The citizens of connecticut, unaided by any other colony, had taken the initiative in conquering the forts on lake. New london has one of the deepest harbours on the atlantic coast. The raid was a success, but the connecticut militia stubbornly resisted british attempts to capture fort griswold across the thames river in groton, connecticut. The town of new london proved particularly proficient at this endeavor. Benedict arnold orders burning of new london history. Revolutionary war the battle of new london, september 6, 1780 in connecticut. On september 6, 1781, british forces under general benedict arnold and lieutenant colonel edmund eyre landed at new london on both banks of the thames river. V battle of groton heights was a battle of the american revolutionary war fought on september 6, 1781 between a small connecticut militia force led by lieutenant colonel william ledyard and the more numerous british forces led by brigadier general benedict arnold and lieutenant colonel edmund eyre. It was 240 years ago this year, in 1776, that the colonies declared their independence from british rule. Seabury was born near new london on november 30, 1729, and had lived in connecticut for most of his life except for several turbulent years during the american revolution when he fled to a more loyalistfriendly part of new york because of his outspoken opposition to american independence. Re organized 1 januaryapril 1777 at norwich to consist of eight companies from new london, windham, and hartford counties. Connecticuts naval office at new london during the war of the american revolution. Each tour links revolutionary sites in a fresh and original way through layered narratives around key figures, such as ethan allen and benedict arnold.
The battle of groton heights was a battle of the american revolutionary war fought on. Introduction to connecticut in the revolution american wars. The american revolution was highlighted with many actions, ferocious and swift, but the new london raid was distinguished by the incredible fact that the enemy captain, born but 12 miles away, had. Introduction to connecticut in the revolution as found in the record of connecticut men in the military and naval service during the war of the revolution, 17751783. Buried on union corners cemetery, at the corner of veley road and presbyterian road on the east side of the house on the border of mt. Units and men provided during the american revolution. You can recall those remarkable days of long ago at any or all of the connecticut revolutionary sites. Printed by timothy green, printer to the governor and company, 1776. The battle of new london the american revolutionary war. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era. Lieutenant general sir henry clinton ordered arnold to raid the port of new london, connecticut in an unsuccessful attempt to divert general george washington from marching against lord cornwalliss. New london was burned along with several ships, but many more ships. Recovery room restaurant home new london, connecticut.
On that day 1,700 british, hessian, and loyalist troops, under the command of general benedict arnold, achieved the last british victory of the revolutionary war. Newspapers included the connecticut gazette of new haven, the colonys first newspaper 1755, and the connecticut hartford courant 1764, the oldest american newspaper in continuous existence. Connecticut experienced significant debate, some of it very bitter, between patriot and loyalist advocates in the years before the outbreak of hostilities. A rendezvous of privateers during the american revolution, it was attacked and burned september 6, 1781 by a large british force under the command of benedict arnold. Little military action occurred in connecticut, but there were skirmishes at stonington in 1775, danbury in 1777, new haven in 1779. The battle of fort griswold because of its significance in privateering during the revolution, new london, like many connecticut towns in fairfield county and along the shore, was raided and nearly burned to the ground on september 6, 1781 during the battle of groton heights. One of the original colonies and one of the six new england states, connecticut is located in the northeastern corner of the country. New london civil war monument to be rededicated new. Battle of new london map on september 6, shortly after dawn, arnold led 800 regular british soldiers into the new london harbor at the mouth of the thames river.
New london connecticut sons of the american revolution. The daughters of the american revolution is an organization with a deeply rich history while also being truly relevant in todays world. Old town mill, new london, connecticut another walk in. Full text of record of service of connecticut men in the.
Reorganized on july 11, 1779 to consist of 9 companies. Benjamin tinkham marshall, a modern history of new london county, connecticut, new york, new york. The american revolution was highlighted with many actions. Commissioned by the connecticut historical society and originally printed in 1889, it was revised and expanded in 1901. It is located at the mouth of the thames river in new london county, southeastern connecticut for several decades beginning in the early 19th century, new london was one of the worlds three busiest whaling ports, along with nantucket and new bedford, massachusetts. Units should be placed into either the line for those supplied to the continental army, or the militia for statelocal forces. Under authority of the adjutantgeneral of connecticut. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers.
In 1815, a gala ball was held at the courthouse to celebrate the conclusion of the war of 1812 and the lifting of the blockade of new london harbor. Two descendants of a mansfield man who joined a union regiment in the civil war 150 years ago are inviting residents to a rededication ceremony at a new london monument. Nathan hale school house new london, ct, new london, ct. The original millstones were shipped directly from england and spent centuries grinding local farmers corn and oats. Nathan hale school house new london, ct posts facebook. Including the mercantile letter book of nathaniel shaw. On that day 1,700 british, hessian, and loyalist troops, under the command of general benedict arnold, achieved the last british victory of the revolutionary war, committing acts of urban terrorism and slaughter that would define those communities for years to come. New london archives journal of the american revolution. When fighting started in 1775, connecticut patriots earned acclaim, from benedict arnold before he turned traitor at the seizure of fort ticonderoga, to israel putnam at bunker hill. New london, city, coextensive with the town township of new london, new london county, southeastern connecticut, u. James palmer connecticut sons of the american revolution. Other soldiers turned their attention to fort griswold, an american installation located across the river from new london on groton heights. More than 930,000 women have joined the organization since it was founded close to 125 years ago.
