The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-16
BRAVE AND UNIQUE
DEFENCE OF NEW HAVEN FROM
 BRITISH INVASION
Object of the Attack in 1z79 and How It Was Met-The Proposed Monu- ment to the Defenders-Funds for This Patriotic Object.

Haven to the British Invasion in 1779 I was in some respects unique in our Revolutionary history. It was the only instance in which the men of a single town unsupported by outside help,
 without military leadership or general military organization, pftted themselves against British army nearly equal in numbers to the whole population of
 the town, and by their activity, persis-
 tence and valor, prevented the enemy from accomplishing it's principal pur-
 pose.
 i At Lexington and Concord Names 1 invested Witl. immortal glory) the 1 whole surrounding country took part 1 in the fighting, greatly Outnumbering
 the invaders, but did not prevent the destruction of stores, W~.Cn was their l object. At the raid on Danbury there i was a similar general uprising with eX- 1 perienced military leaders to direct the l opposition, but the purpose of the eX- l petition was effected. The invasion of
 New Haven was for the purpose of 1 burning the town, as Fairfield and l Norwalk were burned immediately af-
 terwards and New London two years l later. Had the enemy carried the place with sudden rush, as they expected to
 the yeXpected to do, it's destruction
 would have been inevitable, and the 1 disastrous effects of that calamity would probably have been felt by this 1 community even down to the present | day It was the check which the hot test of July suns, and the exhaustion and delay that were thus occasioned
 which saved the town, angered though 1 the invaders were by the opposition 1 they had met with. The British com i mander, Tyron, says in his official re-
 port: Gen. Garth got into the town 1 but not without opposition, loss, and
 fatigue, and reported to me at half
 past one that he should begin the con-
 flagaration which he thought 1t merit
 ed, as soon as he had secured the l bridge between us at Neck Creek" But 1 in the meantime, as Tyron goes on to
 explain, the townsmen had occupied advantageous ground with heavier can-
 non" which so commanded Neck 1 Bridge that it's seizure was impracti-
 cable. The patriots were now collect | ing on all sides. Grath was hemmed in; cut off from his supports; with no
 way of escape except by water, and his speedy retreat to his ships was i'm
 perative. The invaders hastily fled in
 the night, leaving New Haven intact,
 and they never troubled it again. It
 was virtual British defeat, and it is
 the only defeat of a splendid British army ably led, fully equipped and in prime condition, effected by the strat- egy and valor of half it's number of un-
 disciplined civilians. which is recorded
 in our Revolutionary annals.
 It is strange that this achievement l of New Haven patriots has not con
 ferred wider renown on our city. And
 it is not altogether creditable that one
 reason for this lack of general appre- citation and honor has been the defici-
 ency of local pride on the part of New
 Haven itself. We have not done jus
 tioe to the memory of our gallant fore
 fathers in neglecting so long to com
 memorate by some permanent menor-
 ial an event so honorable in our local history, and so beneficial even to the 1 present generation The Defenders
 Monument Association has been organ
 ized to remove this reproach and for
 that purpose we appeal to the patriot | ism, the public spirit and the gratitude
 of our fellow citizens. We apeal not
 merely to the town-born and those
 whose family names and histories are identified with the stirring event to be l comnlemoraited, but to all other resi-
 dents of our city who feel a pride in 1 her glory or an interest in her adorn-
 ment, Shall that appeal be madein 1 vain?
 1 When we consider the population and 1 wealth of our city, the sum required to
 erect the proposed beautiful and inspir- ing monument which will stand as a | lasting object lesson in patriotism and
 civic virtue to our children and our childrens children, seems inconsider~
 able indeed. If every one who reads
 these lines with approval and syn1a- 1 tn should make even a trif1ing contri- i button, the whole amount required
 would speedily be raised; and if but a.
 few generous spirits among those of l abundant means would give such sums
 as they can easily spare without incon- l venence, the same result would be i'm mediately accomplished. But this a1o-
 peal to our fellow citizens is not with
 reference to their devotion into classes
 or social sets. It is to each and every
 individual who feels a patriotic impulse,
 that he respond to the call according to
 the spirit that is in him. And it is not
 to our male citizens only. The women
 of New Haven in 1779 were as ardent
 patriots as the men, and their success
 sors of to-day have given ample proof
 that they have not degenerated in that
 regard. We confidently look to the la
 dies for their cordial sympathy and
 cooperation in behalf of our move
 ment
 As has been already stated in the public prints, the payment of one dol-
 liar or more will constitute the donor
 8 member of the Defenders Monument l Association, and the payment of one hundred dollars or more an honorary
 member. After the monument is com
 pleted two lists of the contributors
 will be prepared, arranged according to the amounts of their contributions, and | those giving the sam eamount in the order of the dates. The monument will thus commemorate not only those of a past generation who fought in the
 cause of patriotism and Ne wHaven,