USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A pictorial history of "Raynham" and its vicinity. > Part 6
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The first mention of this site was in 1657, it being a prominent object standing in bold relief on the northern point of the crescent-shaped Morris Cove. It was first talked of for defensive pur- poses, as the records show, by order of the Colonial Court, Feb. 20, 1657, brothers Andrews and Munson being empowered as commissioners to treat with the Indians, in exchange for the lands there- for, and it is very probable that it was soon after made a Military or Coast Guard Station ; as the General Court held at New Haven the 23 of June, 1659, desired " William Russell and Thomas Morris to attend their trust about the great guns at the fort, and see that they be fit for service, and it was left with the townsnien to see that it be done, and to agree with them what an allowance they shall have from the colony ;" and some of the great guns sent to the waterside in time of alarm werc no doubt placed here, as we note in the Colonial records that there was a reservation for fort and roadway thereto, when a sale of town lands to John Morris was made, south of the Indian lands and just north of Harrison Rocks (the Palisades). Here was a cartway which was used to reach the shore until the New Haven Chemical Works opened their highway, which led also northward inside the bank to the Black Rocks, and over this, before the Government road was purchased of Isaac and Kneeland Townsend (between the bank and the meadows to King's Island), was hauled the cannons and ammunition which were used in Colonial times at Black Rock Fort, for the defense of New Haven approaches.
The Black Rock Fort of the American Revolution was constructed early in the year 1775, on the site of an old one and manned with cannon made at Salisbury, Conn., by orders of the General Court of Connecticut, and history not only proves true, the testimony of people who were living at the time of the Revolutionary War, and known to the writer, but adds absolute proof of the value of the defense which drove frequent marauding parties of British and Tories from our harbor when they came to forage and destroy. The writer takes this opportunity to give his own theory, why Gen. Tryon landed his two divisions at Savin Rock, and Morris Point. Sir Henry Clinton, Commander- in-chief of the British forces stationed at New York, in his instructions to Maj. Gen. Tryon says, " the landing (at New Haven) seems good on the east side or tongue of land (Morris Point) nor can you be assaulted on your retreat, for you must when landed, by a rapid march, get possession of the Rebel Works two miles to the northward (Black Rock now Fort Hale), on a bluff commanding the harbor, and then your ships may enter to it (the harbor)."
This seemed easy enough as long as the Black Rock Fort was captured but there were in the fort three (3) guns and nineteen (19) New Haven men each an army in himself, and supported by their townsmen on the high ground back of the fort who were ready and on the spot, defend- ing their homes and firesides, and did dispute the landing of the invaders, step by step. The men behind these guns in the fort displayed such undaunted spirit and bravery, that the first division under General Garth, which had expected to land on Sandy Point Beach, a continuation of the Old Field on the west side of the harbor, and there be forded over by their boats to Oyster (City) Point, were compelled to land at Savin Rock, where they were met at the water's edge by the brave Captain Painter and his West Haven neighbors with leaden hail.
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Sir Henry adds, "the troops may afterwards, if they cannot ford the creek (which, I take, means West River, between the head of Sandy Point Beach, where the oyster watch house stands), be landed on the other side, or being landed on New Haven beach (Oyster Point), proceed at proper time to New Haven."
NOTE-Viewing New Haven from the southeast, the Sandy Point Beach looked as if continuous with Oyster Point and as there was not a survey extant at this date, the enemy may have thought New Haven beach was continuous from Sandy Point to Oyster Point .- C. H. T.
After the landing of the enemy on the east shore of the harbor, they brought to bear (we have been told) a field piece on the Rock Fort from the heights (Palisades) in the now Fort Hale Park, and its brave defenders, having exhausted their ammunition, spiked their guns and then threw the carriages and all over the ramparts of the fort onto the rocks below, into the harbor, and retreated along the shore, northi- ward, after setting fire to their quarters. This retreat was covered by Lieut. Evelyn Pierpont, who with a field piece was stationed a short distance above in the street at " Raynham," where he held the advance guard of the enemy at bay until they were supported by reinforcements from the main body. He then made good his retreat up the road, keeping up a running fire which diminished their ranks by every shot. This gun was at last mounted on Reservoir (Tuttle) Hill, where after giving a final shot the piece was spiked and abandoned and carried off by the enemy the next day.
