E 241 ROTON HEIGHTS, .GS H46 1890
WT'l'll .\ \ \ Hll \ 'l'l\' E O~' 'I'll to: BATT~E OF FORT GRISWOLD, - BY ~T J . l'lt~ 111 ·:.\JJ'~TJ.: \I>, \\. llll \\' ' " TllE FllH'I' \ 'I' TIJE Ti\IE, 1890. -.
DESCRIPTION OF THE
- OK GROTON.HEIGHTS ,
NEW LONDON.
C~R~ .:J' -- VI :ElT~l!' ~'\.'l,, 'T;;>U~h~~.. 1890. ----
THE BATTLE MONUMENT.
In the year r826 a number of gentlemen in Groton. feeling that the tragic events occurrring in the neighbor hood in 1781 should he more properly commemorated, organized as an association for the purpose of erecting a monument. An application to the legislature for a charter was granted, and a lottery in aid of the work was legalizeJ by special act. The corner stone was laid September 6th of that year, and the 6th of September, i830, it was dedi cated with imposing ceremonies. During the centennial year, important repairs and changes were made. In form it is now an obelisk, twenty-two feet square at the base, and eight and one-half feet at base of pyrami This )lonument was erected under the patronage of tbe State or Connecti cut, A. D. 1831l. and in the 55tb year of the Independence or the U. S. A.. in memory or the patroits who fell in the massacre at Fort Griswold, near this spot, on the 6tb of September, 1781. when the British, wider the command of the traitor. Benedict Arnold, burnt the towns of NE>w London and Groton, and spread desolation and woe throughout this region. "Zebulon and Napthall were a people that jeoparded tbeir lives unto death in the bigh places in the field."-J'udg-es, 5tl1 Cluipter, I8t/1Verse. List of Men who Fell at Fort Griswoht SEP'l'EMBER Gtli, 1781. WILLIAM LEDY ARD, Ueut. C'ol. C'om111atidi11g. Elijah AYery, Daniel Chester, Youngs Ledyard, Ebenezer Avery, Richard Chapman, Daniel Lester, Solomon A\'ery, Philip Co\'il, John Lester, Jasper AYery, Ellis Coit. Jonas Lester, Elisha A very, James Comstock, \Vait Lester, Daniel AYe1:v, \Villiam Comstock, Joseph Lewis, David Aven: John Clark, Joseph Moxley, Chri~. Aver~.; Daniel Davis, Nathan ~foore, Thomas A very, Samuel I !ill. Simeon Morgan, John P. Babcock, Henri' 1Ialse1-, Edward Mills, John Billings, John ·1Iolt, · Thomas Miner, Andrew Billings, Rufus Hurlburt, Luke Perkins, Samuel Billings, Nathan Adams, Luke Perkins, Jr., Ezekiel Bailev, Simeon Allyn, Elinathan Perkins, Andrew Baker, Samuel Allvn, Elisha Perkins, \Villiam Bolton, Bellon Alh~n. Asa Perkins, Tohn Brown, ::lfoses Jones, Simeon Perkins, ·Ilubbard Burrows, Eliday Jones, Dadd Palmer, Jonathan Butler, Benoni Kenson, Peter Richards, Frederick Chester, Barnev Kenny, "\mos Stanton, Eldredge Chester, Thom.as Lamb, Enoch Stanton. CAPT..\DA~! SHAPLEY, 1f /1101·1 'l'1·111uh111/. DaYid Se1bun-. Thomas \Villiam~. Patrick \\'ard, John Stedma1i, Tohn \\'il!iams, Joseph \\.edger, X athan Sholes, ·11enr. \\'oodhridge, Bena - ON'l'HE The author of the following narrati 1·e of events, which took place at the battle of Fort Griswold, on Groton Height, entered the service of his country in 1775, and arrived in Boston on the day of the battle of Bunker Hill. He was at Dorchester Point-was on Long Island at the time of the retreat of the American army, and was also a rnlunteer in the first ships that were sent to destroy the .-\ sia, 84-ship, and a frigate lying above Fort Washington. ln this attempt they were unsuccessful, although grappled to the enemy's vessel twenty minutes. For the bravery displayed by them, they received the particular thanks of the commanding officer in person, and in general orders, and forty dollars were ordered to'be paid to each person engaged. He was afterwards wounded by a grape shot while defending the lines at Harlem Heights, which broke two of his ribs. H e continued in the service and was again wounded on the 6th of September, 1781. Mr. Hempstead removed to this state in 18II, and is now 72 years of age. He was present at the reception of Gen. Lafayette in this city. Mr. H. is one of the few surviving 5 patriots of the reYolution, 11·ho have been permitted to view the unexampled rapidity with which our country has in creased in wealth, power anrl population ; the blessings which their exertions contributed to bestow upon us, and the happiness by which all classes are surrounded. NARRATIVE. ,\IR. CHARLES: I have thought since last fall that I would send you an account of the battle of Fort Griswold, on the 6th clay of September, 1781. The celebration of that eYent in September last, causPcl several notices of it to