Connecticut revolutionary war military lists, 177583. Commission of samuel selden as colonel of a regiment now ordered to be raised in this colony, and to join the continental army, hartford, 20 june 1776. The society was founded april 2, 1889, our purpose is to keep alive the memory of men and women who fought or gave service or independence in the american revolutionary war. Feelings ran high in connecticut, which would later become known to gen. K40 new london harbor looking connecticut american. New londons harbor was the center of connecticuts wartime naval activity for the duration of the eightyear american revolution. Connecticut was essential to supplying the war effort during the american revolution because its coastline harbored privateers that captured almost 500 british ships and more importantly, vast stores of food, supplies, and ammunition. John jenkins 7 nov 1751 new london, connecticut, british colonial america. Recovery room restaurant 445 ocean ave, new london, connecticut 06320 rated 4. Signed by jonathan trumbull, captaingeneral and commander in chief of the english colony of connecticut and george wyllys, secretary. It was assigned to the on april 3, 1777 to the 1st connecticut brigade, an element of the highlands department.
One major revolutionary war battle was fought in connecticut. The experience of new london tories and quakers journal. New london, ct 06320 new london county buy connecticut state flags at. From revolution to constitution, connecticut, 1763 to 1818 family history library genealogical records on connecticut in the civil war family history library history of maritime connecticut during the american revolution, 17751783 family history library history of maritime connecticut during the american revolution, 17751783 ancestry.
In 1709 connecticuts first printing press was established there. Connecticut government, people, and industry helped pave. Despite being one of the smallest colonies to participate in the american revolutionary war, connecticut fielded a large number of soldiers. New london, connecticut is a seaport city located at the mouth of. Mariners, whaling and revolutionary spirit new london. Connecticuts naval office at new london during the war of. It is a port on long island sound at the mouth of the thames river. Clinton ordered arnold to attack connecticut forces at new london and capture. Largely free from british occupation and major battles except for raids on danbury, as well as new london and other coastal towns. Connecticuts naval office at new london during the war of the american revolution volume ii of collections of the new london historical society.
Experience americas roads to independence by car or bicycle in nine specially designed tours at revolutionary connecticut. Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. The connecticut society of the sons of the american revolution. Founded by john winthrop the younger in 1646, it was called pequot until 1658. American revolution connecticut state navy revwartalk. Authorized on september 16, 1776 in the continental army as the 4th connecticut regiment. The american revolution hartfords ancient burying ground. General henry clinton, the british commanderinchief in north america, attempted to deal with that problem. Washington and other leaders as the revolutions provision state. This database is a list of those men who volunteered to fight for the colonial cause. New london is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the united states.
The old town mill in new london was one of the first in the united states, built in 1650 by john winthrop jr. Business view magazine interviews representatives from new london, ct, as part of our focus on best practices of municipal governments. Benedict arnold turns and burns new london connecticut. United states of america buy united states of america flags at. He was engaged at the battle of groton heights benedict arnolds attack upon new london, connecticut. Revolutionary war connecticut history a cthumanities. September 6, 1781 was a brutal and terrifying day for connecticut citizens living on both sides of new london harbor, along the thames river.
The division on the new london side, consisted of the 38th regiment, the loyal americans, the american legion, refugees, and a detachment of sixty yagers, who were immediately on their landing, put in motion. The record of connecticut men in the military and naval service during the war of the revolution, 17751783. In the mean time, confused and hasty preparations had been made to. Because the act affected so many people and placed such a heavy tax burden on them, many people became angry. Including the mercantile letter book of nathaniel shaw, jr. Benedict arnold turns and burns new london connecticut history. A revolutionary patriot and wealthy merchant who owned a number of ships used for privateering, new londons nathaniel shaw, jr. The burning of new london sealed his reputation as a public enemy and his name became a synonym in common american parlance for traitor. The regiment was organized between january 1 april 1777 at norwich to consist of 8 companies from new london, windham and hartford counties. Defense of philadelphia campaign fall and early winter, 1777. Despite being one of the nations smaller states, connecticut played an extraordinarily large role in the american war for independence. Little military action occurred in connecticut, but there were skirmishes at stonington in 1775, danbury in 1777, new haven in 1779 and new london in 1781. The following essay was taken from hartford in history. The connecticut state navy was the colonial and later, state navy of connecticut during the american revolutionary war.
Connecticut in the american revolution an exhibition from the library and museum collections of. A portion of the army went into the town, met little resistance and commenced the destruction by fire of goods stockpiled in the waterfront warehouses. New london county, connecticut genealogy genealogy. Authorized 16 september 1776 in the continental army as the 4th connecticut regiment. If the walls could talk, what tales the new london courthouse would spin. When washington came through new london after forcing the british evacuation of boston in spring of 1776, there was a grand assemblage of army and navy. A small force of connecticut militia in the fort was led by lieutenant colonel william ledyard, who believed that reinforcements were on the way and dismissed two orders to surrender from the british. Tapping the scales of justice a dose of connecticut legal history. Connecticut regiments in the continental army american.
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