Rash's Surname Index

Notes for Anthony WAYNE
Biography ANTHONY WAYNE - the famous Military Chieftain of Chester county - was born in the township of Easttown, on the first of January, 1745. His father, Isaac Wayne, was a respectable farmer and useful citizen - having repeatedly
occupied a seat in the provincial Assembly, and often distinguished himself in expeditions against the belligerent Indians. His grandfather, Anthony, was a native of Yorkshire, England, but in early life removed into the county of Wicklow, Ireland. He commanded a squadron of dragoons, under King William, at the battle of the Boyne; and being warmly attached to liberal principles, he migrated with his family to America, in 1722. The subject of this notice received a good mathematical education, and for some years was employed in surveying, practical astronomy, and engineering. When the difficulties between the colonies and the mother country arose, our Anthony Wayne was among the foremost and most active of the Chester county Whigs, in counteracting the oppressive measures of the Britain, and preparing the way for the Revolutionary contest. He soon aspired to military service, and early in Jan., 1776, was appointed, by Congress, Colonel of the 4th Pennsylvania Battalion, which was sent to the frontier of Canada, and passed the year in the vicinity of Ticonderoga.- In February, 1777, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General; and the following summer, joined the main army, under Washington, in New Jersey - where he was placed at the head of a Brigade. He was a man of imperious
disposition, and soon became an admirable disciplinarian. At the battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, Gen. Wayne commanded a division stationed at Chadsford, for the purpose of resisting the columns under Knyphausen. He maintained the contest with the utmost gallantry, until a large division of
the enemy (through an unaccountable lack of vigilance on the part of the American scouts,) had crossed the Brandywine above the forks, turned the right of Washington's army, and compelled a retreat.- Some days afterwards, viz: on the night of September 20, the enemy stole a march into Wayne's camp, near the Paoli, and perpetrated a cruel butchery, under the direction of Gen. Grey, who was soon after KNIGHTED, and made an EARL, by King George, for that and one or two other similar exploits. At the battle of Germantown, Gen. Wayne evinced his wonted valor - leading his division into the thickest of the fight; and, in covering the retreat, he used every exertion which bravery and prudence could dictate. During a large portion of this campaign of 1777, owing to a combination of circumstances, he performed alone the duty of three general officers. While the army was suffering miserably at Valley Forge, in the ensuing winter, he performed valuable service on the eastern banks of the Delaware, in securing cattle for the American troops, and destroying forage which could not be
removed, and might otherwise fall into the hands of the enemy. He returned to the army about the middle of March, and with his officers and soldiers, received the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief. In all councils of war, Gen. Wayne was
distinguished for supporting the most energetic and decisive measures. The characteristic anecdote is told of Wayne, that he was accustomed to attend such consultations, with a volume of TOM JONES, or other interesting novel, in his pocket, and would be quietly reading in one corner of the room, while the
anxious company were discussing the measures proper to be passed. - When they had severally given their views, the Commander-in-Chief would inquire -'Well Gen. Wayne, what do you propose to do?''Fight, Sir!'- is said to have been his invariable answer. No wonder that his impetuous daring should procure for him the familiar SOBRIQUET of 'Mad Anthony!'
Fighting was constitutional, with him; and he was always ready for a fray. In the council which was held before the battle a Monmouth, he and General Cadwallader were the only two of the seventeen general officers who were in favor of fighting. This engagement added to his reputation, his ardor and resolution having been so conspicuous that Washington mentioned him with
particular distinction in his official report to Congress. In 1779, he had an opportunity to retaliate nobly on the enemy, at Stony Point, by sparing the lives of many of the same ruffians who showed no mercy in the 'Paoli massacre.'For his gallantry on this occasion, the thanks of Congress, and a gold medal, emblematic of the action, were presented to him. During the campaign of 1780, Gen. Wayne was actively employed, in command of the Pennsylvania Line; and in that of 1781 - which ended in the capture of Cornwallis and the British forces at
Yorktown, he bore a conspicuous part. He was next sent by Washington to take command in Georgia, where the enemy were making formidable progress. After some sanguinary encounters, he effected the establishment of security and order, and was presented by the Legislature of the State with a valuable farm, for his services. Peace soon followed; when he retired to private life, with a military reputation which, in the time GENSALVO DE CORDEVA, would have secured for Wayne the title of 'GRAN CAPITAIN.'In 1783, he was elected one of the State
Censors, of Pennsylvania; and the next year, a member of the Assembly. In 1789, he was a member of the Pennsylvania Convention, and an advocate of the Constitution of the United States. In 1792, Gen. Wayne was appointed by Washington the successor of Gen. St. Clair, in the Indian war on the western
frontier. By the admirable discipline of his troops, and the skill and bravery with which he fought, and gained the battle of the Miami of the Lakes, he brought the war to a successful termination. The Chester County Hero closed his splendid career, and his valuable life, at PRESQU'ISLE, in Pennsylvania, on the 14th of December, 1796. In the year 1809, the Penna. State Society of Cincinnati resolved to erect a monument to the memory of their gallant Brother Soldier: and, in the meantime, his son Isaac Wayne, proceeded to the margin of Lake Erie, and brought the remains to the family cemetery at St. David's church, in the vicinity of the General patrimonial estate. On the 5th of June, 1811, the monument was erected, with appropriate ceremonies, in the presence of the Cincinnati Society, all the troops of cavalry of the city and county of Philadelphia, an elegant troop from Montgomery county, and a large concourse of citizens. It may be interesting to mention here, that our Chester County Artist, WM. MARSHALL SWAYNE, of West Chester, has modeled a Bust of General Wayne, which it is proposed to have executed in marble, if the admirers of our Hero feel disposed to encourage the patriotic enterprise. - The Bust is considered a good likeness, and well worthy of the patronage due by the lovers of the Fine Arts, to so laudable a project.

Wayne died of complications from gout during a 1796 return trip to Pennsylvania from a military post in Detroit, and was buried at Fort Presque Isle (now Erie, Pennsylvania) where the modern Wayne Blockhouse stands. His body was disinterred in 1809 and, after boiling the body to remove the remaining flesh, as many of the bones as would fit in two saddlebags were relocated to the family plot in St. David's (Radnor) Episcopal Church cemetery in Radnor, Pennsylvania. A legend says that many bones were lost along the roadway that encompasses much of modern U.S. Route 322, and that every January 1 (Wayne's birthday), his ghost wanders the highway searching for his lost bones.
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