appear Ill different ne11·spapers, none of which, I think, are sufticiently particular or wholly correct. As l was a par ticipator in the catastrophe, ancl had an opportunity of knowing some of the circumstances, and reasons for re membering them, besides some notes taken subsequently, 1 atn enabled, l think, to give a clearer account of it (par ticularly in detail) than any I have seen; and if you belie1·e the folloll'ing ll'Orthy of puhlication. you are at liberty tn do ~o. STE PH E~ l l E:\l PSTEAD. On the morning of the 6th of September, 1 781, twenty four sail of the enemy's shipping appeared to the w~stward of New London harbor. The enemy landed in two divis ions of about 800 men each, commanded by that infamous traitor to this country, Benedict Arnold, who headed the division that landed on the Ne11· London side near Hrown's farms; the other division, commanded by Col. Eyre, land ed on ( ;rnton Point, nearly opposite. l was first serjeant of Capt. Adam Shapley's company of state troops, and stationed with him at the time with 7 about tll'enty-three men at Fort Trumbull, on the Tew London side. This was a mere breastwork or water bat tery open from behind, and the enemy coming on us from that quarter, we spiked our cannon and commenced a re treat across the river to Fort Griswold in three boats. The enemy were so near that they overshot us with their mus kets, and succeeded in capturing one boat commanded by Josiah Smith, a private. They afterwards proceeded to • ew London and burnt the town. We were received by the garrison with enthusiasm, being considered experienced artillerists, whom they much needed, and we were immedi ately assigned our station,;. The Fort was an oblong square, with bastions at opposite angles, the longest side fronting the river in a N. \\'.and S. E. direction. !ts walls were of stone, and were ten or twelve feet high on the lower side, and were surrounded by a ditch. On the wall were pickets projecting over twelve feet; above f11is 11·as a parapet with embrasures, and wi.thin a platform tor the cannon, and a step to mount to shoot over the para pet with small arms. In the S. W. bastion was a flag staft~ and in that side near the opposite angle· was the gate; in front of which was a triangular breastwork to protect the gate; and to the right of this was a redoubt, with a three pounder in it, whi::h was about one hundred and twenty yards from the gate. Between the Fort and the river was another battery with a coverell way, but which could not be used in this attack, as the enemy appeared in a rlifferenl quarter. The garri ,;on with the volunteers consisted of about one hundred and sixty men. Soon after our arrival the enemy appeared in force in some woods about half a mile S. E. of the Fort, from II hence they senl a flag of truce. \\'hich \\'aS met by .. Captain Shapley, demanding an unconditional surrender, threatening at the same time to storm the fort instantly if the terms were not accepted. A council of war was held and it was the unanrn10us voice that the garrison was unable to defend themselves against so superior a force. 13ut a militia colonel,* who was then in the fort, and had a body of men in the imme diate vicinity, said he would reinforce them with two or three hundred men in fifteen minutes if they would hold out. Col. Ledya.rd agreed to send back a defiance upon the most solemn assurance of immediate succor. For this purpose Col.--- started, his men being in sight, but he was no more seen, nor did he attempt a diversion in our favor. When the answer to their dem:.111d had been returnee.I by Capt. Shapley, the enemy \\'as soon Ill motion and marched with great rapidity, in a solid column, to 11·ithin a short distance of the fort, where, dividing the column, they rushed furiously and simultaneously to the assault of the S. W. bastion and the opposite sides. They were, holl"e1· er, repulsed with great slaughter, their commander mortally wounded, and .Major Montgomery, next in rank, killed, having been thrust through the body while in the act of ,,, scaling the walls at the S. \V. bastion by Capt. Shapley. *In this statement Mr. Hempstead has doubtlesH fallPn into an <'!TOI'. Lieut. Col. Gallup is supposed to be the person referrecl to. as charges ur that nature were preferred against him at that time, for which he was court-mal' tlailed. the sentence of which court was as follows: "The court, upon clue considemtion of the whole matter before them, ar<' unanimously of opinion that Lieut. Col. Nathan flallup, notg"ilty of neglect in duty. or or cowarclly bt1havlor. as charged against hjm: he I here.fore by tile court Is acquitted 'uitlt !to11or. Tradition asserts that another person of the same 11a111". but holding no commission in the militia, left tbe fort a short time beforp the attack was made. for the avowE>cl 1mrpose of obt~1i11lng a retnforrf'mf'nl. bnt wm< no tnOl'e seen nntil after the battle. Original Hcadsto1ie at Col. Ledyard's Grave. 