Three Huzzahs!!! Membership Renewal

I would like to thank The renewal notices have all of the Color Guardsmen been sent out and are coming due in both the Connecticut for the 2006 season. Please renew Line CTSSAR and the New and continue to support the many England Contingent SAR activities that the state society and for a terrifi c 2005 Campaign. our active branches participate in. The Color Guards participated The dues for CT have been in 36 events this year which raised for the fi rst time in over 13 included Revolutionary War years. This small increase of $2 will school programs, parades, help the society to keep our current reenactments, ceremonies, level of excellence. grave markings, encampments, etc. This has also been a great year for You can pay by check as bringing attention to the Sons of the American Revolution through the always or pay online via our secure numerous television, magazine and newspaper articles on both Color Guard web site. While you are online you and Society activities. can purchase some of the colonial CTSSAR Color Guard membership has been increasing year by year, toys and other products we now primarily because of the New England Contingent. The Connecticut Line offer. All the proceeds from these CTSSAR can now muster over 30 compatriots in uniform, when we combine sales go towards the state society the three existing Branch Color Guards of Putnam, Wolcott and Huntington. and our historic properties. This past season the CTSSAR Color Guards have been very active Continued on page 3 CTSSAR Ranks High ’s Departure Site According to the numbers After the CTSSAR meeting on September 17th, the spot that our state released by headquarters for the hero Nathan Hale Congress, CT is towards the top. departed from for We are the largest state his ill-fated spying society in New England with mission for General 608 members which puts us over Washington was Massachusetts by 200+. formally marked We have a long way to go to in Norwalk. This surpass the largest which is Texas happened due to the with 2,458 members. CT ranks as tremendous efforts the 16th largest SAR society out of a of Ed and Madeleine total of 57 societies. Eckert combined With a little bit of a with help from the recruiting effort, we could easily City of Norwalk. surpass a few more state societies. President’s Corner The Connecticut Line October 2005 Our next State Meeting will be held on Saturday, November 12th, at the Bulkeley House in New London. I have learned that the Bulkeley House www.ConnecticutSAR.org is an old 1790 tavern/sea captain’s house. Rumor has it that once spent the night there. I also understand that the food is delicious Editor Stephen Shaw and that they serve “huge portions”. This meeting is being held in honor [email protected] of the 227th Anniversary of a winter encampment in Connecticut. Contributors During the winter of 1778-1779, three brigades of the Continental Ken Buckbee Army, commanded by Gen. , set up winter quarters in what is Todd Gerlander now Putnam Memorial State Park in Redding, Connecticut. This location Tim Jacobs was chosen so that this portion of the Continental Army could help to Stephen Shaw observe and contain the British in New York City while protecting us from possible invasion via Long Island Sound. The Continental Army also settled Submissions two other camps that winter, one in the “Highlands” of New York and the Please send any material to: other in Middlebrook, New Jersey. In this way we had New York City Stephen Shaw surrounded. PO Box 411 The encampment at Redding is considered by some to be East Haddam, CT 06423 860-916-1804 “Connecticut’s Valley Forge”. The men built huts to sleep in but they [email protected] suffered from the winter weather, and a lack of food, clothing, blankets, and pay. Joseph Plumb Martin, a private in the 8th Connecticut Regt., recorded Deadlines in his journal: “We settled in our winter quarters at the commencement of the Jan. 1st Mar. 1st new year and went on in our old Continental Line of starving and freezing. Aug. 1st Oct. 1st We now and then got a little bad bread and salt beef (I believe chiefl y horse- beef for it was generally thought to be such at the time). The month of January was very stormy, a good deal of snow fell, and in such weather it was mere chance if we got anything at all to eat”. One report shows that 162 executed, Gen. Putnam made sure men in Hazen’s Regt. were “unfi t for duty for want of shoes”. every soldier in the camp marched On December 30th, the men of Huntington’s Brigade armed by and looked at the two dead men themselves and threatened to march to Hartford to demand help from the so that they might think twice before Legislature. Gen. Putnam addressed the men stating: “My brave lads, committing these offenses. whither are you going? Do you intend to desert your offi cers, and to This past October 5th, invite the enemy to follow you into the country? Whose cause have you eight members of the CTSSAR been fi ghting and suffering so long in - is it not your own? Have you no Color Guard participated in the property, no parents, wives, or children? You have behaved like men so far dedication ceremonies opening - all the world is full of your praises - and posterity will stand astonished the new Pavilion/Visitor Center at your deeds, but not if you spoil all at last. Don’t you consider how at Putnam Memorial State Park in much