Auction Closing: March 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Lot Number: 141
Estimate Range: $3,000 - $4,000
The Battle of Stony Point, New York and General George Washington’s Transmission of General “Mad” Anthony Wayne’s Descriptive Account of Battle Action that Followed

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August 12, 1779-Dated Revolutionary War Period Newspaper, “The Independent Chronicle and the Universal Advertiser”, Boston, 4 pages, Complete, with a boldly illustrated “Sword in Hand” Masthead Design After Paul Revere (this design was engraved on 1775 & 1776 Massachusetts Currency Note Issues), Choice Very Fine.

A highly important and historic Newspaper, disbound, being cleanly separated at the spine with just the slightest touch of minimal loss in the margin, yet being very clean and well printed on quality period rag paper stock. This historic newspaper reports that n July 15, 1779, Continental Army Major General Anthony Wayne led his force of Continentals in a surprise bayonet attack on the British at Stony Point, New York. The Americans captured some 700 prisoners at a cost of but fifteen Continental soldiers. (General Washington commented:) General Washington wrote: “He (Wayne) improved upon the plan recommended by me, and executed it in a manner that does signal honor to his judgment and to his bravery.”

General Wayne wrote in his lengthy report: “...the troops, 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 center of the enemy’s works at nearly the same instant.”

Wayne’s report, located on page two, is followed by a complete list of casualties on both sides plus the ordinance and stores taken in the Battle at Stony Point. This is followed by the Congressional report that states, in part: “That the thanks of Congress be presented to Brigadier General Wayne, for his brave, prudent and soldierly conduct, in the spirited and well conducted attack of Stony-Point.” A most rare and truly historic valuable Revolutionary War newspaper.