10 The command then devoh·etl on Col. Beckwith, a refugee from New Jersey, who commanded a corps of that descrip tion. The enemy rallied and returned to the attack with great vigor, but were received and repulsed with equal firmness. During the attack a shot cut the h~ly:;rds 0f the flag, and it fell to the ground, but 11·as instantly re111:1unt ecl on a pike pole. This accident proved fatal to us, as the enemy. suppo sing it had been struck by its defenders, and rushing with redoubled impetuosity, carried the S. W. bastion by storm. Until this moment our loss was trifling in numbers, being six or seven in killed and eighteen or twenty wounded. Never was a post more bravely defended, or a garrison more barbarously butchered. We fought with all kinds of weapons, and at all places, with a courage tl1at deser\"ed a better fate. Many of the enemy were killed under the walls by simply throwing shot over on them, and never would we have relinquished our arms, had we had the least idea that such a catastrophe would have followed. To describe the scene I must be permitted to go back a little in my narrative. I commanded an i8 pounder on the south side of the gate, and when in the act of sighting my gun, a ball passed through the embrasure, struck me a little above the right ear, grazing the skull, and cutting off the veins, which bled profusely. A handkerchief was tied around it, and I continued at my duty. Discovering some little time after that a British soldier had broke a picket at the bastion on my left, ancl was forcing himself through the hole, while the men stationed there were gazing at the battle, which raged opposite to them, ancl observing no ofticer in that direction, l jumped from the platform and ran to them, crying : "My Lr:1\'c Tl fellows, the enemy are behind you," and raised my pike lo dispatch the intruder, when a ball struck my left arm at the elbow. and my pike fell to the ground, nevertheless I grasp ed it with my right hand, and with the men that turned and fought manfully, cleared the breach. The enemy, however, soon after forced the S. \V. bastion where Capt. Shapley, Capt. I'eter Richards, Lieut. Richard Chapman and several men of distinction and volunteers had fought with unconquerable courage, and were all either killed or mortally wounded, and sustained the brunt of every attack. Col. Ledyard, seeing the enemy within the fort gave orders to cease firing and to throw down our arms as the fort had surrendered. \Ye did so, but they con tinued firing upon us, crossed the fort and opened the gate, when they m:i.rched in, firing in platoons upon those \1·ho were retreating to the m:igazine and barrack room for safety. _\t this moment the renegacle colonel commanding, cl·ied out. "Who commands this garrison?" Col. Ledyard, wh1> was standing near me answerecl, '11 diLl, sir, but you do now," at the same time stepping forwarcl, handell him his sworcl with the point towards himself. At this moment l per ceived a soldier in the which they continued for some minuteb longer, when they discovered that they were in danger of being blown up by communicating fire to the powder scattered at the mouth of the mag Return of .\111erica1h killed ...... b+ wounded ...... +o Total ...... •. •..... •• .. .•..•.• I 2+ HriLi>h lo>>, killed ...... ·+8 WOlll!ded ...... 127 Total ...... 175 Capt. P. Richarcb, Lieut. Chapman and several others "·ere killed at the ba.-tion; Capt. Shaple.1 and other> wounded. I le died of hh; \\'Otrnd,; in January follo\\'ing. GROTO N HEIG HTS MONU ME NT. To commemorate the defence of Fort Griswold by Col. \V11.l.IA~1 LEDYARD and his brave companions, September 6, 1781. Corner-stone bid September 6, 1826; dedicated September 6, 1830. Material, granite; 26 feet . quare at the base, 24 fee t square on the die, 22 feet square at base of the shaft, and rr feet at the top; whole height r27 feet. It stood thus till the Centennial, i;~ 1881, when the height was ;ncreased to 135 fee t.