NOVEMBER 1997 NEWSLETTER
Lately I have been studying the Revolutionary War and particularly, the role that Charles Geissinger played in that war. We know that he was a Revolutionary War Veteran. Our evidence is this:
In Archives B.L. Wt. file 202-100: "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bedford County---Personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County, John Scott, Esq., who being duly sworn on the Holy evangelist of Almighty God doth depose and say that Charles Kissinger produced to him a Discharge Signed Ay. Butler of the 9th August 1783. Enlisted the 25th November 1776 with whom he has been acquainted in or about two years during which time he always knew him by the name of Charles Kissinger. Sworn and Subscribed the Second day of June A.D. 1804."
Obituary Holdren Missouri Press 1929: Lamach Guisinger born 26 Mar 1836 near the town of Thornville, Perry, Ohio. His parents were Philip and Sarah Guisinger. He had four brothers and one sister, and he was the youngest of the family. His grandfather (this would be Charles) served 7 years in the army during the Revolutionary War. He was a member of Anthony Wayne's command, took part in the capture of Stony Point, and spent the winter at Valley Forge.
This month I would like to pass on to you some more history in which Charles Geissinger participated:
The Battle of Stony Point 16 July 1779
Taken from Encyclopedia of the American Revolution by Boatner.
After a quiet winter and spring, on 28 May 1779 a British expedition assembled at Kings Bridge and on 1 June they occupied Stony Point and Verplancks Point. These two places secured Kings Ferry, 12 miles by road below West Point. The ferry was strategically important as the closest place on the Hudson to N.C. C. over with the Americans could easily and safely operate barges to maintain their east-west line of communications. Furthermore, it was at the gateway to the vital Highlands. Stony Point was taken without a shot, its 40-man garrison having burned a blockhouse and abandoned the unfinished defenses when the enemy flotilla approached.
Washington had already moved his available troops to challenge the expected advance on West Point, "key to the Continent." His principal position was in Smith's Cove, about 14 miles west of West Point, and he established his headquarters here temporarily before moving it to New Windsor. Within a few days the Americans could see that Clinton did not intend to advance up the Hudson, but was garrisoning the captured posts and completing the defenses of Stony Point. On 28 June, Washington directed that Anthony Wayne study the possibilities of retaking the positions. He had earlier (15 June) ordered Henry Lee to gather information about enemy strength at Stony Point, and on 2 July, Allen McLane entered the place disguised as a countryman. Washington personally reconnoitered Stony Point on 6 July, covered by McLane's partisans (then attached to Lee's legion). Based largely on McLane's information that the works were incomplete, Washington ordered Wayne to make a surprise night attack and capture Stony Point. It was decided not to complicate matters by attacking Verplancks Point simultaneously but to advance troops toward that place and strike only if the Stony Point operation succeeded.
The sketch which accompanies this article shows the main features of the battle field. Since the Hudson at this point is really an estuary, not a river, the marsh over which the attackers would cross is flooded at high tide. On the 150 foot hill, inside the second abatis, were seven or eight British batteries. Connecting trenches had not been completed, but a semienclosed fort was located on the top. The first abatis was on lower ground, around the base of the hill and about 200 yards west of the other abatis at the point of farthest separation; trees had been cleared in front of this forward barrier and three outworks constructed to cover the mostly likely avenues of approach. Lt. Col. Henry Johnson held the position with his 17th Regt., the grenadiers company of the 71st Highlanders, a detachment of Loyal Americans and 15 guns; total strength was about 625.
Wayne's recently formed light infantry brigade of 1,200 men constituted the American force. Col. Febiger commanded the 1st Regt.; his battalion commanders were Lt. Col. Fleury and Maj. Thos. Posey; troops were from Va. and Pa. Col. Richard Butler led the 2nd Regt.; battalion commanders were Lt. Col. Samuel Hay and Maj. John Stewart; troops were from Del., Md., and Pa. The 3rd Regt., all Conn. men, was commanded by Col. Return Meigs with Lt. Col. Isaac Sheerman and Capt. Henry Champion. The 4th Regt., not completely organized, comprised Mass. completely organized, comprised Mass. troops under Maj. Wm. Hull and N.C. men under Maj. Hardy Murfree. Capts. men under Maj. Hardy Murfree. Capts. James Pendleton and Thos. Barr accompanied the expedition with 24 gunners and 2 small pieces, but did not take part in the attack. Lee's light horse (including McLanes's) supported the attack, and 300 men under Gen. Muhlenberg were in reserve.
