The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-17
STATUE OF MINUTE MAN UNVEILED AT COMP0 BEACH, COMMEMORATING
 PURSUIT OF BRITISH UNDER TRYON

graph or telephone as news carriers. The few people who lived in scattered houses, and small villages from Com DO Beach to Danbury. were almost at the beginning of civilization in Fair field county. Fortunately they were sturdy, self-reliant, simple in their habits, healthy, honest. God-fearing, and determined to throw off the Brit ish yoke, The occasion of the British coming from New York to Compo Beach was for the purpose of destroy ing the military stores which had been deposited in Danbury. It came to the knowledge of Gen. Tryon that a large quantity of these stores were in Dan bury. and he determined to destroy them. So he set sail from New York with 21 vessels and some 2,O00 soldiers, besides a number of field pieces. The voyage was remarkably long one, end he did not arrive in the off1ng, off Norwalk Islands, until Friday, April 25, where he anchored at 4 D. m., at what was then called Cedar Point but is now Compo Beach. in Westport For it should be borne in mind that the town of Westport did not exist as such, having been incorporated in 1885,
 being formed of portions of Fairfield, NorWalk and Weston. In 17S6 there were but five houses on both sides of the Saugatuck river, where now there is a continuous village. COmpO Is a smooth and beautiful elevation about
 
 port.
 By 10 o'clock at night the troops arrived, Gen. Tyron had landed two brigades of some 1000 men. He start ed on his march for Danbury the next morning. Saturday. arriving in that town at or 3 o'clock D. m. AS soon as the troop ships were discovered the inhabitants took the alarm. and in very short time the whole country side was aroused. Men began to march 4~I frff al and Bedding, and Gen. Silliman who was in the vicinity of Danbury, rais- ed 500 militia men and after the burn ing of that town. began the notable pusuit of the British to Compo Beach. It is said in Barber's Connecticut His torical Collection, page 412, that as the British marched up Compo street, when in the vicinity of State street, near the Congregational church. seven or eight of them were killed. It is a fact that skirmishing began at once, but the Americans being greatly in the minority did not. being on a general enga cement. They hardly had time to collect their forces before Danbury was destroyed.
 The British entered Danbury about next day, Sunday, fearing that their retreat might be cut off. they rallied early in the morning and set fire 10 several stores and buildings. and at1 once began their march out of the town. Nineteen dwelling houses. the meeting house, and twenty-two stores and barns were consumed The stores for military purposes destroyed con- sisted of 5000 barrels of pork, 1000 of flour, several hundred of beef. 1000 bushels of grain, besides rum. wine, rice and army carriages The losses in money value to the 19 owners of dwelling houses was S59.310. Many of the sufferers were reduced to extreme want.
 The outrage of burning Danbury marched night and day. in the rain, to engage in the pursuit of the enemy on its retreat. Col. Cook. in command at Danbury. hearing of the landing at Compo. sent Lambert Lockwood to Gen. Silliman, telling him there was no ammunition at Danbury. and re- Questing orders. The messenger met the British troops near Ridgefield, eight miles below Danbury. He was taken prisoner. During the pursuit, after the fire, Gen. Silliman was join ed at Bedding by Maj. Gen. Wooster and Brig. Gen. Arnold. A heavy rain in the afternoon retarted the march of the American troops. It was Il D. m. before the American troops reached Bethel It was decided to attack the British on their retreat. The next morning it rained. but the men were early in motion. At a. m. the news came that the British had taken the road leading to Norwalk. Gen. Woes ter pursued them and smart skirmish- ing ensued Gen. Wooster received a wound in the groin which soon proved fatal. Gen. Arnold marched across country to Ridgefield. reaching that town at Il o'clock. He had under him 500 men. The enemy soon advanced in column with three field pieces in front and rear. and flank guards of each. n sued for an hour, but the Americans were obliged to give way Gen. Ar mold had his horse shot under him. The enemy left 30 dead and wounded on the field. Col. Gold and several privates were killed. Gen. Arnold or dered a stand to be made at Sauga- tuck bridge. At g a. m. 800 men col lected at the Saugatuck bridge with three field pieces. under command of Lieut.. Col Oswald. A field piece and field, and 60 Continental troops and three companies of volunteers arrived from New Haven. Arnold and Sulli- van took a position some two miles above the bridge. The enemy appear ed, were attacked in the rear. wheeled I to the left and forded the Saugatuck river three miles above the bridge. The Americans followed but were not able to overtake the enemy Skir- m1shing continued for three hours, and at last the British gained the high hill of Compo. Several attempts were made to dislodge them but without eff feet. Fresh troops covered their em- barkation, and a little before sunset the fleet weighed anchor and stood across the Sound for Huntington, L. I. It is judged the Americans lost 60 l killed and wounded-one Lieut. Col onel, one Captain, four subalterns and Dr. David Atwater. The enemy lost 120, and 20 prisoners