New-York tribune., 1902-06-29
LEGENDS OF LITCHFIELD
THE CAPTURE OF CAPTAIN
GRLSWOLD.
iHoW A STATUE OF GEORGE III WAS
USED AGAINST HIS FAITHFUL SOL
pIERs-RoMANCE OF ARCH
BISHOP BAILEY.


BISHOP BAILEY.
Two Indians stood on certain hilltop looking
toward the settlement OF Ltchfied. 1t
bright May morning in the year 1722. two three
years after the village had been settled The fores
which nearly filled the landscape before them was
gust beginning to take its summer garb Of green
On the crest Of the hill which Litchfeld stands
could be seen clearing and the rude houses OF
the white 1t far different Litchfield
which they from that which is to be
seen to-day Had they stood this hill
to-day they would have four broad streets
iQuarteriag the town; rambling old houses OF Colo
1ial forms of architecture hiding behind widespread
eims; church spires cleaning against the sky in
the morning light. They would have heard the
schoing scream OF the locomotive, it swung into
the station the of the hill after its crcuitous
climb from Bethel around bold fronted hills and
ishrough leafy tunnels Possibly the scream Of the
whistle as it sounded in their superstitious ears
would have seemed 10 them TO be the voice of
tHobbamocko. the author OF all human plaques
And caiamities.
But there were no thoughts of a future Litchfeld
por OF the God of human distresses in their minds
Jas they stood the hill that bright morning
ieith their guns in their hands. They watched the
.srnoke from the cfimneys ii curleG iaZily up
WARD for few moments, and then began TO pick
their way down the wooded hillside toward the
fwhte mans village.
That morning Captain Jacob Griswold had gone
salone outfeld about mile west of the centre
sof the settlement TO plant corn The field was
trough, and skrted side by the forest.
las he picked his way across the field, alternately
iscraping shallow hole in the broken ground,
iBtooping to drop in four five kernels of
icorn and drawing the earth back over them and
stamping 1t with the blade of the hoe, Indians,
lone with bristling cocks comb ridge of hair and
ffeathers fastened in it, stole toward the edge Of the
ffieid the forest side. They cautiously worked
their way along the edge of the clearing until they
u M rQNN he whit q
Fman was planting. seeretng themselves in the
Hole by hole. he planted his way toward the am
Sf The The Indians The last t. hole & had t been
Unto the little hollow which he had just made when
a uHdn wh9 @ ha d eTPf o4e up Pana b 20 h e
They quickly pnioned his arms with thongs and
With their prisoner they marched in a northerly
night came on they Stopped and kiadled rs with
the evident intention Of remaining where they were
sand foot. they lay DOWN the ground and slept.
awake With much twisting Of the wrist ~lnd and
ns and d e he s on hs in E feg his
so1Iy & RIekns up their guns, he moved away his
lsat down 10 wait for the rise and give him
s1he s points ia. Of the the commas sas ST. o-,,-
1t aey see s lne and for ey M
SET out after him it did not take , them long to
s a h Time su e d hs bis er Rs 9nd
lowed az safe distance although within sight. as
In fs Time So~se the village had been aroused
he Should 90 not Sf have ePe Pa S y he f f6f
tef the following day. Noon came and passed. The
ome. The men Of the Village had gathe1ed @ On On ths h
as yng D Ss heard a9S om I t
ticn of field lying about mile noI invest of the
.criswoid's footsteps ali The way back without
daring % attack him, perhaps in the hope that at
.proach of the settlers who had thus been called to
his assistance Captain Griswod was thus re-
The incident frightened the white people. and
were fortified with palisades. Nevertheless. one
Mariise mood. It was only the next YEAR that
.cne of the villagers was TO be shot dead while
cutting down trees about mile from the town.
The Indians had ceased TO light their signal fires
on the hills the east of the town. their village
resr East Litchfeld had become a memory and the
evidences Of its existence had been buried by the
processes Of time. 10 be dug up in recent years,
when the Revolution broke OUT and the town had
an opportunity to distinguish itself. Through the
Village ran the stage read from the Hudson River
to Hartford and thence to Boston. Washington
had occasion 10 pass through IL two three times.
Near Eas. Litchaeld is unfailing spring. which
prompted Washington to encamp for the night at
that point of his journeys. At another
time dt is said have been in I7so when on his
way meet Benedict Arnold at West Point who
had just parted from Major Andre. he with
AieSander Hamilton STAYED az the house of Oliver
dence These were not his only visits to LitchfeId
town which was a depository of army stores.
prisonment for captured Brifons and the home Of
not few of the prominent in the affairs of
the period it is said that he also slept the
room chs northeast corner-they particular
TO the room-of house built in 17e0 and used as
tavern at the time, which stands IN North-st.
Tradition. that prop for many tale. that
the occasion of his stay ar the tavern he kept
a company OF horse guards waiting for him while
he completed his toilet and lesurely finished his
breakfast AS Il that d crimei Should the
commander in chief. seeing a troop Of horse wait
ing for him outside when he rose dash down the
stairs and out upon the lawn dishabille and
damage his dignity in the eyes of the world to
inform captain of troop THAT he would be ready
possible2 Or should he ruin HIS powers
plans for the capture OF his place Of honor
Father of His Country, by suping down his break
fact as New-York business man does mis- lunch
con for the sake of handful of men who desired
te escort him through the streets of the town for
their gfory!
AZ every one knows, there are hundreds Of houses
IN which Washington has dned and slept. but there
only gilded ieaden statue OF George III
melted into its original elements and cast into
another form TO inspire the British by putting q
little of bis majesty into them.
In the orchard behind the Wolcott house one
morning. in ZIG there unusual activity Be-
meath some kettles upon stones brushwood fires
were cracking Women running back and
forth between the kettles and the house They
oeouxhs out baskets That. from the manner in