Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-04-13
Fort Griswold.

Fort Griswold.
Last summer I spent part of my
vacation in New London with my aunt
and uncle. We enjoyed several pleas
ure trips. I will relate one Of them.
One morning we arose to find the sun
shining brightly in the clear blue and
cloudless sky, which gave promise OF
bright day.
My aunt proposed that we go to
visit Fort Griswold in Groton. 1 was
delighted to see it, as had read and
heard a great deal concerning it.
We sent word to two other cousins
Of mine to go with us. They accepted
the invitation, which made a party of
six.
We started at IL o'clock and took
Gtreet car and rode to State street,
and waited for the ferry at the dock
for about 10 or Is impatient minutes.
The boat arrived and we went on
board. 1t was a short sail, of course,
as Groton is within eyesight of New
London and is separated from this city
by the Thames river.
enjoyed it very much, because
about ten years ago, when I was two
years old, I went on this same ferry
boat Governor Winthrop when 1
went to Groton, but not to see the
monument; and in that lapse of years
.! had not been on the ferry until last
summer.
1t is quite distance between from
the ferry landing to the fort. As we
neared it we could not see the Groton
monument because the thick foliage of
the trees hid it. We walked little
farther and the top of the monument
appeared far up above the trees.
When we reached the grounds sur
rounding it we sank down to rest on
the velvety grass. When we had rest
ed long enough we prowled over the
fort. At that time, in the middle of
July, everything was in full bloom and
the grass and turf on the battlements
were a bright green.
We passed through the dark
trenches which my cousin called the
spook-holes and I agree with her, for
1T gave me the creeps to think Of the
dying and wounded who had once suf-
fered there.
Afterwards we saw the well from
which the soldiers drank and we carved
our names on it with a jackknife. Then
we looked at a small slab of granite
inclosed within an iron fence that
MAJ ked the spot where Colonel Led
yard fell, pierced through the heart
with his own sword in the hands of a
British officer, to whom he had just
surrendered the fort.
In Wadsworth Museum, Hartford
the vest ard shirt worn by Ledyar6
on the day of his death is kept to show
% visitors
We stood on the battlements and
looked the full length of the New
London harbor as far down as Fish
er'S Island.
After we had passed through the
gates of the fort, which looks as if il
| was guarded because of the two large
guns and cannon on each side, we went
| to see the monument. 1t IS a few
yards away from the fort.
The granite monument, which was
our guide to Groton Heights, was BULL
from the receipts of lottery.
A marble tablet placed above its
entrance is inscribed:
This Monument
was erected under the patronage of
Connecticut, A. D. 1880,
and in the Both year of the hide
pendence of the U. S. A,
in memory of the brave patriots
who fell in the massacre of
| Fort GriswoId, A. D. 1881,
| when the British, under the
command of the traitor,
| Benedict Arnold,
| burnt the towns of New London
and Groton, and spread
desolation and woe throughout
this region.
A few years ago this monument wa
struck by lightning and cracked, blu
| the damage was soon repaired, for tn
state of Connecticut would not stant
by and see this dear old memorial fal
| to ruin.
The sun was now low in the west
and we retraced our steps homeward
a tired but happy party, with curiosi
| y satisfied.
| We left the old monument and for
to its solitude with memories of bygon
days.
DOROTHY P. KING, Age u.
| Plainfield.