlooking King's Ferry crossing needed to be neutralized. It seemed a frightening prospect. After taking the two forts General Clinton garrisoned Lt. Colonel Henry Johnston, an experienced and competent officer, commanding 625 battle hardened regulars. They were made of the 17th Regiment of foot and the grenadier company of 71st Highlanders, an American loyalist detachment force. In there possession were 15 pieces of artillery of various gauges positioned strategically overlooking the heights so as to command the river as well as the land passages to the forts. The natural topography of Stony point in particular was of imposing defensive advantage to the British. surrounded on three sides by 150 foot high vertical rock face melting away into narrow sandy beach and deep swirling river. The only access to the rocky height by land was a narrow road crossing a small bridge, which was surrounded by swampy snake infested bogs on all sides.  The trees on the perimeters were cut down and used to create abattis works , which were nasty obstacles consisting of felled trees with sharpened limbs criss-crossed and buried in the ground so as to make climbing them virtually impossible. Trying to cross over them while under close range musket fire was near suicidal. The earth works created on the precipice above the abatises were rifle and canon pits surrounding the block houses and quarters of the troops.

Abatis works similar to those on the heights of Stony Point

Washington knew that to take these heavily fortified natural forts by frontal assault would cause his beleaguered army to incur heavy casualties and perhaps a defeat which would devastate the moral of the struggling nation. He began contemplating the alternative solutions to this dilemma  in the months following Monmouth, with one of his most trusted commanders, General Anthony Wayne of Pennsylvania, whom had distinguished himself so well in the Monmouth battle.

In correspondence between himself and General Wayne, Washington secretly begin devising a plan that would favor an much smaller force that could take the rocky heights using the advantage of surprise. The plan was bold and extremely risky to those who would execute it, but should it succeed the Continental army would be in possession of the heights threatening King's crossing, thus forcing Clinton to abandon his offensive intentions for West Point and go on the defensive. The risk of the much smaller force was feasible for Washington , not posing such drastic political consequences should the assault fail.
Gen Wayne was in agreement with Washington believing that such a force, consisting of small corp of determined men, given the element of surprise could take Stony Point and would agree to command such a force should Washington authorize the expedition.  Washington began by ordering Wayne to take command of a newly formed "Corps of Light Infantry." The Corps was comprised of carefully chosen , seasoned troops , drawn from the ranks of various regiments throughout the Continental line. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stony_Point . It has a very good article about the stony point battle.

example of uniforms worn by the corps of light infantry

Taking command on June 12th 1779, General Anthony Wayne's corps was a brigade of four regiments, composed of two battalions of four companies. The following order of battle is taken from the web site,
1st Regiment, commanded by Col. Christian Febiger of the 2nd Virginia Regiment: six companies of Virginia and two of Pennsylvania troops. (I believe that Claiborne was a member of the 2nd Virginia at this point and after stony point remained in this regiment later marching to Charleston, South Carolina under General Woodford. MRN)
2nd Regiment, Col. Richard Butler (9th Pennsylvania Regiment): four companies each of Pennsylvanians and of Marylanders;[9]
3rd Regiment, Col. Return Jonathan Meigs (6th Connecticut Regiment): eight companies of Connecticut troops
4th Regiment, a partially organized detachment of six companies of Massachusetts troops and two of North Carolina, temporarily commanded by Major William Hull (8th Massachusetts Regiment). The 4th Regiment was fully organized in August and assigned to the command of Col. Rufus Putnam.
General Wayne immediately began preparing the corp for action and procuring proper supplies for the coming mission that he alone knew was coming. The mission had to remain of the highest secrecy until the last possible minute and therefore even the men of the corp knew nothing of the perilous duty that they had been particularly chosen for. The corps was garrisoned at Fort Montgomery only 12 miles north of Stony Point  and from that place General Wayne sent a letter to General Washington dated 3rd of July 1779.

 " In obedience to your Excellencies orders I have Reconnoitre the situation of the enemy at Stony Point & the approaches to them in the best manner that circumstances would admit & returned late evening to this place. & sketch herewith transmitted which differs, but little from that made the other day by Col. Butler, will give you a general idea of the strength of their works on the west side which in ray opinion are formidable- I think too much for a storm and reduce it by regular approaches will require time as there is no ground within less distance than a half a mile but what it commands." After detailing minutely the works on Ver-plank's Point opposite Stony Point, Wayne summed up his report. " upon the whole I do not think a storm practicable- but perhaps a surprise may be effected-could we fall on some stratagem to draw them out- a thought  has struck me that as no party of force has ever yet been down or appeared to the enemy -& as I have ground to believe that an inhabitant living near Stony Point acts a double part  & course will give them every information in his power which goes no further than to usual rout & number of the reconnoitering parties they may be induced to attempt an ambuscade or if they should not attempt this a few of our people appearing near may bring a party out in pursuit which may give an opening to enter with them." Wayne goes on to invite Washington to accompany him to Reconnoiter personally with him the next day the edifice of Stony Point.
Washington accepted the invitation and the two generals observed the works at Stony Point early in the morning of the 6th of July. The result of the personal study of the objective produced from Washington a letter to Wayne dated the 10th of July. The letter outlined General Washington's contemplations regarding the proposed attack on Stony Point. The letter being somewhat lengthy I will now  condense into the main points. quoting for the most part.

