“Mad”Anthony Wayne, Military Hero

Anthony Wayne served with George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, led the Pennsylvania Line in the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown, weathered the Valley Forge encampment and fought at Monmouth, NJ. He was elevated to the status of national hero after his decisive victory in 1779 at Stony Point on the Hudson River.

George Washington said of Anthony Wayne, “He is one of the best and most successful military leaders of the early American republic.”

Wayne was known for his quick temper, his sometimes florid, off-color language, all of which may have contributed to the nickname “Mad” Anthony Wayne. He was a systematic organizer who paid attention to basic military problems such as supply, training and the comfort of his men.

In 1792 he was called by President Washington to serve as major general and commander-in-chief of the Legions of America. Wayne died at Presque Isle (now Erie, PA) in 1796 enroute to his home, Waynesborough. He was the only Commander-In-Chief of the American military to not have also been the President of the United States.