the country is distressed by the war, and that your offi cers have not Redding. They fi red a three-volley been any better paid than yourselves? But we all expect better times, and musket salute in honor of the event. that the country will do us ample justice. Let us all stand by one another, Governor Rell was also present at then, and fi ght it out like brave soldiers. Think what a shame it would be the ceremony. for Connecticut men to run away from their offi cers.” With this Putnam Mark your calendar now and successfully brought the mutinous men to order. However, one soldier who try to join us at the Bulkeley House was being held for his actions in the affair attempted to escape that night and on Saturday, November 12th! was shot dead by the sentinel. Spying and desertion were other problems that had to be dealt with. In February 1779, two men were executed in the camp on what is still known Kenneth A. Buckbee as Gallows Hill. John Smith, a soldier in the 1st Connecticut Regt., was President - CTSSAR found guilty of desertion and he was sentenced to be shot to death. Edmond (860) 496-1562 Jones, formerly a Ridgefi eld resident, was found guilty of being a spy and [email protected] he was sentenced to death by hanging. Gen. Putnam ordered that both death sentences be carried out on the same day. After Smith and Jones were both in the Continued from page 1 New Publication Upcoming Events State, and helping our Compatriot brothers in the New England Scheduled for release CTSSAR Meeting Contingent with events throughout in April/May 2006, is a new November 12th the New England District such publication to honor the men Bulkeley House New London, CT as Patriot’s Day and the Battle and women of the American of Bunker Hill. The Color Guard Revolutionary War. Common was also key in the success of our Docent Appreciation Dinner Patriot: The American Societies’ Captain Nathan Hale November 16th Revolutionary War Magazine 250th Birthday Events both at our Radisson Hotel strives to entertain, educate and pay New London, CT Schoolhouses and at our Ceremonies homage to these brave veterans as throughout the State. The New well as bring together descendants CTSSAR Meeting England Contingent set a new February 18th participation record of 30 members of Common Patriots. To learn more about the at the Hale event. In September the CTSSAR Annual Meeting Common Patriot visit the site at Connecticut Line CTSSAR served April 22nd as Color Guard for the Ceremonies www.CommonPatriot.com. The at Fort Griswold, and in October publication is currently seeking The complete schedule is at: at the dedication ceremonies for articles on men and women who www.ConnecticutSAR.org the new visitor’s center at Putnam served in the war, how life was If your event isn’t listed, you can Memorial State Park (the Putnam during the war, how you discovered submit it on our web site. Branch Color Guard was named the your ancestor, why did you join offi cial militia regiment of the Park SAR or DAR, and the American Schoolhouse Project in 2000). Revolutionary War today. In 2006 the CTSSAR Color The plan for the museum Guard and the Historic Sites & Patriotically, project for both Nathan Hale Celebrations Committee will be T.M. Jacobs, Editor & Publisher Schoolhouses which we own and focusing on the 230th Anniversary operate is being wrapped up now. of Connecticut’s “Declaration of Independence”, June 18, 1776. After a lot of hard work by many Connecticut Independence Day Do You Want to Help? the last step is to get estimates is being planned for Sunday, from various contractors so we can Then simply sign up with have a solid budget. We need a June 18, 2006 at the War Offi ce. SNET/SBC. If you are already a complete package for when we start Highlights of this event will include SNET/SBC customer then it doesn’t a reading of the proclamation cost you any more. to approach foundations for more by Gov. Trumbull (Compatriot The CTSSAR is participating funding. Russell Wirtalla) and a wreath in the SNET/SBC Community To date Connecticut SAR laying ceremony at Gov. Jonathan Connections program. Now, when compatriots and others have donated Trumbull, Sr.’s tomb. you sign up with SNET/SBC for over $12,000 towards the project. Compatriots who are all your long-distance calling - or This is a good start but we have a interested in learning more about confi rm that you’re already using long way to go. We are a non-profi t SAR Color Guard membership, SNET/SBC All Distance, the so your donations are deductible. Connecticut SAR will get 5% of and in fulfi lling the objectives Please send your donations your monthly long distance bill. of our Society through LIVING So far with just over 40 to Connecticut SAR, PO Box 411, HISTORY, please contact me for members participating, we’ve East Haddam, CT 06423. Any more information (860) 872-0438. been handed over $600. The more amount will be helpful and noted at members that participate the better both schoolhouses. Todd L. Gerlander for us and our programs. If you would like a copy of Commander Signing up is easy. Just call the plan when it is completed or SBC/SNET at 1-800-635-7638, or would like to volunteer some time sign up on the web at http://www04. for the project, please send an email sbc.com/content/0,,163,00.html. to [email protected] or Our organization code is # 3585. call 860-916-1804. Sergeant Daniel Bissell Historic Properties