As history has only given a casual account of the co-operation of the British fleet and army dur- ing the landing of the two divisions, and their operation and disembarkation, it is intended to add that the departure of the enemy to their ships the next day, July 6th, at daybreak, was pressed not only by the appearance of the militia, with heavier guns than they were equipped with, but the state of the tide. At the Black Rock Fort, General Tryon decided to there embark his demoralized and much fatigned force, and in accordance with his orders General Garth's division crossed the ferry part in the flat boats belonging to the flect, and part across Neck Bridge, which was destroyed after his passage, and joined General Tryon at his headquarters at Beacon Hill. At that moment several cannon shots were exchanged with the Patriots assembled on East Haven Green, under the command of General Ward, who with a field piece, were moving to storm the hill which, as soon as they arrived, they found had been evacuated, the enemy being in rapid retreat to their boats at Black Rock Fort, and, one hour after were aboard the fleet, which soon set sail westward, leaving desolation behind them.
The colonial government, immediately after the Tryon raid of Connecticut in 1779, ordered twelve hundred and fifty men distributed to the different military posts on the sea coast, and ninety- four officers and men were ordered to the New Haven forts, viz. the Black Rock Fort ; the Earth Works on Beacon Hill ; the slight batteries on Mount Pleasant (Mosquito fort) ; the Ferry (site of East and Bridge street corners), and the battery of heavy guns on Long Wharf Pier, which then was not con- nected with the shore end of the wharf and was manned by sailors, while the harbor was patrolled by whale boats or row gallies manned with fifty men each and a swivel gun forward, which seemed to give good protection to the shipping of the port.
After the close of the Revolution in 1783, these fortifications were dismantled, save a gun or two, and allowed to go to ruin until the dawn of the 19th century when the European wars broke out. Then the "Orders in Council," "the Milan and Berlin Decrecs," produced a tremendous shock on the American side of the Atlantic, and then a scheme for fortifying the whole coast of the United States was set on foot. Early in the year of 1808 the Black Rock Fort was examined (as mentioned in reminiscences of Fort Hale) and money voted by Congress to erect a new fort on this ancient site for the defense of New Haven Harbor. .
The garrison of this fort during the war of 1812-14 were compelled on several occasions to open fire on British ships of war in the offing and force them to " haul off." On the night of September 13th, 1813, an English Frigate and Sloop of War stood close into the Light House and Mr. Morris with his neighbors made such warlike demonstration that an attempt to land was prevented. The next April, 1814, Essex and other Connectient river villages were burned, and losses estimated at $150,000 incurred. In October, Captain Northrop's company stationed at Fort Hale, assisted in building Fort Wooster. During this and the following year Commodore Sir Thomas Hardy's fieet of twenty sail were kept at bay by the guns of this fort. This was the same fleet that captured and released the timber-loaded vessels bound from the Connecticut River to New Haven, and the cargoes
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of which was used later in the construction of Center and Trinity churches (the handiwork of Ithial Town). On the receipt of the news of the Treaty of Trent the guns of Hale and Wooster pro- claimed the glad tidings.
In the United States Government Report of 1821, the New Haven forts were reported "too small to offer any resistance," and a scheme was suggested to build forts of the 1st, 2d and 3d class for the protection of the coast cities. New Haven was listed in the 2d class. In 1826 the Military Report suggested new works at Fort Wooster and heavier or larger works at Fort Hale, both to cost $59,609.18.
Fort Hale was estimated to cost $31,815.00 and to be garrisoned with 25 men in peace and in war 220 men ; and Fort Wooster $27,793.00, with 25 men in peace and in war 155 men. In 1836 the Military Report repeats the same sum with addition of six barbette guns (32 pounders), but the fort was gradually allowed to go to decay and nothing was appropriated. All was placed under charge of Captain John A. Thomas, a pensioned officer of the 25th United States Infantry, who lived in the brick barracks with his wife and son John A .- Andrew Jackson and daughter Harriet Thomas. Captain Thomas died about 1840, and his son remained in charge of the government for some years after.
For an abridged account of this fort and its successors see Reminiscences of Fort Hale.
It is interesting to note that after many years of peace the importance of coast defense was first brought to the attention of Congress by the report of the Chief of Engineers U. S. A., Gen. H. C. Wright, a native of the New Haven District, and, the Fiftieth Congress, first session, presented Bill No. 603, dated March 19, 1888, which was ordered printed under head of fortification and sea coast defenses. New Haven was inserted in the list at the last moment by the meritorious effort of U. S. Senator Hawley, as correspondence still extant in the author's possession abundantly proves, and when the bill became a law the proposed armament as ordered we copy verbatim :
New Haven, Conn. Fortification-Barbette batteries-Morter batteries and submarine mines will form part of the defense.
