Connecticut western news., 1881-09-14

wallis, with 1000 men, was hemmed in between the James and York Rivers. Lafayette was in his rear and De Grasse with 25 sail of the line had blockaded the mouths of the two streams. On the 2d of September, while the American army was passing through Philadelphia,
 Clinton dispatched courier vessel to Yorktown bearing warning in cypher to Cornwallis, and advising the latter that every effort would be made to rein force him or "to make every possible diversion in his favor" Later on Clin- ton became thoroughly awakened to the situation, and he dispatched Admiral Graves to attack De Grasse, with nine- teen vessels of the line. Graves was repulsed. Twenty thousand American and French troops were now converging on Cornwallis. Washington was at the head of the Chesapeake awaiting trans portation. Clinton aimed to draw him back, and planned an expedition into Connecticut, the colony that had fur nished the largest quotas to the Conti- mental army, and the home of Washing tons friend and faithful supporter, Brother Jonathan" Trumbull, the famed war Governor of this State.
 Benedict Arnold, "that infamous traitor" had just returned from burn ing Richmond and an expedition into Virginia whose trail was marked with rapine and slaughter. He was selected for the new enterprise, and on the after noon of September 4, 1781, his fleet of English ships, thirtytwo sail, left New York. At 2 o'clock on the afternoon of the 9th they came to anchor off New London under the Long Island shore. New London was the objective point of attack, and was rich and fourishing town for those days and filled with re gently captured spells. Arnold, famil- far with the general contour of the country about this and his native city, Norwich, waited for darkness and the usual southwest wind, hoping to arrive in the harbor at midnight, surprise the garrison, capture the fort and prevent the escape of the shipping, but it was 1 o'clock the next morning before he reached the mouth of the Thames. Then the wind suddenly shifted to the northward and it was 9 o'clock in the forenoon before the transports could beat in to opposite the present site of the Pequot House. The enemy was de- scried from Fort Griswold six hours before and the commandant of the har- Dor, Colonel William Ledyard, was mo- tifed, and the usual signal, two guns, was fired to assemble the militia. Here Arnolds knowledge of the defences of New London stood again in his service. By his direction third gun was fired, which broke the alarm. Colonel Led yard, however, had taken the precaution to send out expresses to the various militia commanders and courier to Governor Trumbull, 8 score of miles to the north. Then he crossed to Fort Griswold from New London, saying as he left his friends, elf I must lose to- day honor or life, you who know me can tell W hich it will be-"
 At ten o'clock in the morning the British troops in two divisions of about eight hundred men landed on either side of the river; Arnold, seeming fear full of the attack upon Fort Griswold, led that on the New London side, with Lieutenant Colonel D yre on the other. Fort Trumbull, then mere water bat tery, was quickly given up to Arnold after the guns were spiked, and the men who manned it fled across to Fort Gris- wold, under galling fire from the British fleet. Seven of their number were captured, but the remainder were warmly welcomed on their arrival at Fort Griswold, for they were experienced artillerists.
 Colonel Eyre, with the Fortieth and Fifty-fourth regiments, landed at East ern Point. From the summit of Town Hill, the highest point in New London, Arnold directed his movements. He sent Eyre the information that but 8 handful of farmers defended the post and bade him to make all haste ia its capture. Impressing little lame boy aS guide the troops proceeded to with in 8 half mile of the fertilization. Then unconditional surrender was de- manded, accompanied by threat of
 storming the defence in case of refusal.
 Col. Ledyards reply was characteristic of the man." I will defend this fort to the last" The messenger retired and
 the final preparations for battle were
 made within the rugged fortification.
 All who desired to leave were given lib-
 erty to do so and not few, thinking
 discretion the better part of valor,
 availed themselves of this opportunity.
 When the gates were closed Col. Led
 yard, who, by the way, was brother of
 John Ledyard, the traveller, found him.
 self in command of 160 men, mostly
 farmers and farmers sons, nerved for
 life and death struggle with the Eng
 fish troops. By this time Arnold had
 gained more advantageous point for
 observation, and with his field glasses
 could see the great strength and almost
 impregnable location of the roughly
 built fortress on Groton Heights, and
 further that a respectable body were to
 defend it. In fact, Fort Griswold's gun
 ners were even then shelling the recent
 ly lost water battery and subjecting his
 troops in New London to severe fire.
 He stood on the lofty tomb of the Win
 throps in the old burial ground and
 through the shimmering summer air
 surveyed the scene. Fearful of a great
 slaughter of his men, he countermanded
 his order to attack Fort Griswold, but