Recently the We had a great season at our three Wadsworth Branch held museums this year as you can see by their meeting in the Oliver our numbers. Ellsworth Homestead 2004 2005 in Windsor. It was a East Haddam 496 907 wonderful luncheon in the New London 1614 2471 home of one of the signers Lebanon 399 439 of the Declaration of Independence. The DAR Longer hours in New London and docents gave a great tour some great Nathan Hale PR helped as they have been since both schoolhouses considerably. 1903. Thank you to all of our docents. Afterwards we held a small rededication ceremony for the Daniel Bissell Monument just up the road. The monument marks the place of Daniel’s birthplace. Ted Macierowski who lives in a new home behind the original house site contacted us a few months ago to let us know that a truck had backed into the monument and caused some damage. Thankfully the damage was minor on the marker, but the cement foundation needed some help. Some branch members repaired the foundation to the marker the SAR had originally placed years ago. Daniel Bissell was a spy for General Washington in New York City during the war and was one of only three patriots who was honored with the Badge of Military Merit

which is now today’s Purple Heart.

www.ConnecticutSAR.org

TEMP - RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE RETURN - TEMP

East Haddam CT 06423-0411 CT Haddam East

PO Box 411 Box PO

Sons of the American Revolution American the of Sons The Connecticut Society of the of Society Connecticut The

The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution ~ Connecticut’s Valley Forge Luncheon ~

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2005

In Honor of the 227th Anniversary of the Winter Encampment of the Continental Army at Camp Reading 1778 - 1779 "Connecticut's Valley Forge", Putnam Memorial State Park, Redding, CT.

Bulkeley House 111 Bank St New London, CT 06320 860-444-7753

11:00 AM – CTSSAR Board of Managers Meeting (All members welcome) 12:00 PM – SOCIAL (Cash Bar available) 12:30 PM – CTSSAR Luncheon (Members and their wives are encouraged to attend) 2:30 PM – Tour of Custom House or Nathan Hale Schoolhouse

Menu Bread & butter Choice of 2 entrees: Sirloin Steak Lobster Ravioli Dessert Coffee or tea

$25.00 Per Person

Luncheon reservations must be received by November 9th ------Name: ______Entree______Entree______Number in your party ______Amount Enclosed ______

Please mail to: Bruce Lyon 200 Luchon Rd Willington, CT 06279

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Connecticut SAR

DIRECTIONS TO BULKELEY HOUSE

From New Haven Take 95 north to exit 83 At the end of the ramp proceed straight onto Huntington Street. At the 4th traffic light take a left onto State Street Follow State Street to the 2nd traffic light and take a right on O’Neil Dr. There will be a parking on your left for public parking. Walk to Bank Street and the Bulkeley House

From Providence Take 95 south to exit 84S Follow Eugene O’Neill Dr into downtown New London At the 2nd traffic light take a left onto State Street Follow State Street to the 2nd traffic light and take a right on O’Neil Dr. There will be a parking on your left for public parking. Walk to Bank Street and the Bulkeley House