this moment came to hand. I congratulate Congress upon our
success, and what makes it still more agreeable from the report
of Captain Fishbourn, who brought me General Wayne's letter, the
post was gained with but very inconsiderable loss on our part. As
soon as I receive a particular account of the affair, I shall
transmit it.

I have the honour to be, etc.,
Geo. WASHINGTON.

_____

_General Wayne to General Washington._

To Stony Point, two o'clock A.M.,
General WASHINGTON. July 16, 1779.

Dear General: The fort and garrison with Colonel Johnson are
ours. Our officers and men behaved like men who are determined to
be free.
Yours, most sincerely,
Anthony WAYNE.

_____

_General Washington to the President of Congress._

To
THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. New Windsor, July 20, 1779.

Sir: On the 16th instant I had the honour to inform Congress of a
successful attack upon the enemy's post at Stony Point, on the
preceding night, by Brigadier-General Wayne and the corps of
light infantry under his command. The ulterior operations on
which we have been engaged have hitherto put it out of my power
to transmit the particulars of this interesting event. They will
now be found in the inclosed report, which I have received from
General Wayne. To the encomiums he has deservedly bestowed on the
officers and men under his command, it gives me pleasure to add,
that his own conduct throughout the whole of this arduous
enterprize merits the warmest approbation of Congress. He (p. 017)
improved upon the plan recommended by me, and executed it in a
manner that does signal honour to his judgment and to his
bravery. In a critical moment of the assault, he received a flesh
wound in the head with a musket ball, but continued leading on
his men with unshaken firmness.

I now beg leave, for the private satisfaction of Congress, to
explain the motives which induced me to direct the attempt. In my
former letters I have pointed out the advantages which the enemy
derived from the possession of this post and the one on the
opposite side, and the inconvenienc