D CONNECTICUT Am35 £TATE LIBRARY cbg v . 5 no.2 !onnec5ticut Bicentennial GAZETTE 4 TQ/^CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY ter Oak INTERLIBRARY LOAN CEM.tR VOLUME V NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 1976 Six journeys in Connecticut by Washington were docu­ mented in 1932 by R. D. McAlister, superintendent of Suffield schools. However, Florence Crofut, in her "Guide to the History and Historic Sites of Connecticut," devoted 26 pages to seven trips. Not much is known about Washington's first trip through Connecticut. On Feb. 4, 1756. Col. Washington left Vir­ ginia for Boston to confer with Gen. William Shirley, commander-in-chief of the British forces in the Colonies. He traveled the roads along Long Island Sound to and from Boston. Washington won the favor of Gen. Shirley after he reported on his dispute with a Capt. Dagworthy over the command of the Colonial British forces at Fort Cum­ berland, Va. He also met John Adams who was to urged for the nomination of Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the American forces 19 years later. On June 23, 1775, only 12 days after he accepted the command of the provincial army, Washington left Phila­ delphia for Massachusetts to assume his duties. He and Gen. Charles Lee rode horseback, spending a night in New Haven, where they reviewed a military company of Yale students, then lodged at the house of Isaac Beers. After riding through North Haven, Durham and Mid­ dletown, he stayed in the home of Silas Deane at 203 Main Street, Wethersfield. Washington was so pleased continued on page 2 ARBCC HISTORY SERIES EXPANDS TO 15 George Washington by Gilbert Stuart Connecticut State Library Museum Photographed by Gus Johnson Washington's Journeys In Connecticut Recalled by Sando Bologna George Washington never fought a battle in Connect­ icut nor did he ever bivouac in a Connecticut field. However, he did travel at least six times in Connect­ icut (some historians list seven journeys) and he slept in many homes, some of them pleasing to him, others regarded by him as "not good." A few of the homes are historic museums that are worth visiting on a Bicentennial excursion. The most detailed, and perhaps his most important trip in Connecticut, was his last one in 1789 as part of his Eastern Tour as the new nation's President. He was most widely acclaimed as he greeted old friends, chatted with farmers, and complained about the "hilly, rocky and dis­ agreeable roads," poor accommodations at taverns and inns. He even mentioned in his detailed diaries of the "very see story on page 3 lame discourses" of an Ashford minister. WASHINGTON, continued route and lodged at Squire Cogswell's in Litchfield. Then with Deane, a lawyer, businessman and member of the he went on to New York State. Continental Congress, that in March, 1776, he appointed On his Presidential Eastern Tour, Washington arrived Deane to go to France to buy clothing and arms for in Stamford on Oct. 16, 1789. He observed farmers in 25,000 troops. Deane was the first American of the United the "superb landscape" as they were "busily employed Colonies to represent them in Europe. in gathering, grinding, and expressing the juice of their Washington also visited in Hartford and probably apples." He noted the "destructive evidences of British called on Jeremiah Wadsworth who later became com­ cruelty (that) are yet visible both in Norwalk and Fair- missary general of the Continental Army and one of field." He spent that evening in Fairfield; next morning Hartford's first insurance executives. Washington and his he traveled over roads "not on the whole bad" and "in men dined at the Austin Tavern in Suffield. some places, good," especially in Fairfield and Stamford. The Connecticut Courant gave this item on the visit: While dining in a Milford tavern, he commented that "On Friday last (June 30) passed through this town the boiled dinner was "too poor to eat" and sent it back for the camp at Charlestown, his Excellency, Gen. Wash­ to the kitchen. He settled for bread and milk. ington, appointed by the Hon. Continental Congress Com­ In New Haven, he was greeted by Gov. Trumbull, mander-in-Chief of all the provincial troops in North Lt. Gov. Wolcott, Maj. Samuel Huntington, and New America. He was accompanied by Gen. Lee and a num­ Haven's illustrious Mayor Roger Sherman. He stayed at ber of other gentlemen." the home of Mr. Brown "who keeps a good tavern." He addressed war veterans and state officials and had tea The second half of the trip (some observers call it his at Sherman's new home. Sherman was the only signer third journey) began in Cambridge on April 4, 1776 of the Declaration of Independence who also signed the with New York as