The Mad Man

Who was that Mad Man?

As a boy learning about the American Revolution, I found it quite amusing that a general would be called "Mad" Anthony Wayne. I wondered who that madman was and what he was so mad about. Any study of the American War for Independence should include this colorful Pennsylvanian, who captured the imagination of his contemporaries and endures through the ages.

Scion of a Scots-Irish Military Family

Anthony Wayne was born on January 1, 1745, to Isaac Wayne and Elizabeth Iddings Wayne in Easttown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Isaac Wayne was born in Ireland, the son of Captain Anthony Wayne, a military officer who immigrated to America with his Dutch wife, Hannah. Their son Isaac became a tanner, establishing one of Pennsylvania's top businesses, and eventually took over the family estate, Waynesboro, from the aging captain. 

Young Anthony Wayne was well-educated, attending the Philadelphia Academy and the College of Philadelphia. Like George Washington, Wayne also worked as a surveyor, especially in Nova Scotia. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1766, where he continued surveying and worked at Isaac's tannery. He also married Mary Penrose, who bore him two children, Margretta and Isaac. 

As tensions with Great Britain increased, young Anthony became involved in the American cause. Like many emerging leaders of means, he turned to public service. Wayne served in the Pennsylvania legislature in 1774, and the next year, he raised a militia regiment in Chester County. In January 1776, he received a commission as colonel of the 4th Pennsylvania Continental Line. Things were about to get interesting for Anthony and the war.

Wayne's Home in Waynesboro

A Mad Campaigner in a Mad Campaign

As colonel of the 4th Pennsylvania, Wayne headed north to join General John Sullivan's division in the reckless and doomed invasion of Canada. In his first action, Wayne fought bravely but unsuccessfully against larger forces at the Battle of Trois-Rivieres in June 1776. 

The campaign soon fell apart, but Wayne proved himself through his leadership in guiding the army's retreat into New York. He then took command of Fort Ticonderoga, a crucial defense point on New York's northern frontier. Congress, pleased with his efforts, promoted him to Brigadier General in February 1777. Not long after, he was called south to join General George Washington and the main Continental Army, where he was given command of a brigade of Pennsylvanians.

Anthony Wayne

A Colorful Character

Wayne was a vibrant and irreverent leader who seemed to set the stage for later military figures like George Custer and George Patton. He used profanity effectively, often amusing his troops. Like Patton, he understood that soldiers should look sharp and that military pride comes from a good appearance. Similar to Custer and Patton, he was always well-dressed and kept a neat appearance. His bravado added to his legend, making him a favorite subject not just among troops but also among fellow officers. And like Custer and Patton, Wayne proved himself with inspiring performances in battle.

Holding the line at Brandywine

Although Washington was defeated, he managed to extricate his army and keep it as a threat to the slowly advancing British forces. When the Americans abandoned Philadelphia, Washington sent Wayne to shadow the British army and threaten their lines of communication. 

Unfortunately, the British received intelligence that revealed Wayne's position. Wayne's encampment near the Paoli Tavern was overrun in a stealthy night attack by Major General Charles Grey on the evening of September 20th. Grey earned the nickname "No Flint" because he ordered his men to remove their flints to avoid accidental discharges that could spoil his surprise: cold steel for the rebels. Later, claims emerged that the British took no prisoners and granted no quarter, leading to the engagement being known as the "Paoli Massacre." 

The massacre tarnished Wayne's reputation somewhat. Undaunted, he led his men across the fog-shrouded fields near Germantown, Pennsylvania, on October 4, 1777. With typical audacity, Wayne's command advanced ahead of other Continental brigades and pressed on the retreating British with the bayonet. However, Wayne and his old commander, General John Sullivan (also known to be headstrong and impetuous), advanced too quickly. Both were cut off about two miles ahead of the other Continental regiments. 

When the British regained their composure, their defenses stiffened. When Washington finally ordered a retreat, he once more called on Wayne to provide the rear guard. Not long after, the Continental Army went into winter quarters at Valley Forge.

Despite  the Paoli Massacre, 
Wayne was held in high regard

The harsh winter at Valley Forge had a silver lining. A new American army was born, trained, and drilled to fight in European style by German General Von Steuben. This new army would get its chance to prove itself the following summer, and Wayne would be in the mix once again. The British relieved Lord Howe of his command and replaced him with Sir Henry Clinton, who decided to abandon Philadelphia and concentrate forces once more around New York City. 

In June 1778, Clinton ordered half of his forces to sail north. However, a sizable column marched across New Jersey toward their new base of operations. Wayne was called upon to lead the advance guard at Monmouth Court House, New Jersey. Once again thrust into a controversial engagement, Wayne's forces were abandoned by Major General Charles Lee. His men were soon pinned down by superior British forces, a rearguard that struck back at the pursuing Americans. Demonstrating determination and resourcefulness under fire, Wayne held his ground until reinforcements sent by Washington arrived. Wayne reorganized his troops and continued fighting.

American attack at Monmouth

Light Anthony

By the spring of 1779, Washington's Army focused on the main British garrison in New York. The British tried to lure Washington into a decisive battle. Awaiting anticipated French support, Washington played a game of cat and mouse. 

In May 1779, Sir Henry Clinton, the British Commander in Chief, launched the first phase of a complex plan to destroy Washington's army. Using their superior naval forces, the British moved up the North (Hudson) River and took the strategic position at Stony Point, about 10 miles south of West Point and 35 miles north of New York City. 

This move aimed to draw Washington out of the Hudson Highlands. Clinton then sent an expedition to Connecticut, leaving a reinforced regiment with fifteen guns to defend the earthworks around Stony Point. Washington observed the British defenses and decided to take them by force. 

