Morning journal and courier., 1892-05-31
FORTS HALE AND WOOSTER.

Historic Names Dear to America na-
 The Renowned Names of Patriots
 Rehecting ImPerishable Lustre on
 Cannecticut-An Appeal-The Nam.
 ing of Two Of the New Parks.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER.
 Hearing that committee has been ap- pointed to name the two picturesque parks located on the east shore of our beautiful harbor, the query which comes to my mind is, can there be more appropriate names than "Wooster'. and Hale, ,"Connec. ticut's martyred patriots of the revolution ary war, who were both born in this state and graduates of Yale college and died, in their country's causei
 The site of these beautiful elevations. now emparked, is a portion of the ancient reservation of the Quinnipiac Indians, and every decade since their sale to the East Haven farmers they have been called by different names. The Fort Wooster hill was called Fort hill, Grove hill, Futile hill and Beacon hill, and has been char tered on the typographical and hydro graphical publications of the United States since 1S14-15 as Fort Wooster, having op it's summit the ruins of the ancient reyolu- tlonary fort (which succeeded tho earlier one ot the lndians), which during the Brit ish invasion of New Haven, July 5, 1779. was occupied by Major General Tryon with part of the second division of the inyad- ing army as his headquarters, while Brig adler General Garth with the first diyision held the town.
 The high land or northern park flsuked by the ruins of Fort Wooster-let it be called Fort Wooster park; and can there be more appropriate name for the lower park than Fort Hale park, a portion of which the United States government has allowed the public to use under proper re- strictions until again needed, as it may be in time of war garrisoned for national de- fense!
 The former name, Wooster, commemo- rates the name of the gallant Major Gen eral David Wooster, the sailor and soldier who commanded Connecticut colony shin of war and assisted at the capture of Louisburg, going after it's surrender in command of cartel ship to London. where his name was gazetted and he was commissioned a captain of a British regiment. The captainoy he re- signed on the breaking out of the reyolu- tionary war. During the whole French and Indian seven years' war he was colo nel in the service of the Connecticut colo ny and after the subjugation of the Cana das in 176O he retired to mercantile pur- suits. He was later appointed his Britan- n1c ma5esty's collector of customs at the port ot New Haven, and during the dark days or the revolution he was of the coun- Gil of Safety and major-general of the mil itia of the province. When the WAT broke out General Wooster was the first in tbe field and marched his Connecticut Conti- nentals to New York, compelling the Royal Governor Tryon to flee on board the fripate "Asia," then lying in North river, and 'tis said, on his account Tryon was very glad to take his revenge when he visited New Haven a few years later.
 Wn1ie wooster had gone to the assist ance of the neighboring province of New York, ne then being . major-general of militia, he suffered a humilistion few off. cers would have submitted to. tbis heina the appointment of his junior, Brieadier Putnam, by the Continental congress over him to the rank of major-Reneral, a "snub" which he accepted only through his true loyal zeal for his country's ser vice. He was soon ordered to northern New York under Major General Schuyler and although both true and loyal to their country, but not fraternizing, Wooster was while in command at Montreal to submit to humiliations of which his bieo- rsPner speaks and which is rehearsed in the pages Of American revolutionary his tory.
 The Fort Hale territory and it's sur roundings has been called Harrison rock. the Palisades, the Black rock and the Par. dee and Gregson farms. Upon it, since early times, evidences of fortifcstions are still sxtant, and here tho Rock fort. manned by section of a company of mattrosers (artillerymen) nineteen men and three pieces of artillery, recorded one of the most brilliant actions of the revolution, holding iu bay the landing of Tryon's invading force until driven out by the enemys field piece on tho Palisades or Forbes bluff
 The latter name Hale also commemorstes Hale, also graduate of Yale college. While captain of company of the Connecticut line he was approached by his general for Washington to conduct an espionage into the British lines at New York and notwithstanding the great hazard attached thereto he volunteered in the cause of his was captured and executed with out trial. and for his life the British major, Andre, atoned on the gallows.
 Andre was immediately graven on marble monument at Westminster, while | the memory of the lamented patriot | martyr, Hale, whose only regret was that | he had not another life to lose in the cause | of his country, received hardly any notice | until the new Black rock fort, which was completed in 1915, received its name rom the United States government, as Fort Hale.
 For these reasons, supported by others oo numerous to mention, it seems emi- ,ently fit here to suggest that these two patriot martyrs names be still continued md not displayed by others of more re- ent date and of less significance.
 N H T I