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Connecticut Bicentennial Gazette

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Connecticut Bicentennial Gazette u Am35 cbg y . CONNECTlCUt SIAiE LIBRARY v # 6 T H E ^ INTERLIBRARY LOAN CEN i ER no, 2 ,onnec5ticut q^^t e CONNECTICUT STAT E tIBRAR Y VOLUME VI NUMBER 2 RD , TRYON'S RAID REMEMBE ICU 1 American militia pursue retreating British forces down North Salem Rd. in Ridge field. A "Hessian" soldier helps a buddy adjust straps of his uniform before the beginning of the reenactment of the Battle of Ridgefield. A "Mowhawk Indian," fighter on the British side, can be seen to the left. "British Regulars" march past burning replicas of a Main Street house and the Second Congregational Church, at the reenactment of the burning of Danbury. The buildings were replicas of those destroyed in the actual event in 1777. American troops look over a British cannon, a prize of photo courtesy Danbury News-Times war won by General Wooster at Ridgefield. Story and other pictures on Page 3. for the men to be ordered to assemble and take the field. On April 14 Gen. Parsons directed the regiments to march to Peekskill, N.Y., the designated encampment for nearly all the New England troops then taking the field. 'It wasfteuss1 The regiments were assigned to brigades during the summer but it was not until 1778 that the permanent organization of the Connecticut Line into one division of two brigades was effected. Connecticut soldiers took part in nearly all the major engagements in 1777, the first two essentially on home territory. In April General William Tryon launched an ex­ pedition against Danbury, with the intent of capturing the stores maintained there. The American troops that took THE YEAR OF THE out after the British were mainly militia since the regiments of the Line were at Peekskill or scattered at points of CONTINENTAL LINE rendezvous. [See March issue, Connecticut Bicentennial The first two years of the war clearly demonstrated to Gazette. ] Congress the need of a permanent, disciplined army able to In May, Lieut.-Col. Return Jonathan Meigs with 400 cope with the well-trained British "Regulars." By the end men launched an effort against the enemy's stores from of 1776 Congress had established such a body through the Guilford. The force crossed the Sound in whaleboats and formation of the "Continental Line." then marched to Sag Harbor, Long Island where they burn­ Eighty-eight infantry regiments were to be raised among ed 12 ships and the British stores. Taking 90 prisoners, they the thirteen states for continuous service to the end of the returned to Connecticut without the loss of a man. Soon war. Formed into eight companies the regiments would Col. Meigs, who was voted a sword by Congress for his form the Continental Line, resembling the British "Regi­ exploit, reported in the field at Peekskill. ments of the Line." Soldiers could enlist for either three Still to come in this "Turning Point" year were the years of service or the duration of the war. Brandywine, Germantown, Fort Mifflin, Mud Island, the The regiments were proportioned according to popula­ Burgoyne Campaign, Whitemarsh, and the winter encamp­ tion among the States. Instead of being numbered con­ ment at Valley Forge. secutively in the main line, each State's regiments formed a (To be continued in the next issue.) « » # # "Line" by themselves and the regiments were numbered within their own State Line. Thus the "Connecticut Line," the "Massachusetts Line," the "Virginia Line," etc. Each BICENTENNIAL CHRONICAL BECOMES "Line" was a distinct body, commanded by officers from THE CONNECTICUT STORY its own State, its support coming from the State as well as Throughout 1975 and 1976 hardy souls who rose early Congress. The Connecticut legislature promised to add to on Sunday mornings or stayed late Sunday evenings might the enlistees' pay and assist the sick and wounded. have heard broadcast over their local radio station a very Officers for each "Line" were nominated by the State special show — the ARBCC's program Bicentennial Chroni­ and commissioned by Congress. In Connecticut, with few cle, hosted at various times by Secretary of State Gloria exceptions, all officers appointed for the eight regiments of Schaffer, ARBCC Program Coordinator George Cyr, or the Connecticut Line had seen service in 1775 or 1776. other ARBCC staff members. Money, "the Sinews of War," was sorely needed by the The show, broadcast over four radio stations, was taped State to support the effort as is indicated by the following twice a month at station WRCH in Farmington, which notice issued by John Lawrence, the State Treasurer: donated time, staff and production facilities needed for the "The Treasurer of the State of Connecticut hereby noti­ program. Bicentennial news from throughout the state was fies all constables, and collectors of the Taxes due to this featured, touching on re-creations of events from 200 years State, that he expects they