his destination. He went to Providence, Articles of Association in 1774, Articles of Confederation, stayed there three days, then proceeded to Norwich, ar­ 1778, and U.S. Constitution, 1787. riving there April 8. He dined, conferred, and slept in the home of Gen. Jedediah Huntington, a wealthy trader From New Haven, he traveled to Wallingford, Durham, and head of the Connecticut militia. Washington also Middletown, and Wethersfield where he was met by a met with Gen. Huntington's son, Jabez, a General in the military escort that led the party to Bull's Tavern, Hart­ Continental Army. Next day, Washington rode to New ford, where they lodged for the night. Washington was London where he slept in Capt. Nathaniel Shaw's Man­ feted by Hartford citizens at Col. Wadsworth's home. He sion, now the home of the New London County Histori­ and his group were to breakfast next morning at the home cal Society. The residence was the Connecticut Naval of Oliver Ellsworth in Windsor. Because of rain, the de­ Office during the war. Capt. Shaw was a master and parture was delayed until 10:30 a.m. However, the Presi­ ship owner; his son, Nathaniel, Jr., was the naval agent dent decided to spend an hour at the Ellsworth Home­ for New London, responsible for the movement of pro­ stead, now a museum of the Connecticut Daughters of visions, arms and ships for the Continental troops. The the American Revolution. Ellsworth was a chief framer Commander-in-Chief also stayed in John McCurdy's of the Constitution and third Chief Justice of the U.S. house in Old Lyme and in the Penfield Home, Fairfield. Supreme Court. On November 7, returning from Massachusetts, Wash­ Traveling from Bergen County, N.J., Washington re­ ington stayed overnight in Ashford. Next day, he wrote turned to Connecticut at Danbury Sept. 22, 1780, passing in his diary: "It being contrary to law and disagreeable through Western Connecticut towns and staying at Jere­ to the people of this state to travel on the Sabbath day— miah Wadsworth home which stood on the site of the and my horse, after passing through such intolerable Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford. He conferred with roads, wanting rest, I stayed at Perkin's Tavern (which, Count Rochambeau on French assistance to the Ameri­ by the bye, is not a good one) all day—and a meeting cans. After the conference, the French and American house being within a few rods of the door, I attended delegations were given formal military farewells. Wash­ morning and evening services, and heard very lame dis­ ington's entourage stayed overnight in the Elm Tree Inn, courses from a Mr. Pond." Farmington. During the 34-mile trek to Hartford on the following Washington spent the next evening (Sunday Sept. 24) day, Washington stopped and chatted with farmers about in the home of Gen. Oliver Wolcott (Connecticut's Lieu­ their crops. After staying in Hartford again, he traveled tenant Governor and signer of the Declaration of Inde­ to New Haven, via Berlin. From New Haven, he rode pendence) on Litchfield's South Street. The home still to Milford, and stayed that night in the home of a Maj. stands as one of Litchfield's most important residences. Marvin "which is not a good house, though the people Washington then traveled through Warren and Kent to of it were disposed to do all they could to accommodate West Point, N.Y. me." He retraced the Litchfield County route on March 4, Washington left Connecticut on Nov. 12 after break­ 1781, stayed overnight in Hartford, and then rode to fast in Stamford. He wrote in the diary that his horses Lebanon where he reviewed the Legion of Duke de were lame. "The badness of the roads, having been des­ Lauzun. He conferred with Gov. Trumbull in the wood cribed as I went, I shall say nothing of them now." frame War Office where some 1,200 meetings of Trum­ bull's Council of Safety were held during the war. Wash­ PRAISE FOR CONNECTICUT PATRIOTS ington slept in the nearby 1730 Trumbull House. Throughout the Bevolution and in the years that fol­ Washington was back in Litchfield on May 18, 1781 lowed, Washington always held in the highest esteem the where he breakfasted in Gen. Wolcott's home, dined at Connecticut patriots who assisted him and the hard- the Elm Tree Inn, Farmington, and lodged at the Joseph pressed Continental Army. He was especially grateful to Webb House, Wethersfield, now a National Historic Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, the only one of the 13 Colonial Landmark, for five days. He discussed with Count governors to side with the patriots; his sons, John, the Rochambeau the strategy of the campaign that led to noted artist and a short-time aide to Washington; and the Yorktown battle and the end of the war.