Anthony Wayne1/1/1745 12/15/1796
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I believe some facts are in order on this most important Patriot, General Wayne. General Wayne played a very significant role in the founding of this country what we have come to know as the Modern US Army. Many call General Wayne the Father of the Army. He was a compassionate, strong leader who commanded respect from his peers and those who served under him.
1. 1776, Canada Campaign 2. Battle of "Three Rivers", resulted in the promotion to brigadier-general in February 1777. 3. 1777, Battle of Brandywine 4. September 20, 1777, "Paloi Massacre" 5. October 04, 1777, Wounded at the battle of Germantown 6. June 28, 1778, Distinguished in battle of Monmouth, N.J. 7. July 15, 1780, Battle of Stony Point 8. January 01, 1782, "Campaign of Savannah, GA". 9. 1784, Elected to Congressional seat of GA. 10. 1787, Member of Convention to ratify Federal Constitution 11. April 13, 1792 Brevetted Maj. General and made Commander in Chief by George Washington. 12. August 20, 1792 Battle of Fallen Timbers, defeated Chief Little Turtle of Miami Indians 13. December 15, 1796 died at Presque Isle, now Erie, PA
Anthony Wayne, born January 01, 1745 in Chester County, PA in the house his grandfather built when he landed from Ireland. His father fought in the Indian wars of Pennsylvania and passed along tales of his Grand Father, Capt. Anthony Wayne, whose adventures serving under the Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, were legendary. These stories captured young Anthony's mind completely. These campaigns became known as the Marlborough Campaigns. John Churchill is regarded as one of the best fighting generals in English history. Young Anthony soaked these stories up like a dry sponge. One day during class recess young Anthony gathered the class for a mock war. They built abatements and carved sticks into swords. Anthony led the charge to the bunker and fought a gallant charge to overtake the fort when his Uncle Gilbert appeared. Needless to say his uncle did not approve and wrote a letter to Isaac in whom he said, "I really suspect that parental affection blinds you, and that you have mistaken your son's capacity. What he may be best qualified for, I know not--- one thing I am certain of, he will never make a scholar, he may perhaps make a soldier, he has already distracted the brains of two-thirds of the boys under my charge by rehearsals to battles, sieges . . ." Isaac Wayne, Anthony's father, had a long talk with his son, who thereafter applied himself to his schoolwork, especially mathematics. Within 18 months, Gabriel Wayne advised his brother to continue the young man's education. Wayne received a good education, and his penchant for mathematics led to his training as a surveyor. He worked as a surveyor for a number of years, which conditioned and disciplined him for physical endurance. In 1765, Franklin and several others who owned land in Nova Scotia, Canada to survey the land and catalogue the natural resources there sent him. He was there for a year, and returned home with accolades from his employers. At Waynesborough, he worked on developing the farm and established a tannery, while continuing his surveying. He was set on looking his best and had uniform made to his specifications. Later he also became known as "Dandy Tony" for the way he dressed. During this time he met his future wife Mary Penrose whose family was prominent in Philadelphia. She was 16 when they married at Christ’s Church in Philadelphia March 25, 1766. Two weeks later Anthony took her on a horrid trip back to Nova Scotia where she became ill and swore she would never leave Chester County Again. Wayne eventually became an excellent surveyor and served Benjamin Franklin for a short time as an agent in Nova Scotia. But he never lost his interest in the military, and when the Revolutionary War began he was eager to serve. He was regarded as a leader in Chester County, serving in the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1774-1775. With the outbreak of war in 1775, Wayne raised a Regiment and was made its Colonel in 1776. He and his regiment were sent to Canada and at the Battle of Three Rivers he was wounded. His service resulted in the promotion to brigadier-general in February 1777.
In the meantime, Washington was
trying to maneuver his troops to a favorable position to launch an attack
against the British. He assigned Wayne and approximately 1500 men to
harass the enemy's rear. On the night of September 20th, Wayne established
camp about three miles southwest of the British lines. (Now the borough of
Malvern.) The British and American forces were playing a cat and mouse
game. Prior to camp, on the 18th, Washington had warned Wayne,
General Wayne requested his own court martial, as the rumors were flying. Washington yielded to the request on October 24th. The members of the Court of Inquiry were General Sullivan, President, and Generals Muhlenberg, Weedon, Conway and Huntington; Colonels Stephens, Dayton, McClennachan, Stewart, Bradley, Davis, DeHart and Thackston. After due consideration, the court unanimously decided that Wayne "did every duty that could be expected from an active, brave and vigilant officer, under the orders which he then had. The Court do acquit him with the highest honor." Washington heartily approved the verdict. October 4, 1777: the Battle of Germantown. Wayne wrote a letter to his wife in which he gave the following comment about the battle: "Upon the whole it was a Glorious day -- Our men are in the Spirits -- and I am confident we shall give them a total defeat the next Action; which is at no great distance." The battle actually was a loss for the Americans, who were actually on the verge of victory. The army retreated to the west, camping at White Marsh, Gulph Mills and eventually Valley Forge on December 19th. Wayne sent numerous appeals during the encampment to the Pennsylvania authorities, without results. It wasn't until April that Wayne received a favorable reply. Although Wayne’s' home was but a few miles from Valley Forge, he preferred to take up residence closer to the encampment, so he moved in with his cousin, Mrs. Joseph Walker and her husband. (Opposite Pulaski's Quarters on the south side of Walker Road.) In February 1778, Washington sent Wayne to New Jersey in search of food for the troops. He and his forces had minor skirmishes with the British, returning to camp in March -- "I shall begin my march for Camp tomorrow morning. It was not in my power to move until I could procure shoes for the troops almost barefoot." When the British evacuated Philadelphia June 18, 1778, Washington withdrew his troops from Valley Forge the following day. By