respectively pay off their Ar­ ago, scholarly research, ARBCC projects, events going on in rearages; otherwise he shall be obliged to issue out his celebration of the Bicentennial throughout Connecticut, Warrants indiscriminately, against those who are delinquent. and historical information about the Revolutionary period . The present Call for Money is so great, that notwith­ and Connecticut's participation in the War for Independence. standing some Taxes which are granted are not payable till With the new year a shift in emphasis was needed and May next; yet the Treasurer earnestly desires every Friend Bicentennial Chronicle has become The Connecticut Story. to this State to exert himself, and readily discharge said The new show's content will focus on the history of Rates, that he may be able to satisfy the generous Soldiers Connecticut, especially the founding and development of who have been in Defence of their Country, and likewise its settlements, told through the historical truths, anecdotal pay off the Battalions now raising for the same noble Pur­ tales, and legends that, woven together, make the fabric of pose. Money is the Sinews of War — and to have a full the state—its people, its events, its land. Guests who tell Supply at this Juncture, is of the last Importance. Without this rich heritage will include local and state historians and Money it is impossible for us to raise a new Army, the ab­ history buffs, researchers and scholars, writers and per­ solute Necessity of which must be known to all. It is hoped sonalities. that every one will so generously pay his Rates, and the Radio stations carrying The Connecticut Story are: Constables so speedily collect and settle them, that for the CALL Future not a Single Order may be refused at this Office. STATION LOCATION NUMBER TIME Treasury Office, January 27, 1777." WPOP Newington 1410 Sat. 10:30 p.m. WEZN Bridgeport 99.9 Sun. 5:30/ Record for 1777 6:30 a.m. By April 1 the recruiting in Connecticut, done mainly Alternate under Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, progressed well enough WRCH Farmington 100 FM Sun. 7:30 a.m. 2 TRYON'S RAID REENACTED IN THREE TOWNS Muskets and cannon fire at the retreating British on Compo Beach, Westport. Shapiro photo, courtesy Westport Bicentennial Comm. The Bicentennial anniversary of Tryon's raid into Con­ their ships following the Battle of Compo Beach signalled necticut in April 1777 was triply-observed when the three the closing of the reenactment dramas of Tryon's infamous towns most affected by that raid, Danbury, Ridgefield and raid into Connecticut. Westport, recreated the experiences of 200 years earlier. In all three town's other activities, including memorial On the afternoon of April 23, despite the rain that fell services at gravesites, encampments, displays and exhibits, throughout the day, British and American "soldiers" faced cannonading and music were part of the Bicentennial ob­ off at Rogers Park in Danbury to reenact events of 200 years servances. ago. Eight miniature plywood structures simulating homes in downtown Danbury in 1777 were built by carpentry students of Henry Abbott Regional Technical School to be burned during the raid reenactment. The Battle of Ridgefield was reenacted on May 1, and included the shooting of General David Wooster and Bene­ dict Arnold's horse at the appropriate spots along the his­ toric route. Members of the Brigade of the American Revo­ lution, beginning at North Salem Rd. and Barlow Hill Rd. "fought" their way through to the center of town and down Main St., dirt-covered for the battle by a town sanding truck to add to the feeling of authenticity. Trees, which had been placed on the town Green two nights previous were "cut down" for the barricades erected by American Dad's shoulders and an umbrella helped one young ob­ soldiers, intent on delaying the British from returning to server watching a military confrontation between Americans Westport. and British at rain-soaked Rogers Park, part of Danbury's At Westport on May 7, the recreated Tryon's troops reenactment of Try on's raid. landed, virtually unopposed, and marched off to Danbury. photo courtesy Danbury News-Times They returned to the scene pursued by American militia who chased them from Ridgefield. The British retreat to "Colonial wives" prepare meal for Continental troops at British troops storm barricades hastily erected across Compo Beach. Ridgefield's Main St. by defending American militia. Shapiro photo, courtesy Westport Bicentennial Committee. 3 CONESTOGA WAGON BACK IN CONNECTICUT ARBA BOWS OUT The Conestoga wagon that represented Connecticut in the Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage to Pennsylvania last summer will continue to make appearances at schools, RESIDUAL WORK TO INTERIOR state and local fairs, and other events around the State until The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, arrangements are made to display it permanently.
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