1. That it should be attempted by light infantry only, under cover of night and with utmost secrecy, securing every person that could risk discovery
2. Between one and two hundred chosen men and officers for the surprise, and apprehend the approach on the south side crossing the beach &; entering the abatis.
3. The party is to be proceeded by a vanguard of prudent and determined men, well commanded who are to remove obstructions , secure the sentries, and drive the guard. They are to advance with fixed bayonets and muskets unloaded. The officers commanding them are to know precisely what batteries or particular parts of the line they are respectively to possess that confusion and the consequences of indecision may be avoided.
4. these parties should be followed by the main body at a small distance for the purpose of support and making good the advantages which may be gained- or to bring them off in case of repulse... other parties may advance to the works by way of the causey & river on the north if for the purpose of distracting the enemy.
5. the approaches here mentioned should be well reconnoitered before hand by persons of observation , single men in the night.
6. a white feather or cockade or other visible badge of distinction for the night should be worn by our troops, and a watch word agreed on to distinguish friend from foe.
7. If success should attend the enterprise, measures should be instantly taken to prevent if practicable the retreat of the garrison by water or to annoy them as much as possible if they attempt it- and the guns should be immediately turned against the shipping and Verplanks point and covered if possible from enemy's fire.
Washington continued in the letter to stress the importance of secrecy and surprise. He wrote " As it is in the power of a single deserter to betray the design - defeat the project - & involve the party in difficulties and danger , too much caution cannot be used to conceal the intended enterprise to the latest hour from from all but the principal officers of your Corps and from the men till the moment of execution - Knowledge of your intention, ten minutes previously obtained, blasts all your hopes: for which reason a small detachment composed of men whose fidelity you rely on under the care of a judicious officer should guard every avenue through the marsh to the enemy's works by which our deserters or spies can pass, and prevent all intercourse." " The usual time for exploits of this kind is a little before day for which reason a vigilant officer is then more on the watch, I therefore recommend a midnight hour."
General Washington chose the evening of the 14th of July to make the assault on Stony Point. He gave general Wayne complete latitude to adjust the timing and details of the attack, which showed his complete confidence in his commander's judgement. Wayne agreed on the date and on the afternoon of that day sent a letter to Washington praising Washington's battle plan and informing him of the order of battle and details by which he intended to carry out the plan of attack that night.

Wayne's battle plan deviated but little from Washington's proposed battle plan. Wayne divided his troops into three bodies of men. A left wing to attack from the north slope of the rocky height, a right wing to attack simultaneously from the south side. A third body was to be a diversionary attack to demonstrate and fix the British attention on themselves should the others climbing the rocky heights be prematurely discovered.  I quote from an article written by
Donald N. Moran , from the web page http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/battles-link/67-the-storming-of-stony-point .  this site sponsored by the sons of Liberty , California society S.A.R.
"General Wayne's attack plan called for a diversion at the center of the British lines, with two other columns flanking the fortifications from the north and south sides. Both of the flanking attacks had to be proceeded by a 20-man 'Forlorn Hope' to cut gaps through the felled trees (abatis) and eliminate the advance sentries.These parties were followed by 150 Light Infantry to actually storm the fortifications at bayonet point. The northern attack force was led by Lt. James Gibbons' (of the 6th Pennsylvania)Forlorn Hope followed by Major John Stewart's 150-man storming party from the 2nd Regiment, with Col. Richard Butler's Regiment supporting, and Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg's 300 Pennsylvanians in reserve. This would be the secondary attack. The primary assault was from the south, Lt. George Knox (of the 9th Pennsylvania) would lead the Forlorn Hope, followed by 150 men from Lt. Colonel Francois Louis Teisseydre, Marquis de Fleury's 1st Regiment. The main body would be followed by Major William Hull's detachment. General Anthony Wayne would personally lead the primary as­sault."
The "forlorn hope" squad mentioned here was essentially a suicide squad composed of men that went into battle armed only with knives and an axe. Their primary task was to chop through the abatis works at the top of the precipice as quickly as possible allowing the 150 man light corps armed only with unloaded musket to rush through the works and into the canon pits above.

chopping through the abatis  from a painting by Charles McBarren

The muskets were ordered unloaded so as not to alert the British upon an accidental discharge. The 20 man forlorn hope squad understood that should they be discovered while chopping through the abatis structures, they would endure point blank musket and canon fire with little hope of survival. In fact consider the fortitude and bravery of all these men who went into battle with unloaded weapons knowing what could await them should they be discovered in the midst of the attack. Surprise was a must for survival and therefore extreme measures were used to ensure secrecy and surprise. It was ordered by General Wayne that any man that faltered or showed any sign of retreat during the initiation of the attack was to be immediately executed by the officers nearest them. Officers were posted in the rear of the columns guarding the points of exit from the approaches of Stony Point, with orders to shoot any one, friend or foe, who tried to escape once the attack began. All of the farmers dogs who lived along the route of the approaches to Stony Point were killed in order to prevent barking from alerting the enemy.
It was promised by General Wayne that the first soldier over the works would be awarded a bounty of 500 dollars , an award of 400 dollars to the next and 300 to the next and so on. It was hoped that the bounty would be good inducement to bravery. With this promise of reward the corps were divided into two columns and marched toward the approach to Stony Point. It was near midnight as the columns of quietly maneuvering Colonials began to enter the swampy waters of the approaches.

