Towns

NY, USA

Wayne's Midnight Assault on Stony Point

July 16, 1779

DateJuly 16, 1779
Precisionday

Beginning around 12:30 AM on July 16, 1779, Wayne's 1,350-man light infantry corps stormed the British fortification in a two-column bayonet assault. Forlorn hope volunteers preceded each column, cutting through the abatis under fire. The assault succeeded in approximately forty-five minutes. The British garrison of roughly 625 suffered 63 killed, 70 wounded, and 472 captured. American casualties: 15 killed, 83 wounded. Wayne was grazed by a bullet near the fort's fall and asked to be carried inside in case his wound was mortal. It was not.

People Involved

Anthony Wayne(Continental Army General)

Pennsylvania Continental general known as "Mad Anthony." Commanded the light infantry corps that stormed Stony Point July 15–16, 1779 in a bayonet-only night assault. Awarded a Congressional gold medal. Later served at Yorktown and commanded the Legion of the United States on the northwestern frontier.