Humpday History Highlight
By Wyatt Earp | July 16, 2008
July 16, 1779 – General Anthony Wayne Earns Nickname
On this day in 1779, American Brigadier General Anthony Wayne launches a coup de main against British fortifications at Stony Point, New York, on the orders of General George Washington. He earns the moniker “Mad” Anthony Wayne for the ensuing maneuver.
The British fort on the cliffs at Stony Point overlooking the Hudson River threatened West Point, which was only 12 miles upriver. Wayne, at the head of 1,200 light infantry, successfully assaulted what the British believed was an impregnable position, losing only 15 killed and 83 wounded while the British lost 94 killed and wounded and 472 captured. Remarkably, the attack took place under cover of darkness, employed only bayonets as weaponry and lasted a mere 30 minutes. Two days later, Wayne, now dubbed “mad” for his enthusiastic and successful undertaking of a mission that had seemed doomed to failure, destroyed the fortifications and evacuated the area. Congress rewarded Wayne’s efforts with a medal.
Much of Wayne’s ensuing career involved divesting Native Americans of their land. Following the victory at Yorktown, Wayne traveled to Georgia, where he negotiated treaties with the Creeks and Cherokees. They paid dearly in land for their decision to side with the British, and Georgia paid Wayne in land–giving him a large plantation–for his efforts on their behalf. In 1794, President George Washington called upon Wayne to bring the ongoing violence with British-backed Indians in the Northwest Territory to a close. Wayne was victorious at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, near what is now Toledo, Ohio, and gained much of what would become Ohio and Indiana for the U.S. in the Treaty of Greenville. (H/T – History.com)
Pardon my French – heh – but that’s pretty ballsy. Have you heard of Brigadier General Anthony Wayne? Until today, I have not.
Topics: HHH | 20 Comments »
July 16th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
“Congress rewarded his efforts with a medal.” Good to know they are consistently ineffective.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Had not heard of him, and this was pretty interesting.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
They could have named a city after him in Indiana. They could call it something like… Ohh… I dunno… Fort Wayne?
Naw, sounds too much like John Wayne.
Heheh
July 16th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
I’ve heard of him. Lot’s of times. And boy did he deserve that nickname.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Deanna – I think that’s their motto: “232 Years of Ineffectiveness!”
RT – Once in a while I score a nice one.
Mope – HOW DARE YOU EXPOSE MY IGNORANCE!
Leoni2 – He was the original Mad Max!
July 16th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Whooops. Important call. Back later.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Two weeks in a row for Hoosier History. Maybe you should rename it “Hoosier History Highlight.”
And I second the whole “Fort Wayne” bit. He-he.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Wayne?…..was he the original Batman?
July 16th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Mope, they did name a city after him–or at least a town. There is a little town in the Philadelphia suburbs in an area called the Main Line named “Wayne”. It is named for Mad Anthony and his history is pretty well known in these parts.
Thirty lashes with a wet noodle to Wyatt for NOT knowing that. The town of Wayne is less than 10 miles from Center City.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I have heard of Mad Anthony before, but then again I spent most of my life as a history nerd who was rejected by women. There was a lot of stuff that happened in the Revelation, but most people never get past the handful of big battles they had to read about it school.
Another interesting hero with a really interesting nickname is Light Horse Harry Lee. The story behind his earning that title also took some iron balls.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Trixie – Be careful. He might enjoy that.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I have heard of Mad Anthony Wayne. But then again I am a old fart. But they still taught history back when i was a kidlet.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
His night attack, with only bayonet is still talked about by military leaders that wish they had his elan… or something else. Most now want close air support with a rolling artillery barrage… just think, the Army that wasn’t (Boston 1775) became the Army that could; only Benedict Arnold, Morgan and Greene were close to his leadership effectiveness, and Arnold changed sides because Congress never appreciated him (and I think his wife was flighty).
July 17th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Mope – Yeah, you better run!
Kim – That’s right, keep tap-dancing on the land mine!
DesertSage – His Batmobile was a horse and buggy.
Trixie – I know. I feel much shame.
Marvin – I think you mean Revolution. The only scary guy in Revelations is Beelzebub!
Kim – No comment.
Rick – Unlike the p.c., sanitized version they teach now?
Earl – The History Channel miniseries The Revolution was excellent, and really shed new light on Arnold. Most people have no idea he was a true hero of The Revolution. Everyone only remembers his later treachery – at the behest of his wife.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:56 am
How can you be a lifelong PA resident and not have heard of Mad Anthony? Good heavens, get thee to Erie to view the Wayne blockhouse!
And that Mad Anthony Ale is pretty good, too.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I grew up in the area of Wayne’s Ohio campaigns,
& live only a mile from the Wayne Trace, the road his army cut on the way to Greenville.
He was known as “Mad” for various reasons
July 17th, 2008 at 11:09 am
GroovyVic – That would be good. I could go there and be the blockhead at the blockhouse!
Duck – Sometimes, madness is just what is needed. We could use a guy like him now, that’s for sure.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
DesertSage, if I remember my old DC history, the Batman Bruce Wayne and ‘Mad’ Anthony Wayne are suppose to be related. It’s been so long since I’d remembered how they’re suppose to be related. (In real history, Bob Kane mentioned that he did pick the Wayne last name from ‘Mad’ Anthony.)
July 17th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I know who he was, too, but I’m a Hoosier. I bet Jimmyb knows who he is; he lives close to Ft. Wayne, across the state line.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Stupid spell check.