The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 Part 26

It is probable Congress will be pleased to bestow some marks of consideration upon those officers who distinguished themselves upon this occasion. Every officer and man of the corps deserves great credit; but there were particular ones, whose situation placed them foremost in danger, and made their conduct most conspicuous. Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury and Major Stewart commanded the two attacks. Lieutenants Gibbons and Knox commanded the advanced parties, or _forlorn hope_; and all acquitted themselves as well as possible. These officers have a claim to be more particularly noticed. In any other service promotion would be the proper reward, but in ours it would be injurious. I take the liberty to recommend in preference some honourary present, especially to the field-officers. A brevet captaincy to the other two, as it will have no operation in regimental rank, may not be amiss.

Congress will perceive that some pecuniary rewards were promised by General Wayne to his corps. This was done with my concurrence; and in addition to them, as a greater incitement to their exertions, they were also promised the benefit of whatever was taken in the fort. The artillery and stores are converted to the use of the public, but, in compliance with my engagements, it will be necessary to have them appraised, and the amount paid to the captors in money. I hope my conduct in this instance will not be disapproved. Mr. Archer, who will have the honour of delivering these despatches, is a volunteer aid to General Wayne, and a gentleman of merit. His zeal, activity, and spirit are conspicuous on every occasion.

I have the honour to be, &c., Geo. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

P.S. Congress may be at a loss what to do with Mr. Archer. A captain's brevet, or commission in the army at large, will be equal to his wishes; and he deserves encouragement on every account. Lest there should be any misapprehension as to what is mentioned about the manner of sending despatches through General McDougall, I beg leave to be more explicit. I directed General Wayne, when he marched from his ground, to send his despatches in the first instance to the officer of his baggage guard, left at the encampment from which he marched, who was to inform his messenger where I was to be found. I left word with this officer to forward the messenger to General McDougall, and I desired General McDougall to open the despatches. The messenger, who was Captain Fishbourn, came directly on, either through misconception in General Wayne, in the officer of the guard, or in himself.

I forgot to mention that there are two standards taken, one belonging to the garrison and one to the Seventeenth regiment; these shall be sent to Congress by the first convenient opportunity.

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_General Wayne to General Was.h.i.+ngton._ (p. 020)

To General WAs.h.i.+NGTON. Stony Point, July 17, 1779.

Sir: I have the honour to give you a full and particular relation of the reduction of this Point, by the light infantry under my command.

On the 15th instant, at twelve o'clock, we took our line of march from Sandy Beach, distant fourteen miles from this place; the roads being exceedingly bad and narrow, and having to pa.s.s over high mountains, through deep mora.s.ses and difficult defies, we were obliged to move in single files the greatest part of the way. At eight o'clock in the evening the van arrived at Mr.

Springsteel's, within one mile and a half of the enemy, and formed into columns as fast as they came up, agreeably to the order of battle annexed; namely, Colonels Febiger's and Meigs'

regiments, with Major Hull's detachment, formed the right column; Colonel Butler's regiment and Major Murfey's two companies the left. The troops remained in this position until several of the princ.i.p.al officers with myself had returned from reconnoitering the works. At half-past eleven o'clock, being the hour fixed on, the whole moved forward. The van of the right consisted of one hundred and fifty volunteers, properly officered, who advanced with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury; these were preceded by twenty picked men, and a vigilant and brave officer, to remove the abatis and other obstructions. The van of the left consisted of one hundred volunteers, under the command of Major Stewart, with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets, also preceded by a brave and determined officer with twenty men, for the same purpose as the other.

At twelve o'clock, the a.s.sault was to begin on the right and left flanks of the enemy's works, while Major Murfey amused them in front; but a deep mora.s.s covering their whole front, and at this time overflowed by the tide, together with other obstructions, rendered the approaches more difficult than was at first apprehended, so that it was about twenty minutes after twelve before the a.s.sault began. Previously to which I placed myself at the head of Febiger's regiment, or the right column, and gave the troops the most pointed orders not to fire on any account, but place their whole dependence on the bayonet, which order was literally and faithfully obeyed. Neither the deep mora.s.s, the formidable and double rows of abatis, nor the strong works in front and flank, could damp the ardour of the troops, who, in the face of a most tremendous and incessant fire of musketry, and from cannon loaded with grape-shot, forced their way at the point of the bayonet through every obstacle, both columns meeting in the centre of the enemy's works nearly at the same instant. Too much praise cannot be given to Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury (who struck the enemy's standard with his own hand) and to Major Stewart, who commanded the advanced parties, for their brave and prudent conduct.

