Situated upon a high rocky peninsula, an island at high water, and always inaccessible dry-shod, except across a narrow causeway, it was strongly defended by outworks and a double row of abattis. "Upon three sides of the rock were the waters of the Hudson, and on the fourth was a morass, deep and dangerous. The cautious Washington considered ; when the impetuous Wayne, scorning all obstacles, said, "General, I'll storm hell if you will only plan it!"

STONY POINT L

D FOG-BELL.

Permission to attack Stony Point was given, preparations were secretly made, and at near midnight, on the 15th of July, Wayne led a strong force of determined men towards the fortress. They were divided into two columns, each led by a forlorn hope of twenty picked men. They advanced undiscovered until within pistol-shot of the picket guard on the heights. The garrison were suddenly aroused from sleep, and the deep silence of the night was broken by the roll of the drum, the loud cry **To arms ! to arms ! " the rattle of musketry from the ramparts and behind the

THE HUDSON.

ahattis, and the roar of cannon charged with deadly grape-shot. In the face of this terrible storm the Americans made their way, by force of bayonet, to the centre of the works. Wayne was struck upon the head by a musket ball that brought him upon his knees. " March on! " he cried. "Carry me into the fort, for I will die at the head of my column ! " The wound was not very scyere, and in an hour he had sufficiently recovered to write the following note to Washington : --