Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-04-05

Henry Clinton had sent Benedict Ar
mold to destroy stores, privateers, and
forts. A native of Norwich, Arnold
knew the country and its inhabitants.
About 8 o'clock the troops began to
land in two divisions of 500 men each.
The first, under command of Arnold,
landed on the west side of the harbor
and Immediately moved on the town
of New London. Fort Trumbull was
then only a water battery, and read
lily yielded to a superior force coming
from the land on its unprotected rear.
Capt. Shapley and his men retired in
their boats TO reinforce Fort GriSwold
on the opposite heights. The second
division, under command of Lieut-Col.
Eyre. LANDED at Groton point, on the
east side of the harbor. This force was
to take Fort Griswold, which COM
manded the surrounding country, and
would prevent all operations If held
by the Americans. Meeting no oppo-
sition, they moved rapidly up the hill
in two bodies.
Fort Griswold had a small regular
garrison, but depended on the support
Of militia who responded to alarm
guns fired at the first sign of danger
From its position the surrounding
country was entirely at it's mercy. On
the morning Of the fatal day Lieut.
Col. William Ledyard commander of
the military district of New London
Groton and Stonington, took personal
command of this position as the best
place from which to protect the coun-
try.
When the British fleet appeared
the alarm was fired to call in the mi
litia. The signal was broken by the
enemy. This alarm consisted of two
guns discharged at intervals. Priva-
teers had been in the habit of firing
three guns on entering the harbor
after IA successful cruise. Arnold knew
the signal of the fort and he knew the
habit of the privateeers. BY ordering
third gun, he broke the alarm. Led
yard then sent out two messengers to
tell every militia captain to hurry his
men to the fort But expresses could
my moved rapidly. Only 100 men
were in the fort when the storming
commenced. They were not enough
to man the 81 guns of the fort and de-
pendent batteries While many had
seen service on battlefelds and priva-
teers, a very large number had never
been in action,
A detachment under command of
Col. Eyre halted and prepared for
action behind a ledge of rocks 1870
rods south of the fort; one under com
mand of Maj. Montgomery, behind
Ayery's hill, $50 rods to the southeast.
About 10 o'clock Eyre sent flag to
demand surrender, which was refused
A second flag was sent with tle state
ment that if he had to take the place
by storm, martial law would be put in
force. This was understood to mean
death by bayonet TO all who survived
the storming. Without a dissenting
vote, Ledyard and his officers replied
that the fort would not b. given up,
be the consequences what they might.
The 0bstinaCy of these men is inspir-
ing. If they had surrendered in this
have approved the act. Fort Griswold
was thus made an altar of liberty
1t was II O'Clock when the second
flag returned with Iedyard's answer.
Immediately both British divisions
started, moving rapidly. Capt. Halsey
directed charge Of grape into Eyre's
solid column, clearing a wide space,
killing and wouuding over 20 men,
disabling their leader and scattering
the column. They rallied and re-
turned to the attack, to be repused a
second time M0ntgOmerys column
was approaching from the east, suffer-
ing severely under heavy fire from
the front and east battery Several
times the enemy were repused and
demoralized, once so completely that
the cheers OF the little band rang out
over the hills in triumph to their list
ening homes
But for an accident the fort would
probably not have been taken. See
ing that the position was stronger
than he had supposed. Arnold sent an
officer to Eyre to countermand the
order for an attack This officer was
instructed to make all possible haste
to deliver tho message, that the storm
ing might not be begun But a stray
shot cut the halya.ds Of the flag and il
fell to the ground. Though this was
instantly caught nm and ramon rod
on pike pole, the enemy thought it
had been struck by its defenders and
rallied with determined energy they
swarmed into the ditch and assaulted
the fort on three sides. There was
hard fighting at every point. Cannon
balls and other missiles were hurled
by baud upon those who came near
the walls. Williams and Bailey. who
worked the one-gun battery at the
east were forced to a. for their lives.
One Of the assailants boldly tried to