Proposed Armament.
No. 27. Calibre. 8 inches
Kind. Number.
Remarks.
13 ton guns
12 inches
morters 8 3
BLR rifled
The exact site of the two forts ordered has not yet been selected, and as the works in progress on the islands at the east entrance of Long Island Sound are fast reaching completion these works may not be needed as submarine mines may be sufficient. The first effort to defend the east approach to the port of New York via Long Island Sound emanated from the New Haven Chamber of Commerce and the Connecticut State Board of Trade, as shown by the Proceedings of the latter at its first and second annual meetings, held in the cities of Hartford and Waterbury, January, 1891 and '92.
The naming of Fort Hale, in 1812, after the martyr spy of the Revolution, was the first public recognition of Nathan Hale by his native State. Later there was erected a monument to him in Coventry, Conn., where he was born June 6, 1755, and in 1887 a memorial was placed in the Capitol at Hartford. The inspiring bronze statue in City Hall Park, erected near the spot in New York where he died (on Sept. 22, 1776), came still later, in 1893, and it is only within the last few years that any active measures have been taken by his alma mater to perpetuate his memory. England long ago commemorated lier martyr spy, Andre, with an elaborate monument in Westminster Abbey.
The Hales came to Boston in the ship "Lion," presumably from Kent, and Robert Hale, the ancestor of Nathan Hale, settled in Charlestown, Mass. As a surveyor he ran the northern line of Massachusetts. His son John Hale was by his fourth son, Samuel, grandfather of Richard Hale of Coventry, the father of Nathan Hale. This John Hale had graduated from Harvard and his descendant Nathan followed in his footsteps by graduating from Yale in September, 1773. The records of the college and of Linonian Society show him to have been considerable of a scholar. Consequently it is not surprising to find him teaching school after leaving college, first in East Haddam, 1773-4, then at the Union Grammar School (house still standing) in New London, where he was when the Revolution broke out. Enlisting as a lieutenant, he went with the Connecticut
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troops to Boston and after the British withdrew accompanied General Heath to New York as a captain. Here he distinguished himself by cutting out a British sloop from under the guns of the frigate "Asia," lying in East River. Fair and well proportioned as his Saxon ancestors, of engaging presence and many accomplishments, we find him always spoken of with affection and estecın. His popularity was great and consequently it was with genuine sorrow that his brother officers saw him accept the duty of finding out what the British intended to do after the battle of Long Island. Leav- ing the American camp at Harlem he went to Norwalk, crossed the Sound to Huntington, and disguised as a schoolmaster penetrated the British camp. Unfortunately his work was useless, for already the British had occupied New York and Washington knew their intentions. How he was taken prisoner on his way back at the "Cedars," East Neck, Huntington, L. I., where he had gone to meet a boat to carry him to the Connecticut shore, his sufferings at the hand of the infamous Cunningham, and his inspiring words on the scaffold, is familiar to all : we repeat them, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
Wreck of Steamer Chief Justice Marshall.
The steamer "Chief Justice Marshall " was originally a North River sloop and remodelled into a side-wheel steamer in the early thirties, and in May, 1835, was put on the route, between New York and Norwich and commanded by Captain Henry Waterman of Hartford, Connecticut, who was a skillful Long Island Sound navigator. She was cast away and became a total wreck during the summer following (1836), on Morgan or Momaugan Point, South End, East Haven.
The Rev. William D. Havens, late pastor of the Stone Church, East Haven, informed the writer that he was on board a few minutes before she left the dock at New York, which was at 4 o'clock P. M. The weather was clear and there were no signs of a storm, but, as slic passed up the Sound, toward morning, heavy clouds, the forerunners of a tempest, appeared and the wind freslicned fron the northeast with increasing seas, and while off Thimble Island the steering gear gave away and the steamer fell off into a trough of the sea. The wind shifted to the southeast and at this critical moment the engine became disabled and the smoke-stack was carried away and, in order to save life and property, the jib was set and an effort made to run before the gale for safe refuge in New Haven harbor, but with ill success. She drifted broadside toward the northwest and might have reached an anchorage at the entrance of the harbor, but when off South End the wind shifting to south- southwest and blowing with a great violence the vessel at 10:00 A. M., struck a reef off Morgan Point at high water, and, according to the statement of Captain Elizur Thompson, an eye witness of the scene, she lay broadside to in the surf and, before the tide and sea subsided, rolled over on her beam end and became a hopeless wreck.