the 24th, the two armies were within a few miles of each other. As result of a council of war, Wayne wrote Washington urging an immediate attack. Wayne was in the minority, but Washington followed Wayne's advice. However, General Charles Lee failed to carry out Washington's orders and ordered a retreat...leaving Wayne in a precarious position. Washington advanced with additional troops and Wayne reformed the lines, catching the British between the hills. The enemy advanced, but was checked by the Americans and eventually the British retired in disorder. During the night, the British withdrew and eventually reached New York. Washington reported to Congress: "I cannot forbear mentioning Brigadier-General Wayne, whose good conduct and bravery through the whole action deserves particular commendation." This was the Battle of Monmouth. On the Hudson River, at King's Ferry was a strong British fort, Stony Point. This fort was an important facet of the British defense along the Hudson. The fort was about one hundred and fifty feet high, on a rocky bluff on the western side of the Hudson. Three sides were surrounded by water and the fourth by a swamp. There were a series of redoubts and a large number of cannon -- placed to drive off attack. The fort was garrisoned under the command of Colonel Johnston with a force of five hundred men. For some time, Wayne had contemplated the capture of Stony Point, and eventually convinced Washington it could be done. The plan was kept unusually secret -- a plan that had to be swiftly executed. The soldiers selected came from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina. Washington approved of Wayne's carefully investigated plan and wrote to him: "That is should be attempted by the Light Infantry only, which should march under cover of the night and with the utmost secrecy to the enemy's lines, securing every person they find to prevent discovery." On the night of July 15, Wayne and his men gathered at the foot of Stony Point. As they approached, the garrison was aroused and began to shower cannon and musketry fire into the ranks of the assailants. However, the carefully planned attack was continued, as each man knew exactly what his duty was. Wayne received a severe scalp wound, stunning him, but he pushed on ahead. The plan was so carefully laid out that the American forces met at the center of the fort at practically the same time. The British flag was hauled down and the British commander surrendered the fort. The British prisoners numbered 543. Sixty-three British were killed, and the number of wounded is unknown. The Americans lost fifteen, while eighty-three were wounded. Wayne sent Washington a message when the fort had been captured: "The fort and garrison with Col. Johnston are ours. Our officers and men behaved like men who are determined to be free." The victory of the capture was a surprise to friend and foe alike. It was an outstanding victory of the Revolution and the most brilliant victory of "Mad Anthony's" career. On July 16, Washington congratulated Wayne, the officers and troops on their outstanding victory. Congress unanimously passed resolutions praising Wayne and his men and awarded Wayne with a gold medal commemorative of his gallant service. Wayne later was ordered southward by Washington in February 1781, but Wayne was held up in York, Pennsylvania and did not begin his march south until May. He met up with Lafayette's forces on June 7 at Fredericksburg. During the following weeks, the Americans eventually blockaded Cornwallis and his army by land and sea, and after some fighting, Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at Yorktown October 19, 1781. Wayne, exulting in the American victory wrote to Robert Morris on the 26th, "Yet the resources of this country are great & if councils will call them forth we may produce a conviction to the world that we deserve to be free -- for my own part, I am such, an enthusiast for independence, that I would hesitate to enter heaven thro' the means of a secondary cause unless I had made the utmost exertions to merit it." After the surrender of Cornwallis, Wayne was ordered to take troops to South Carolina and thence to Georgia to drive the British out. His first objective was Savannah. As a result of several battles, the enemy evacuated Savannah on July 11, 1782. Greene wrote to Wayne under date of July 14: "I am very happy to hear that the enemy have left Savannah, and congratulate you most heartily on the event. I have forwarded an account thereof to Congress and the Commander-in-Chief expressive of your singular merit & exertions during your command and doubt not that it will merit their entire approbation as it does mine." Georgia was so appreciative of his service that thirty-nine hundred guineas were appropriated to purchase an estate for Wayne. From Georgia, Wayne marched to South Carolina and after the British deployment from Charleston in December. Wayne marched in. In October 1783, Congress promoted Wayne to Major General...a promotion long overdue. He returned home to Waynesborough in 1783, in poor health. His time in the field had taken its toll on his body. When he recovered, he took an active part in the Pennsylvania Assembly and was a member of the Constitutional Convention. Some financial difficulties led to the loss of his Georgia plantation. Anthony’s greatest challenge lay ahead. President George Washington appointed Gen. Wayne Commander of the US Army. One more time the Patriot answered the call of his country. By this time he had grown weary of war. He had witnessed enough horrors in years past. He became eager to settle the disputes with one more enemy, the Indians. Now on to "The Battle of Fallen Timbers". Some of this is taken from the article by Charles William Heathcoate, Ph.D., The Picket Post, Valley Forge Historical Society; July 1954 Suggested additional reading about Wayne: Billias, George Athan, editor. George Washington's Generals and Opponents: Their Exploits and Leadership. Da Capo Press, New York: 199 Boyd, Thomas. Mad Anthony Wayne. New York: 1929. Moore, H.N. Life and Services of General Anthony Wayne. Philadelphia: 1845. Pratt, Fletcher. Eleven Generals. New York: 1949. Preston, John H. A Gentleman Rebel: The Exploits of Anthony Wayne. New York: 1930. Spears, John R. Anthony Wayne. New York: 1903. Stille, Charles J. Major-General Anthony Wayne and the Pennsylvania Line of the Continental Army. Philadelphia, Pa: 1893. Wildes, Harry E. Anthony Wayne: Troubleshooter of the Revolution. New York: 1941. Glenn, Thomas. Some Colonial Mansions and those who lived in them. Philadelphia, Pa.:1897 Crownfield, Gertrude. Where Glory Waits, Philadelphia, Pa, :1934
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