Colonels Butler, Meigs, and Febiger conducted themselves with that coolness, bravery, and perseverance that will ever insure success.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hay was wounded in the thigh, bravely fighting at the head of his battalion. I should take up too much of Your Excellency's time were I to particularize every individual who deserves it, for his bravery on this occasion. I cannot, (p. 021) however, omit Major Lee, to whom I am indebted for frequent and very useful intelligence, which contributed much to the success of the enterprize, and it is with the greatest pleasure I acknowledge to you, that I was supported in the attack by all the officers and soldiers under my command, to the utmost of my wishes.

The officers and privates of the artillery exerted themselves in turning the cannon against Verplanck's Point, and forced the enemy to cut the cables of their s.h.i.+pping, and run down the river.

I should be wanting in grat.i.tude were I to omit mentioning Captain Fishbourn and Mr. Archer, my two aids-de-camp, who, on every occasion, showed the greatest intrepidity, and supported me into the works after I received my wound in pa.s.sing the last abatis.

Inclosed are the returns of the killed and wounded of the light infantry, as also of the enemy, together with the number of prisoners taken; likewise of the ordnance and stores found in the garrison.

I forgot to inform Your Excellency that, previously to my marching, I had drawn General Muhlenberg into my rear, who, with three hundred men of his brigade, took post on the opposite side of the marsh, so as to be in readiness either to support me, or to cover a retreat, in case of accident; and I have no doubt of his faithfully and effectually executing either, had there been any occasion for him.

The humanity of our brave soldiery, who scorned to take the lives of a vanquished foe calling for mercy, reflects the highest honour on them, and accounts for the few of the enemy killed on the occasion.

I am not satisfied with the manner in which I have mentioned the conduct of Lieutenants Gibbons and Knox, the two gentlemen who led the advanced parties of twenty men each. Their distinguished bravery deserves the highest commendation. The former belongs to the Sixth Pennsylvania regiment, and lost seventeen men killed and wounded in the attack; the latter belongs to the Ninth Pennsylvania regiment, and was more fortunate in saving his men, though not less exposed.

I have the honour to be, &c., Anthony WAYNE.

No. 4. (p. 022) PLATE IV.

_July 15, 1779._

Virtutis et audaciae monum. et praemium. [Rx]. Aggeres paludes hostes victi.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL DE FLEURY.

[_Taking of Stony Point._]

VIRTUTIS ET AUDACIae MONUM. ET PRaeMIUM. (_Virtutis et audaciae monumentum et praemium: A memorial and reward of courage and boldness._) Lieutenant-Colonel de Fleury, as a Roman soldier, helmeted, stands amidst the ruins of a fort, holding in his right hand a sword, and in his left the staff of an enemy's flag, which he tramples under his right foot Exergue: D. (_sic_) DE FLEURY EQUITI GALLO PRIMO SUPER MUROS RESP. AMERIC. D.D. (_D. de Fleury equiti gallo primo super muros Respublica Americana dono dedit: The American Republic presented this gift to D. de Fleury, a French knight, the first to mount the walls._) DUVIVIER.

AGGERES PALUDES HOSTES VICTI. (_Fortifications, marshes, enemies overcome._) The fortress of Stony Point. Six vessels on the Hudson River. Exergue: STONY-PT. EXPUGN. XV JUL. MDCCLXXIX. (_Stony Point expugnatum, 15 Julii, 1779: Stony Point carried by storm, July 15, 1779_).[33]

[Footnote 33: See INTRODUCTION, pages ix, x, xi, xii, xv, xxiii, xxviii, x.x.xv; G, xlv; and H, xlvii.]

I give an extended biography of the Chevalier de Fleury, the only foreigner to whom a medal was awarded during the Revolutionary War, because no accurate account of him has. .h.i.therto been published. The facts were obtained partly from the archives of the French Ministry of War, through the politeness of M. Camille Roussel, member of the French Academy, and at the time historiographer of the Ministry of War, and partly from the archives of the Ministry of Marine. I am (p. 023) also indebted to M. Roussel for the memorial (pet.i.tion) of M. de Fleury, a translation of which is given below.