When the steamer struck on the rocks of Morgan Point, the people of the vicinity came to the assistance of the shipwrecked crew and strong cables were at once made fast to the rocks and trees on the shore and all the crew and passengers were rescued, save the pilot, Mr. Harkens, of Middletown, Connecticut, who made an attempt to get out a boat with a line for the shore. But the boat capsized and it was supposed that he was then killed, as his body was soon after taken from the surf in a bruised condition.
After the gale had subsided, several attempts were made by the owners of the steamer to get her off the rocks, but their efforts were in vain and the Court ordered her sold at auction. She was bid off by Mr. Asa Buddington, who broke her up and the wood work was rafted to New Haven and the machinery sold on the spot and carted away. There are a few relics of her still extant, viz : her name in large gilt letters taken from one of the paddle boxes and a saw with other tools saved from the wreckage.
At the time of the disaster Captain Thompson lived in the John (Morgan) Thompson house near the scene of the wreck, and for many years afterwards was keeper of the New Haven Lighthouse, a position he held to the day of his death in 1898, and his wife succeeded him in care of the lighthouse property and at this date, December 10, 1899, is in charge.
1
1
F JUSTIO
MARSHAL
TROY
ERWARTE
WRECK OF STEAMER CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL, ON MOMAUGIN POINT.
REMINISCENCES OF FORT HALE.
The General Assembly of Connecticut, in Oct. 1775, ordered erected a battery here, and fifty men were added to the company to hurry on the work, 6 eight pound and 10 twelve pound cannon were ordered from Salisbury for New Haven by the Assembly in the November following. Captain Thompson seems to have taken the contract and been in command. Winter setting in, the men were paid off 23d of Dec. 1775. For one and one-half months, work in the winter, Capt. Thompson was paid 3.0.0 pounds, while at work on the fort. In 1775, a Beacon was ordered to be put up on Indian Hill (Fort Wooster site).
In March, 1776, Capt. Thompson with a lieutenant and two sergeants and 30 men commenced work again on Black Rock Fort, the next week 50 men were added, and the work was finished in June following, and the residne of the Colony's cannon were ordered to be placed in the Fort at the Black Rock.
A cheap barracks of wood, cost 25 pounds, was ordered built (and was burned down by the tories later), Capt. Thompson was paid for building the fort 200 pounds, money of the colony ($3,5 % 1'0'% to the pound). He was also allowed for his expense 75 pounds. When the Fort and Barracks were finished, shingle roof and chimney built outside, the whole was put under the charge of Mr. Bishop as Barrack master.
This fort is sketched by Pres. Styles somewhere as a square fort, with flankers, with barrack probably built inside.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR, Vol. 4, 1776, page 411.
Upon the Memorial of the Civil Authority and Selectmen of the Town of New Haven, show- ing to this Assembly that sundry things are necessary for the defense of said town praying for relief, as per memoranda on file :
Resolved, by this Assembly. That the three twelve-pounders lately brought into said town remain there at the expense of this state and that ye charge of transportating the same be paid out of the treasury, liable to be removed by the Governor and council of safety, under Capt. Thompson, remain where they are stationed, as guard at Black Rock, and that the roof of the barracks, newly built, be shingled and a chimney built, and that the Militia of said Town of New Haven hold themselves equipped, and in constant readiness to defend said town and to be liable to be removed. And his honor, the Governor, by the advice of his Council of Safety, is impowered and directed to carry the aforesaid provisions into execution and to make such further provisions for the security of said town and the rest of the sea coast as they think proper and expedient.
Oct., 1776. Passed in the Lower Honse,
Concurred in the Upper House,
Asst. HUNTINGTON CLARK.
Sec. GEORGE WYLLYS.
There was established a pass system ; all vessels and boats entering the harbor must get from the fort a written pass to enter or pass up to the town. During winter of 1776-7, the cannon were carried to New Haven (probably the harbor had frozen up), but soon after sent back, and the fort remanned, Jan. 30, 1777.