They expected very shallow waters but to their dismay they waded through a waist deep murky,swampy morass without making noise to alert the sentries. Having navigated this obstacle they began ascending the steep slopes of the rocky face to the foot of the abatis works. The forlorn hope squads began their desperate work. Fortunately both wings of the attacking forces began their attack near simultaneously which greatly aided in the much needed surprise. I quote from Donald Moran's article,
"Both the attacking forces encountered British outposts almost simultaneously. Lieutenants Gibbons' and Knox's Forlorn Hopes, wielded their axes to cut the needed gaps in the abatis while under wicked fire, sustaining horrific losses. The Light Infantry charged through the gaps routing the British defenders at bayonet point. Lt. Gibbon's Forlorn Hope was reduced to three men! Lt. Colonel Fleury was the first into the fortifications, personally tearing down the British Flag.

He was followed by Lt. Knox, then Sergeant Baker of the Virginia line, who had received four wounds in this attack. Baker was followed by Sergeant Spencer of the Virginia line who had been wounded twice, then Sergeant Donlop of the Pennsylvania line who also had been wounded twice. A record of the payment of these monetary awards confirms the order they entered the British fort. Fleury divided his awarded of $500.00 among his advanced party who were just behind him. Leading the primary attack from the south, General Wayne was struck in the forehead by a British musket ball. Anyone seeing him hit would have considered the wound fatal. However, it was only a very painful grazing, leaving him a permanent reminder of the assault in the form of a large scar. He rose to his knees and called to his men "Forward, my brave fellows, Forward!".

His two Aide-de-Camps, Majors Henry Archer and Benjamin Fishbourne were quickly at his side. The blood soaked General immediately ordered: "Carry me into the fort, if I am to die, I want to die at the head of the column." Major Stewart's attacking column charged into the North side of the fortifications within seconds of Fleury's Detachment. The ferocity of the bayonet wielding Light Infantry was too much for the British defenders who surrendered."
  The entire engagement took less than an hour. In fact the climbing assault over the abatis and into the pits above took little more than 25 minutes, but it was fraught with deadly fire and intense hand to hand fighting. The Casualty reports held Wayne's forces to be 15 killed and 83 wounded. The majority of the dead being of the forlorn hope squads. The British casualties were 20 killed and 58 missing many of these believed to have been drowned in the Hudson.
  General Wayne sent a short dispatch to Washington after the capture of Stony Point. "Dear Gen'l. The fort & garrison with Colonel Johnston are ours. Our officers & men behaved like men who are determined to be free. Yours most sincerely Ant'y Wayne".  General Washington was so elated and pleased with the success of the attack that he rode out on the 18th  to Stony Point along with Major general von Steuben , their old trainer from Valley Forge, and shook every hand of the patriots who had participated in the attack congratulating them and giving promotions to those who distinguished themselves in the action.

actual representation of the medal awarded Anthony Wayne

Later special congressional medals were awarded to the  officers who led the assaulting troops.
The battle of Stony Point was the beginning of the end of the American Revolution. The battle caused the British general Clinton to scrap his plans to attack West Point and to dispatch troops to retake these two strategic forts. Washington abandoned Stony Point having accomplished his purpose Clinton now had to split his forces in order to recapture and hold The Hudson river forts. It most certainly had a phycological affect on both armies. The Continentals were greatly encouraged at the great victory over a seemingly impregnable fortress , while the British must have been greatly disheartened, dispelling there general belief in the inferiority of the Continental soldier. Clinton was forced to press his attention to the southern campaign going on in South Carolina.
Thus with a handshake of the great general George Washington, Claiborne Davenport enjoyed the height of his military career in the American Revolution. That day in the shadow of Stony Point Claiborne enjoyed the elation of victory and the sweet savor of well deserved praise from his commanding general. Claiborne must have been a man of unusual valor and reputation among the officers which chose him to participate in the assault on Stony Point. I believe he must have been a man of unusual courage and fortitude to have braved so great a trial.
In only a few short months Claiborne would experience yet the low point of his military career in the hot , steamy swamps of South Carolina. The siege and subsequent surrender of Charleston, South Carolina.  Stay tuned for the final episode of this little saga.

scources: http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/battles-link/67-the-storming-of-stony-point
                http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stony_Point
                Stony Point battlefield: a sketch of its revolutionary history by Francis Whiting 1851-1919
                The assault on Stony Point: by General Anthony Wayne, New-York Historical Society 1863