About noon on 15 July the American light infantry and the 2 guns started a 15 mile approach march from Sandy Beach (5 miles below West Point, near Ft. Montgomery). Their road was so bad that the men had to move single file for part of the distance, but around 8 P.M. they started closing into the final assembly area not more than a mile and a half west of Stony Point (at a place called Springsteel's) Since surprise was essential, Wayne prescribed strict security measures: civilians were cleared from the line of march and ordered to stay home; only a few officers were told of their objective; the final assembly area was "sealed" by guards to keep any traitor from alerting the British.
A dark night favored the attackers as they started forward about 11:30 of the 15th. Orders had been given that weapons would not be loaded (except in Murfree's Bn.) and one soldier is reported to have been killed on the spot by his officer when he persisted in trying to defy this order. All neighborhood dogs had been killed to prevent their alerting the enemy.
Wayne planned to penetrate the enemy's defenses at two points, one column hitting on the north, near the ferry landing, and the other to the south, where the defenses were closest to the main enemy works. Both assault columns were preceded by 20 man "forlorn hopes" to knock off sentinels and back through the abatis; both had advance parties of 150 men under selected officers to exploit the breakthrough; and the third element in each column was a main body that would keep up the momentum of the attack and push on to the objective. As a third force in this plan of attack, Maj. Murfree was to conduct a diversion against the British center, supported by the light horse; his men were the only ones authorized to fire during the operation.
The south column was the main effort: consequently it was stronger, and Wayne was personally in command. Many sketches show the entire "American force approaching in a single column across the causeway and bridge that span the marsh about a quarter of a mile from the first abatis; They left the assembly area in three columns and the main body waded the marsh at a point near the Hudson to attack from the south. The sketch indicates that the left and right American columns forded the marsh at points north and south of the causeway; this shows furthermore that Fleury's advance party waded through 4 feet of water to envelop the most advanced enemy abatis on the south flank of their first line of defense.
Shortly after midnight the two attack columns made contact, almost simultaneously, with the enemy outposts, and the British opened fire. The rebels pressed forward without shooting back. The forlorn hopes chopped and clawed through the first abatis and rushed for the second one while the advance parties pushed forward on their heels. Murfree started his demonstration in the center. Wayne was taken out of action temporarily by a head wound but revived and maintained command. Four other officers of the main column were hit. To the north, Febiger and Hay were wounded.
Lt. Col. Fleury had joined Lt. Knox's party; the fiery Frenchman was the first to enter the British works and he tore down the enemy flag with his own hands. Knox placed second and was followed by a Sgt. Baker of Va., who had been wounded four times in the assault. This sequence is a matter of exact record because cash prizes of $500 to $100 had been announced for the first five to enter the works. Baker was followed by Sgts. Spencer of Va. and Donlop of Pa.
The left column had farther to go, but Lt. Gibbons spearheaded the attack, muddy to the neck from crossing the morass and his clothing torn to shreds in the abatis. Maj. Stewart ordered the forlorn hope to turn right after they got through the second abatis; Gibbons reached the fort with only three of his original 20 men and Stewart was right behind him with the advance party.
Murfree's demonstration achieved its purpose, and Col. Johnson charged down the hill with half his garrison--- six companies of the 17th--- to meet what he thought was the main threat. He was cut off and captured by Febiger's regiment when he tried to regain the fort. The others tried to holdout but were isolated into little packets where they vainly tried to resist bayonets, swords, and spontoons --- for about 15 minutes the hilltop was the scene of a mad turmoil, and the British then began to throw down their arms and cry quarter.
TO BE CONTINUED...