FRANcOIS LOUIS TEISSEIDRE DE FLEURY, son of Francois Teisseidre, Seigneur de Fleury, was born at St. Hippolyte, Languedoc, France, August 28, 1749. He entered the French army as a volunteer in the regiment of Rouergue infantry, May 15, 1768; became second-lieutenant, September 15, 1768; lieutenant second cla.s.s, of rifles, June 11, 1776; first lieutenant, June 2, 1777; major of Saintonge infantry, March 19, 1780; colonel of the Pondichery (India) regiment, January 16, 1784; marechal-de-camp, June 30, 1791; and resigned, June 24, 1792. He was made a knight of St. Louis, December 5, 1781. The Chevalier de Fleury served in Corsica during the campaigns of 1768, 1769, and 1770. Having been commissioned a captain of engineers in 1776, he obtained a furlough and entered the American army as a volunteer, was appointed by Congress a captain of engineers, May 22, 1777, and was sent first to General Was.h.i.+ngton's army, and toward the end of the campaign to Fort Mifflin, where he was wounded. At the battle of the Brandywine, he had a horse shot under him, and was again wounded. Congress presented him with a horse, "as a testimonial of the sense they had of his merits," September 13, 1777, and promoted him to a lieutenant-colonelcy, "in consideration of the disinterested gallantry he had manifested in the service of the United States," November 26, 1777. In the a.s.sault on Stony Point, July 15, 1779, he commanded one of the attacks, was the first to enter the main works, and struck the British flag with his own hands, for which gallant deed Congress voted him a silver medal. On Friday, October 1, 1779, Congress pa.s.sed the following resolution concerning Lieutenant-Colonel de Fleury: "_Resolved_, That Congress entertain a high sense of the zeal, activity, military genius, and gallantry of Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury, which he has exhibited on a variety of occasions during his service in the armies of these States, wherein, while he has rendered essential benefit to the American cause, he has deservedly acquired the esteem of the army and gained unfading reputation for himself." He continued in America after General Count de Rochambeau's arrival, serving under him in the campaigns of 1780, 1781, and 1782; and received a pension of four hundred livres by royal decree of May 8, 1783, in consideration of his distinguished services, especially at the siege and taking of (p. 024) Yorktown, October 19, 1781. He afterward served in India, commanded in chief the islands of Mauritius and of Bourbon from May to November, 1785, obtained a pension of one thousand livres, in consideration of his services, November, 1786, and returned to France in April, 1790.

He held the rank of marechal-de-camp in the army of the North, and commanded at Montmedy after General de Bouille's flight in 1791, and at Givet and Cambray in 1791 and 1792. At the breaking out of the war he was at Valenciennes, and served under Marshals de Rochambeau and de Luckner. During the retreat from Mons his horse, which had been shot under him, fell upon him, and, while lying helpless in that position, he was ridden over by the enemy's cavalry. After a long illness he left the army, June 24, 1792, and retired to Rebais, in the Department of Seine-et-Oise.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.[34]

[Footnote 34: The resolution of Congress voting this medal, and the official reports of the taking of Stony Point, are given under No. 3, page 14.]

_General Was.h.i.+ngton to the President of Congress._

To Headquarters, West Point, THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. July 25, 1779.

Sir: Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury having communicated to me his intention to return to France at the present juncture, on some matters interesting to himself, I have thought proper to give him this letter to testify to Congress the favourable opinion I entertain of his conduct. The marks of their approbation which he received on a former occasion have been amply justified by all his subsequent behaviour. He has signalized himself in more than one instance since; and in the late a.s.sault on Stony Point he commanded one of the attacks, was the first that entered the enemy's works, and struck the British flag with his own hands, as reported by General Wayne. It is but justice to him to declare that, in the different stations in which he has been employed, he has rendered services of real utility, and has acquitted himself in every respect as an officer of distinguished merit, one whose talents, zeal, activity, and bravery alike ent.i.tle him to particular notice. He has intimated to me a desire to obtain a furlough for a few months. I doubt not Congress will be disposed to grant him every indulgence which can be granted with propriety.

I have the honour to be, &c., Geo. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

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_General Was.h.i.+ngton to the President of Congress._ (p. 025)

CERTIFICATE.

To THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. West Point, July 28, 1779.

I certify that Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury has served in the army of the United States since the beginning of the campaign of 1777, to the present period, and has uniformly acquitted himself as an officer of distinguished merit for talents, zeal, activity, prudence, and bravery; that he first obtained a captain's commission from Congress, and entered as a volunteer in a corps of riflemen, in which, by his activity and bravery, he soon recommended himself to notice; that he next served as brigade-major, with the rank of major, first in the infantry and then in the cavalry, in which stations he acquired reputation in the army, and the approbation of his commanding officers, of which he has the most ample testimonies; that, toward the conclusion of the campaign of 1777, he was sent to the important post of Fort Mifflin in quality of engineer, in which he rendered essential services, and equally signalized his intelligence and his valour.

That, in consequence of his good conduct on this and on former occasions, he was promoted by Congress to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and has been since employed in the following stations, namely, as a sub-inspector, as second in command in a corps of light infantry in an expedition against Rhode Island, and lastly as commandant of a battalion of light infantry in the army under my immediate command; that in each of these capacities, as well as the former, he has justified the confidence reposed in him, and acquired more and more the character of a judicious, well-informed, indefatigable, and brave officer. In the a.s.sault of Stony Point, a strong fortified post of the enemy on the North River, he commanded one of the attacks, was the first that entered the main works, and struck the British flag with his own hands.

I have the honour to be, &c., Geo. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

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_A Memorial for M. de Fleury, an Officer in the Regiment of Rouergue for twelve years; a Captain of Engineers in the Service of France for three years; and a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Service of the United States for two years._

M. de Fleury left France with M. du Coudray in 1776.