STONEY-POINT RE-CAPTURED, BUT DESERTED AT THE APPROACH OF THE BRITISH.
Washington, roused by these disasters, undertook operations which not only prevented Clinton from reinforcing Tryon, but compelled him to recall the whole of that devastating expedition. Before the garrison could put Stoney-point in any defensive order, he dispatched General Wayne to fall upon it by night, and the troops left there by Clinton were all either killed or taken prisoners. Wayne opened a fire across the river upon Fort Lafayette, expecting to see another strong detachment appear from the ranks of Washington on the land side of that fort. This detachment did not appear in time; for when Clinton discovered this reverse he sent a detachment up the river, in transports, to assist the garrison, and their arrival occurred almost simultaneously. On the arrival of the transports, the Americans gave up their brief siege of Fort Lafayette, and retreated, as did those likewise who had retaken Stoney-point. Clinton himself had followed the transports in full force, hoping that Washington would quit his position to defend Stoney-point; but when he found that his hope was fallacious he returned to New York.