Resolved, by the General Assembly. Ordered, "No vessel or boat will, in the future, be per- mitted to pass Black Rock Fort without a written licence from one of the civil authorities of the town." In March, 1777, a British Frigate with two tenders was driven off by the fort.
In June, 1777, 13 Tories, taken in the sound, were sent to prison at Black Rock Fort, Capt. Phipps from the enemy's direction, was fired into from Black Rock Fort and had lower yard (jaw) shot away in part. In the fort were one captain, one sergeant, one corporal and 10 privates.
The Colony built the fort, private parties made the powder at (Hotchkiss Town), and the town defended with it. Captain Morris was, at times, in charge of the fort.
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East Haven and North Haven each gave a field piece. When Tryon captured Fort Hale, it was manned with 19 men and three guns, which were spiked and thrown over the ramparts into the har- bor when the fort was evacuated, Lieut. Moulthrop and Lieut. Bishop in command.
Last Friday morning, (Feb. 4th, 1781), before day several Long Island Whale Boats with Tory refugees landed at the Pest House, about a mile from the college. They went off in the morning and landed at West Haven and plundered a house or two, then went over towards the Fort at Black Rock, which fired upon them, and so they turned off and went on board a small sloop, which first proceeded westward, where the boats landed and plundered Deacon Platt's (sic) house. Then going on board, eastward to Thimble Island, probably to lie there and intercept our coasters. Some say they had six others. Three whale boats carry about 40 or 50 men. Several were known to be New Haven men.
Pres't Styles Diary, 1780-1781.
In May, 1781, Black Rock Fort was unfit to hold a garrison, but capable at small expense of being made defensable.
A request for two brass pieces, to take the place of the old iron guns, and two horses, to draw them, was made, and £100 for repairs to the fort.
In 1782, the garrison at the fort, 3 officers, 19 privates. At the close of the Revolutionary War New Haven kept 3 cannon in the Black Rock Fort under the charge of the Captain of the Governor's Guard, after the Revolutionary War the fort was allowed to go to decay.
During the Revolutionary War, the little battery situated beneath the beautiful grounds of " Raynham," was garrisoncd and the commanding officer, of unknown fame, distinguished himself by firing upon one of the vessels of New Haven. Capt. Solomon Phipps was returning from a suc- eessful cruise in his privateer, having in his charge a prize he had captured from the English and while passing the formidable fort of one gun, was hailed by the commanding officer, and ordered to heave to and anchor, else he would fire upon him. The redoubtable captain, with an answer more foreible than polite, continued on his course, when the boom of a cannon reverberated across the quiet harbor of New Haven, and the aim of the gunner was entitled to quite as much praise as that disposed on more modern marksmen, for it carried away a portion of Capt. Phipp's face, rendering his pronunciation very imperfect. The commanding officer at "Fort Hale " was instructed to let no vessels pass to the upper harbor after sundown, and Capt. Phipps was rather late.
" Day before yesterday, April 18th, 1781, Captains Hubbell and Ives with the assistance of other spirited Loyalists manned eight whale boats and left Lloyd's Neck with an intention to make a des-
eent on the coasts of Connecticut. They rowed to the eastward, determined to attack the Fort at New Haven, and, landing in the night about a quarter of a mile from the fort, proceeded in perfect silence that they gained the center of the parade, secured the sentry and surrounded the bar- racks before the rebels knew of their approach. After foreing the door and entering the barracks one of the rebels (Isaac How) discharged his musket and thereupon was instantly killed.
" The rest of the party, cleven in number, surrendered prisioners. Captain Hubbell then ordered the platforms to be burned, eut down the flag staff, and effectually destroyed two French (double fortified) nine pounders, set fire to the barracks and to everything that would burn. The rebel colors with the prisoners and eighteen stand of arms were brought off and the party returned to Lloyd's Neck without sustaining any loss."
Diary of the Revolution, By FRANK MOORE, P. 940.
In 1808, the U. S. Government ordered a battery to be built on the site of the Old Black Rock Fort at New Haven as the channels had deepened there.
April 27, May 3, May 31, the U. S. Government bought of Kneeland and Isaae Townsend, Truman Colt and Phileman Auger lands on the east side of New Haven harbor, with a strip of land two rods wide (and right of way from Black Rock to King's Island, of the Townsends and Forbes families), for $275 ; a second tract, next the harbor, of one-half acre for $125, and another tract for $30. They also bought a strip of land from King's Island for a road way to Light House road. The fort
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