New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-06
ARNOLD'S RAID.


CAPTURE or FoIT GRIswoLD-MURDER OF
COLONEL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF TIE GAR
EIsON-BEIGEAT OF THE BRITISH.
lFROM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIHUNE.l
NGW-LoNDON, Conn. Sept. j.-'The people of Con-
neetcut are celebrating of the few actions of the
Revolution which have a special and local interest.
The event which they commemorative raid upon
NewLondOu. made nder the command of Benedict
Arnod-haS also, in consequence of his particpa-
ton IN the affair, taken prominent place in Revolu
tionary annals The maligu spirit which he had
manifested, after joining the British army, did
not find sufficient field for its venomous actiyi ty
during the operations in Virginia and to round his
cecord he needed to turn his dishonOred sword
against the bosom of the State which had given
HIN birth. 1t is true that he had left Richmond in
ruins, but he had failed to awaken any high degree
of confidence in Clinton; and when CORVALLIS
arrived at Petersburg Arnold removed from
the command which had devolved upon him in
consequences of the death of General Phillips and
sent back to New York. He was only seven days
at the head of the British forces in Virginia and
CORVALLIS fastened to gel rid of him with
nlacrity which showed how little he respected
by his new associates Clinton hardly thanked
CORVALLIS for returning to his camp so utterly
despised by every true soldier and he had personal
for disliking a man who had represented to
the Ministry that the American posts in the High
lands might have been taken i'll few days by
regular attack" But the traitor upon Gin
tons hands and it was necessary to employ him, if
the bargain by which he secured was not to be
considered at home a bitterly bad While
Arnold was IN Virginia, he had attempted r CORE
spondence with General Lafayette. His letter had
been scornfully returned. The gallant young
Frcnchman had refused TO enter into any negotia-
tons with the traitor respecting the exchange of
prisoners. A British officer with whom the Ameri-
can officers would have nothing to do was not, as
soir
Nevertheless, Clinton sent him off to Connecticut,
apparently for the sake of giving him something to
do. There were reasons, also. why NewLondon
should be attacked. 1t was resort of prvateers
and a depot for the West India trade.
Arnold with his troops. crossing from Long Island
the 9th of September. 1871, landed on each side
of New-London. The fleet consisted of twenty
four sail. By many, the British forces were sup
posed to be pundering party after stock Alarm
guns at fired but it is stated that the
discharge of artillery in the harbor had of been
30 frequent that little attention was paid to
these signals. handful of the citizens who were
equipped marched toward the point at which it
was supposed that the enemy would effect land
ing. ami manGuvred On the adjacent heights At
o'clock the British landed in two divisions of
about 800 men each, of them at Browns farm,
the lighthouse, the other at Groton Point
The former marched up the roads, throwing out
large flansing parties. These the inhabitants at
different points of the route attacked with some
spirit and resolution if not electuay. The main
body of the British forces proceeded to Newton
don. They first fired the stores on the beach and
afterward the dwelling houses on the mill cove.
bat they were CALLED by the scattering fire of the
Americans that they soon began to retire The fire
communicated to the shipping at the wharveS and
number OF vessels were burned. It was 4 O'clock
when tue British began to quit the town hurriedy,
being pursued and seriously annoyed by the nhabi-
tanis Five of the British were killed and about
twenty wounded Eight prisoners were taken by
the Americans, including Messiah captain. The
Americans lost four killed. and ten or twelve
wounded none mortally.
The burning of w-London, however was very
complete and disastrous. In this and the subse-
quent contlagraton on GrOton Bank, it was esti-
mated that more than hundred families were
deprived of shelter. and most of them of all their
property.
AS the British advanced Fort Trumbull not being
capable of defence on the land side was evacuated
The small garrison crossed the river to Fort Girls
void on GrotOn Hill. The last named fort had
garrison of only about hundred and twenty
men, mostly militia hastily collected under the com
mand of Colonel Ledyard. The defence was a
gallant one and was maintained for forty minutes
when the Tort was carried by storm. the Americans
having lost not more than six men, When Colonel
Ledyard was finally compelled to surrender a
massacre began, at once barbarous and contrary to
all the laws OF civilized warfare The great loss
which the British had experienced in stormipp the
fort appears to have exasperated their commander
beyond all bounds of reason The attack had been
led by Lieutenant Colonel Eyre who early receIved
amortal wound, dying afterward on board one of
The ships. His successor. Major MONTGOMERY fell
mortally wounded while mounting the parapot
The command then devOlved upon Major BromGeld
Tory. Two hundred of his men had been disabled
before the fort was carried. He Was greatly
enrageh and cried out on entering the place who
commands this garrison r. to which Ledyard, giving
up his sword at the same time, replied did sir
but you do now" Bromfield took the sword and
Immediately plunged it through the body of Led
yard killing HIM instantly. Then began the murder
OF the garrison Seventy-three were killed thirty
wounded. and about forty carried off prisoners
Colonel William Ledyard thus brutally slaughtered
was an uncle of John Ledyard the celebrated Amer-
can traveller. He was born in Groton, Conn. about
i|oo' ana was colonel of the Connecticut militia
specially savage action committed by the British
troops after the surrender of Fort Griswold is re-
corded BY order of their officers they loaded wagon
with the wounded Americans and set the vehicle
OH from the top of the long and steep Groton Hill
HE wagon went a considerable distance with great
force. TILL 1T was suddenly stopped by q tree So
great was the shock to the wounded and bleedino
men that some of them died Instantly The officers
ordered the men to lire on the wagon while it was
running
Having got possession of Fort Grswold the
British fired a number of dwelling houses and stores
on Groton Bank They reembarked at sunset, car
rying oil their New London and Groton prisoners
ABOUT fifteen sail of vessels with effects of the peo
PIE OF New-London, on the approach of the enemy
retfeated up the river and were saved Four