To accomplish this, the Corps of Light Infantry was formed on June 12, 1779. There was no doubt who would command the unit or the mission: Anthony Wayne. The Corps of Light Infantry was an elite unit assembled for campaigns from 1777 to 1781. Its members came from the light infantry companies of each regiment in Washington's army. 

In 1779, the Corps consisted of a brigade of four regiments, each with two battalions of four companies. At midnight on July 16, the attack began in three columns, with Wayne personally leading one. In a tactic successfully used against him at Paoli, Wayne had his men advance with unloaded muskets, ready to storm the defenses with bayonets. Wayne's column came under musket fire, and he was wounded. Nevertheless, Wayne's men pressed on and quickly overran the British defenses. They captured over 500 prisoners and suffered only 100 casualties. 

This victory boosted the morale of the American Army and the cause, which had suffered setbacks. For his heroism and tactical success, Congress awarded Wayne a rare medal in recognition of the victory.

Stony Point was Wayne's most celebrated exploit

Why so Mad?

I always thought Wayne was nicknamed "Mad" because of his heroics in battle, especially for his actions at Stony Point. However, ironically, he didn't earn his nickname for his reckless fighting style; instead, it came from an incident in Morristown, New Jersey, during winter quarters in 1781. 

The story goes that New Jersey law officers detained an eccentric soldier known as “the Commodore” or “Jimmy the Drover” for a minor civil infraction. The soldier asked Wayne for help, but Wayne threatened to have the troublemaker whipped instead. “Jimmy the Drover” supposedly responded, “Anthony is mad! Farewell to you; clear the coast for the Commodore, ‘Mad Anthony’s’ friend.” Wayne’s Pennsylvanians really enjoyed the story and decided that “Mad Anthony” was a fitting nickname for their leader. You have to admit, it’s not a bad nickname.

 Winning the War

In the spring of 1781, Wayne led his Pennsylvanians into Virginia and served under Lafayette to help stop the British. On July 6, 1781, he fought alongside Lafayette at the Battle of Green Spring. His aggressive charge surprised the larger British forces, probably saving the Americans from defeat. Wayne then joined Washington to help defeat Cornwallis at Yorktown. 

However, the war did not end there. In 1782, Wayne was sent to Georgia to help drive out British forces. He broke the longstanding British alliance with the Indian tribes in Georgia. As British power declined, he managed to negotiate treaties with the two strongest tribes, the Creek and the Cherokee. As a final honor, Congress promoted him to major general on October 10, 1783. 

After the hostilities ended, Wayne went back to Pennsylvania. The well-known war hero served in the Pennsylvania Assembly and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. But after the war, his life was focused on peace and quiet, as it was for many of his peers.

Commander of the US Army

Wayne, as Commander of the
Legion of the United States

In 1792, it was time for Anthony Wayne to answer the bugle call once again. 

President George Washington appointed Wayne as commander-in-chief of the modest U.S. Army, known as the Legion of the United States. The Legion had suffered several defeats at the hands of the intertribal Indian Confederation formed to resist white encroachments into the Ohio Territory— the Midwest. 

The Indian Confederacy decisively defeated U.S. forces in 1790 and 1791 under the leadership of Shawnee chieftain Blue Jacket and Miami chief Little Turtle. The Indians had been supported and supplied by the British, who refused to evacuate British fortifications in the region as stipulated in the Treaty of Paris.

Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers was the new
Army's first post in the RevWar

Upon his arrival, Mad Anthony energized the beleaguered Legion with his own passionate leadership. At the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Wayne decisively ended Indian resistance when his experienced force of 1,000 men routed the 2,000 warriors assembled for a final showdown near Fort Miami on the Maumee River. 

This victory allowed Wayne to negotiate the Treaty of Greenville in August 1795. Under its terms, the Indians ceded most of Ohio and large parts of Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. This outcome was not guaranteed for many reasons (British schemes aimed to keep the 13 states along the Atlantic coast). Wayne's victory secured thousands of square miles of disputed land for the United States and led to signed peace treaties with the Indian tribes. Mad Anthony Wayne successfully completed the mission for which President George Washington had called him back to active duty.

Treaty of Fort Greenville secured peace in the
 Northwest Territory and American expansion

Untimely Death

Having finished his work in the northwest, Wayne started the long journey home. He sailed from what is now Detroit on a sloop. After five days, he reached the site of the old French outpost at Fort Presqu'Isle, now known as Erie, Pennsylvania. Though the weather was nice, his thoughts grew darker, and he wrote several letters about his final wishes. 

At Presque Isle, Wayne had a serious gout attack. Anyone who's experienced gout knows that’s enough reason to be upset. This was clearly a severe case with complications. Urgent calls for doctors were sent to Pittsburgh and the Army hospitals. Wayne's health kept getting worse as he developed intense stomach pains. The doctors from the east arrived, but on the same day, December 15, 1796, "Mad" Anthony Wayne died. He was buried in a simple coffin, with his initials and date of death carved into the wood using round-headed brass tacks, at the foot of the blockhouse flagstaff on garrison hill.

Rebuilt blockhouse on Presque Isle

A Strangely Eerie Homecoming

In 1808, Wayne's son Isaac returned to Presque Isle to take his father's remains back home. 

Unfortunately, he lacked enough space for all the remains in his small, sulky wagon. The doctor helping him boiled the late hero's corpse, then returned the flesh and clothing to the coffin and reburied it. He then packed the bones for transport to the east. "Mad" Anthony Wayne's bones were buried in the family plot at St. David's Episcopal Church cemetery in Radnor, Pennsylvania. The strange end to the great warrior's earthly remains gave rise to legends of hauntings. One could say that while Anthony Wayne may have become enraged for little reason in life, he certainly had a reason for anger in death.

Wayne's 2d Gravesite Radnor, Penna.