The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-12-30

Eky- We have noticed the following
incident in several of our exchanges,
and had even placed it upon the pro-
baton hook" for the Echo, when we
came across the refutation of il in the
New London Chronicle; and though it
spoils most romantic story, we think
it best to give both sides. The story
has been following the rounds of the
press at intervals for &e last ten or
twelve years, and is as follows -
At New London, Ct., the following
Inscription is found on grave stone.
The records of ancient Rome or Greece
do not exhibit noblor in tance Of pat
riotism
} On the 3Oth of October, 1872, 1000
English fell with fire and swords; ZOO
Americans defended the fort for whole
day, but in the evening about o'clock,
the commander of the besicged delivered
up his sword to an ] nglishman, who
immediately stabbed him. A line of
powder was then laid from the magazine
$ of the fort to the sea, there to be lighted
, and blow the fortress into the air VIM.
Hoffman, who lay not far distant, with
. three strokes Of the bayonet in his body,
: behind it, said to one of his wounded
G friends Sho was still alive" We will
# endeavor to crawl to this line, and thus
% will we completely wet the powder with
" blood, and with the life that still re-
s. mains in us, save the fort and magazines,
'e and perhaps few of our comrades who
le are only wounded !" He alone had
strength enough to accomplish thi, noble
design. In his 3Oth year he died on
the powder which he overfowed with
his blood. His friends, and seven of
is his wound d companions by that means
n had their lives preserved.
, After this narrative are the following
: words in large capitals:
/" Hear rests William Hoffman,
le The chronicle says the whole story is
~ fabrication" Jonathan Rathbun, of
" Colchester, in short narrative Of rec
'n olleetions published about lS4O, men.
" tions similar incident, IS of curren,
d report after the storming of the fort,
'e but it probably originated in the COM
" mon exaggcration of speech, which in
=. those exciting times represented the
III blood of the wounded as sufficient to
extinguish the train of fire laid by the
British to tlow up the magazine. The
G grave stone mentioned in the newspaper
- story, has not even the slender basis oi
-. poetry or tradition, on which to rest
=, No such inscription is to be found in
- New London or its vicinity. No suct
=, man as William Hoffman is enrolled il
=. any list that has been made of the gar.
4, rison Of Fort Griswold, nor is the mt
:, one that belongs to this neighborhood
- 1t is moreover historically inaccurate il
:, every particular. The battle day wa
+. 9th of Sept. 17Sl-the number of tn
- British assailants 500 instead of 1000
the garrison $50, instead of 700, an
the action lasted about an hour, an
N. not whole day as stated in account
his These and other inconsistencies are s
ce manifest, that at first, the story woul
,cr seem scarcely worthy of refutation, bu
by a neglect in such instances, fctio
may become current, and finally be sub
iv- stituted for history. The denial is like
nd wise so often unnoticed or forgotten tha
er- it has to be repeated everytime fict
ext tious story is resuscitated. 1t is wort
while however, to take some trouble
keep history pure, and also to prcver
vill strangers from being mislcd and froI
The wasting their sympathics on an imagir
lay ary patriot. Since the story OF tn
vi Hoffman inscription has been circulated
instances have occurred of persons visi
ing New London who have CAREFUL
at searched the Burial Grounds, anxious
'cs- behold the last resting place of the hel
that sacrificed himself, as they had bee