The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-09-09
AT DECATUR's FORT.


 From New London-Decaturs Naval Operations on the Thames in 1913,
 One of the most charmingly located and pleasing historic spots in Connecti- cut Is the moss-groWn and grass swathed ruins of Commodore Decatur's fort, built on the top of Allyn's Noun tain on the east bank of the Thames river below Norwich. A most superb view is afforded from the summit of the mountain for miles in every direction, and on fair day the eye may look over shimmering waters of the Sound quite to the Long Island shore. The fort was built by Decatur during the war of 1912, when his fleet was blockaded in the Thames. It is in the form of an elon- gated flatiron about one-quarter the size and strength of old Fort GrisWold at Groton, further down the river and it's grassy ramparts have been beaten down by storms until they are now low enough to form comfortable seats. A party of prominent residents of Gales Ferry, which is the nearest settlement to the old fort, visited the spot a few days ago and determined to take such steps as will be necessary to keep the walls of the fortification from being
 
 of time, as there now seems danger, and ome necessary repairs will be made on the earthworks at once. The place is an ideal one for summer jaunt. It is readily reached from the Montville station of the Central Yer mont railroad.
 Historic Allyn's Mountain.
 Allyn's Mountain was always an inn portant point in Connecticut's early history. Previous to and during the Revolutionary war in consequence of its commanding position on the Thames river and it's height, it was much sought as a lookout both by the white man and by the aborigines. The an- cient fort of Uncas, the chief of the Mo- hegans, was in full view of it on the other side of the river, and a little way to the north, on the site of what is now Allyn's Point, Robert Allyn, one of the first settlers, built a trading post for traffic with the Indians. Under the mountain by the river side was salt evaporating works, which was made use of during the scarcity of salt in Revolutionary times. On the Allyn land by the side of the mountain (the property has never gone out of Allyn hands) still stands the Robert Allyn house where the bodies of the up-the river victims of the battle of Groton Heights were taken by boat the night following the Arnold massacre. The mournful freight was laid out on the floor of the least room" and remained until friends could remove it. The floor was of white pine and the stains upon it, as made by the blood of the patriots, are shown to this day.
 Decatur on the Thames.
 Decatur's frigates, the United States and Macedonian, and the sloop of war Hornet, were driven into the Thames in June, 1913, by British fleet under Com modore Hardy, and blockeded there un- til the close of the War-twenty-one months. It was expected that the en- emy would enter the river and attack the fleeing ships. Decatur finally with drew his vessels to the rear of Allyn's Mountain, which made fine breast work for them. Then he went to Thomas Allyn, the owner of the noun lain, and obtained from him permission to build the fort, as it was feared the British would try to come up the river and recapture the Macedonian, which was originally taken from the English. The crews of the blockaded vessels worked for many weeks in throwing up the earthworks of the fort. Then three heavy cannon and one carronade from : the ships were hauled up to the fort by means of the united strength of fifty yoke of oxen and that of four hundred willing men. After all was done Deca- fur declared that no British vessel could get near the mountain without heinz destroyed. Decatur's sailors otai r,1 m Hill.'' The fort and the sailor boys were objects of great wonder and admi- ration to the country people, who trooped to see them every Sunday.
 Decatur Fished Here.
 Decatur dropped his vessels down to New London the following December, and was to make an attempt to run Hardy's blockade with them one dark night. when, just before the hour ap- pointed, blue lights were shown about the shores which were supposed to be signals to the British from the traitors among those on land. Decatur was in- dignant and at once and for all time gave up his plan of escaping. The truth of the story of the blue lights was denied at the time, some claiming that if was invented by the Yankee officers to clear themselves of reproaches for ddIeness or accusations of timidity. The vessels were sent even farther up the river than before and Decatur spent much of his time with his trouting rod along the banks of the Great Brook in Groton He was an ardent fisherman. Some entertaining stories used to be told by the old Gales Ferryites of the times of Decatur's blockade. His ships surgeons used to attend patients all about eastern Connecticut, and his off, cers mingled socially with the people. Until recently there were living in Led yard two gray-headed old men who used to earn an honest penny by swim ming off to the ships with bladders of New England rum tied about their necks and shyly handing the contra band liquor up to the imprisoned Jack tars.
 Fourth of July Story.
 The late Guy c. Stoddard of Gales Ferry used to relate Fourth of July story of the blockade that was worth telling It happened while the Decatur fleet was moored off the Ferry. The