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1779 Revolutionary War Brigadier General ANTHONY WAYNE Autograph Letter Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
1779 Revolutionary War Brigadier General ANTHONY WAYNE Autograph Letter Signed
Autographs
The American Attack On Stony Point, N.Y. Brigadier General "Mad Anthony" Wayne Orders Provisions
ANTHONY WAYNE (1745-1796). American Brigadier General during the Revolutionary War, also known as “Mad Anthony” Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
June 14, 1779-Dated Revolutionary War, Autograph Letter Signed, “Ant’y Wayne,” 1 page, measuring 6.75” x 4” with contemporary laid paper backing, About Very Fine. This historic Letter being written at the start of the planning stage, June 12th, 1779, for the attack against the British Fort at Stony Point, N.Y. There is a about a 1” piece of the lower left corner lacking, affecting the recipients name “Col. Bl” with “aine” present. This original Letter itself is easily readable being in dark brown upon slightly circulated and folded period laid paper. The vivid bold signature of Anthony Wayne measures over 2” long.

Daring and aggressive, Brigadier General Wayne quickly rose in responsibilities and commands. He quickly gained the nickname "Mad Anthony" for his audacity and outbursts of temper. In his brilliantly planned and executed attack, taking place on July 16, 1779, his 1300 men captured the British Fort and Garrison at Stony Point in the Hudson Highlands of New York, located about 30 miles north of New York City.

Here, “Mad Anthony” Wayne writes to Col. Ephraim Blaine, Sr. (1741-1804), of Carlisle, Cumberland Co., PA, a friend of General George Washington's and served as Commissary General of Purchases for the middle district of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Blaine held that position through terrible winter at Valley Forge (1777-78), until July 24th 1782). In 1794, during the Whiskey Rebellion, he hosted George Washington for a week at his home in Carlisle, PA. This very historic, if not also classic, Autograph Letter Signed reads, in full:

“Dear Sir --- As I have lived on the borrow with Respect to Spirits, & as my Cask, Canteens, & Keg will hold about 24 Galls (Gallons), - I would wish for forty in order to pay Col. Delany what I borrowed. - I shall want One Dozen best Hams and a Barrel of best Biscuits. --- I am Sir your most Humble Serv’t. -- (Signed) Ant’y Wayne - 14th June 1779”. Docket upon the blank reverse, seen through the paper, reads: “Col. Blaine”.

The planning for the American attack on Stony Point, N.Y., to storm the position, the Corps of Light Infantry was formed on June 12, 1779, with command assigned to General Wayne. The Corps of Light Infantry was an elite, seasonal combat organization drafted in each of the years between 1777 and 1781 from the light infantry companies of each regiment in General George Washington's Continental Army. The 1779 Corps was organized into a brigade of four regiments, each composed of two battalions of four companies, with the following order of battle:

1st Regiment, commanded by Col. Christian Febiger of the 2nd Virginia Regiment: six companies of Virginia and two of Pennsylvania troops

2nd Regiment, Col. Richard Butler (9th Pennsylvania Regiment): four companies each of Pennsylvanians and of Marylanders

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.

The plan called for a night attack on the fortifications to be carried out by the 1,350 men of the corps. Each regiment consisted of 300 to 340 men, and the total force included an artillery detachment to man captured British field pieces. According to 18th century military doctrine, this was not enough men to take a well-prepared defensive position, but in addition to the element of surprise, Washington's plan exploited a fatal flaw in the fortifications. The wooden abatis along the southern shore of the point were not extended into the deep water of the Hudson and could be outflanked by attackers along a narrow beach at low tide. The main attack would be along this approach, but Washington advised that if practicable, secondary and diversionary attacks could also be made along the north shore of the point and across the causeway to the center.

George Washington gave Wayne his instructions, along with permission to modify the plan as necessary. This was an unusual act for Washington, and indicates the high opinion he had of Wayne's tactical abilities. The assault would be difficult: it would be carried out in the dead of night, called for the men to scale the steep, rocky sides of Stony Point, and required surprise. To accomplish this last element, Washington ordered that the men carry unloaded muskets and attack using only bayonets in order to prevent a musket blast from alerting British sentries. The exception to loaded weaponry were the two companies of North Carolina light infantry, which Wayne ordered to cross the causeway, and stage a demonstration attack at the center of the British defenses, where the British expected an attack to come. This battalion, commanded by Maj. Hardy Murfree, was instructed to lay down a "gauling fire" with their weapons as a diversionary tactic.

Before dawn, Wayne sent a brief dispatch telling George Washington, "The fort and garrison, with Col. Johnson, are ours. The men behaved like men determined to be free." The next day, Washington rode into the works to inspect the battlefield and congratulate the troops. For his exploits, Anthony Wayne was Awarded a Medal by Congress, one of the very few issued during the Revolutionary War!

Wayne selected Butler's 2nd Regiment of approximately 300 men to conduct an assault along the northern shore of the point, while Wayne himself would lead the main column in the south, consisting of the 1st and 3rd Regiments, and Hull's detachment of Massachusetts light infantry. The columns deployed an advance force of 100 and 150 men respectively wielding axes to clear obstacles, with 20 men from each advance force assigned as the forlorn hopes, to protect the force and to be the first to enter the works. Wayne announced that he would give prize bounties to the first men who entered the works, and to anyone else who distinguished himself in the action.


To storm the British positions at Stoney Point, N.Y., the American Corps of Light Infantry was formed on June 12, 1779, with command assigned to General Wayne. The Corps of Light Infantry was an elite, seasonal combat organization drafted in each of the years between 1777 and 1781 from the light infantry companies of each regiment in Washington's army. On July 16th, 1779, American Brigadier General Anthony Wayne launched a coup de main against British fortifications at Stony Point, New York, on the orders of General George Washington. He earns the moniker "Mad" Anthony Wayne for the ensuing maneuver.

The British fort on the cliffs at Stony Point overlooking the Hudson River threatened West Point, which was only 12 miles upriver.

Wayne, at the head of 1,200 light infantry, successfully assaulted what the British believed was an impregnable position, losing only 15 killed and 83 wounded while the British lost 94 killed and wounded and 472 captured. Remarkably, the attack took place under cover of darkness, employed only bayonets as weaponry and lasted a mere 30 minutes.

Two days later, Wayne, now dubbed "mad" for his enthusiastic and successful undertaking of a mission that had seemed doomed to failure, destroyed the fortifications and evacuated the area. Congress rewarded Wayne's efforts with a medal.
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