Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-06
WHEN NORWICH WELCOMED PEACE


that ever had 1t in idea when adopting
the articles of confederation to have
pensions bestowed on those characters
(if any such there be-, whose virtue
could not hold them in service without
such rewards over and above the con-
trait which first engaged Them
Another reads:
, For a free people, Just rising out
of a threatening slavery. into free
shining prospects of a most glorious
peace and independence. now to be
taxed without their consent to support
and maintain large number of gen
tlemen as pensioners, in time of uni
versal peace, is in our view, unconsti-
tutional and directly in opposition to
the sentiment of the state at large, and
was one great spoke in the wheel
which moved a first our late struggle
with our imperious and tyrannical
foes"
Further and equally peppery instruc-
| lions were given at this time to the
representatives to urge upon the As
sembly the necessity of keeping
watchful eye upon the proceedings of
congress, to see that they did not ex-
coed the powers vested III them, and
to appoint acommittee at every ses-
sion to take into consideration the
Journals of congress, and approve or
disapprove, applaud or censure, the
conduct of the delegates.
Which goes to show that the fore
fathers OF the town OF NORWICH did not
| propose to have any filling of pork
barrels in Washington if they knew it!
| At no period of the Revolutionary
War were the people of Norwich actu-
ally alarmed by the fear Of a direct in
vasion. except at the time of To- at
tack on New London, September 9Th,
1871.
1t was then rumored that Arnold,
| unworthy son of Norwich infamed
with hatred against the country which
he had betrayed. and cherfshing a
vengeful spin in particular against his
native town, had determined at all
hazards to march here and spread des-
olation through the homes of his form
er friends and neighborS.
Preparations were therefore hurried
iy made to receive him Goods were
packed and women and children made
ready for fight. The fiery patriots
of Norwich wished for nothing more
upon their city, giving them a long
coveted opportunity Of wrec1ing
their vengeance upon the traitor. Just
why Arnold changed his plans has
never been explained; certainly he
failed to march north, coEtenting him
self with his sudden and transient at
tempt upon the sea- board.
The last time that the Norwich mill
tia was called out during the war was
in September, 1882.
Benjamin Leffingwe1I WIS then lieu
tenant-colonel of the twentieth regi-
ment. At seven O'Clock in the morn
in gan express reached him with the
following order:
To Major Leffingwe1l: 1 have GER
tain intelligence that there is a large
fleet in the sound, designed for some
part of the Main-would hereby re-
quest you without loss OF time to no.
tify the regiment under your command
to be ready to march at the shortest
notice-also send express to New Lon
don Immediately for further news. and
continue expresses as occasion may be.
Your humble servant in the greatest
haste,
SAMUEL McCLELLAND,
Colonel.
L have much more to say if 1 had
time. I am on the road to New Lon
don from Windham, where express
came to me last night.
Before nine o'clock. the whole reei-
nent had been summoned to turn out
with one or two days provisions, and
be ready to march on hearing the
alarm
The regiment upon the ground that
day, as the returns of the orderly book
show, consisted of one field officer
thirty-five commissioned officers and
758 men, in eleven companies, under
the following captains:
Joseph Carew, Samuel Wheat, Isaac
Johnson, Nathan Waterman, Moses
Stephens, William Pride, Jabez Dem
ing, Abner Ladd Jonathan Water
man, Samuel Lovett and Jacob De-
Witt.
Orders at last came for them to
march, but they were just ready to
start when the order was counter
manded. Again an express arrived,
saying that the fleet seemed to be
bound in, and orders were issued to
the enemy was making preparations
for descent. the next that the fleet
was moving up the sound. Finally
the hostile ships having explored Gard
iner's Bay, fitted out of the sound
and the Norwich militia. after two
days harrassing suspense, were dis
missed to their homes.
When at last peace was declared,
greaz throng assembled on the Green,
there were greetings, con gratulations,
waving of flags. firing, drumming.
The following Sunday, the church
best array, smiling and happy The
choir appeared with brilliant decora-
tions and sang, to the tune of Wor-
cester, an ode written for the celebra-
ton, of which the opening stanza was
Behold radiant light
And by Divine command,
Fair Peace. the child of Heaven, de-
scendS
To this afflicted land.
THE DICTAGRAPH.