d 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.

_____

_General Wayne to General Washington._ (p. 020)

To
General WASHINGTON. 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 pass over
high mountains, through deep morasses 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
principal 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 unl