USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 46
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forty-five in breadth, with a steeple one hundred and thirty feet in heiglit, Was raised October, 1785; it was inclosed the summer following.
"The society of Bethel built their meeting-house in the year 1760 .. The Rev. Noah Wetmore, their first minister, was ordained November 25th of the same year; at the same time a church was organized by the Ordaining Council. Mr. Wetmore was regularly dismissed from his pas- toral charge Nov. 2, 1784 .* His successor, the Rev. John Ely, was or- dained Nov. 30, 1791. In the society of Newbury the Rev. Thomas Brooks, their first minister, was ordained Sept. 28, 1758; a chiureli was gathered at the same time .; In May, 1788, the society of Newbury was incorporated a town by the name of Brookfield. Mrs. Abigail Knapp. now living, aged seventy-five. widow of the late Deacon Joshua Knapp. was the first Englishi child born within the limits of Brookfield. The Rev. Samuel Camp, the first and present minister of Ridgebury, was ordained Jau. 18, 1769. The church in that society was organized on the day of the ordination.
" There were a few professors in this town of the mode of the Church of England as early as the year 1750. They built a meeting-house whose dimensions are forty-eight feet by thirty-six, in the year 1763. In September, 1784, they were constituted a regular Episcopalian society. Sixty-six persons, the most of whom belonged to this town, were tlien considered as belonging to the society. The society liave had occasional preaching, but no minister has been settled over them.
"There were a number of professors of the denomination of Baptists, about the year 1783. A Baptist Church was constituted in the north- west part of the town, November, 1785. The year following they built a meeting-house, which is now standing. Mr. Nathaniel Finch was their minister for several years; their present minister, Mr. Nathan Bulkley, was ordained the 8th of last May. A secoud Baptist Church was consti- tuted in the western part of the town in the ycar 1788 ; the members who survive are now mostly connected with other churches.
" I shall now close with a few general remarks. The present number of schools in town is seventeen,-twelve in the first society and five in Bethel. Much more attention is now paid in the education of youth thau formerly, though it is conceived there might be still more to great profit.
" For many years there was but one military company in town; at present there are three of infautry, one of cavalry, and one of artillery, which for accuracy iu evolutions, military spirit, and appearance may vie with any military companies whatever.
"There have been but few remarkable instances of longevity in this town, though it was formerly remarked tlicre was a great many old peo- * ple: that is not the case at present. Mr. William Hamilton, born in Scotland, who lived many years in this town, died in the year 1749, aged one hundred and two; Mr. John Cornwall died in the year 1753, aged one hundred and one; those two are the only persons known to have lived in town over one hundred years of age. Mr. David Hoyt, who lived longer than any person ever born and living in town, died in April last, aged ninety-seveu. The family of Mr. Thomas Taylor, one of the first settlers, as a family, was remarkable for longevity. He had ten children ; the whole amount of his age and theirs is niue hundred and forty-seven years, the average of which is eiglity-six years; but three of them saw less than ninety years.
" The increase of this town iu a number of years past has not been great, owing to very great emigration; which has been the case with this in eominon with all the towns in the State.
" The general occupation of the people in this town has been farming ; within a few years considerable manufactories have been established. In the manufacture of hats this town much exceeds any oue in the United States. More than twenty thousand hats, mostly of fur, are made annually for exportation. The manufacture of shoes is also carried ou to a considerable extent. At a low computation, fifteen thousand pair of boots and shoes are annually exported from this town. A paper-mill was erected in the town in the year 1792, in which about fifteen hundred reams of paper are manufactured annually. A considerable number of saddles are also made yearly for exportation #
"The people in this town have generally been very free from litiga- tion ; within a few years it has considerably increased, though it is not yet great. A spirit of litigation is one of the greatest evils which ean befall any community.
" In our Revolutionary war the people in this town generally warmly espoused the American cause. Notwithstanding all that is said by the enemies of our government to show that its supporters were enemies to
* Records of the Consociation.
# A mill has been lately erected for the manufacture of sumach, for dyeing, on a new plan, secured by patent.
+ Idem.
the Revolution, the people iu this town, though they were great sufferers in the war, are almost unanimously firm friends of the present govern- ment of the United States.
"The list of the towu is not to be obtained but for a few years past. In the year 1788-the first year after Brookfield was made a town-it was upwards of sixty-six thousand; in the year 1799 it exceeded eighty- one thousand.
"We have thus given a sketch of the history of this town from its first settlement to the present time. It is not pretended that some important facts have not been omitted, but, from the materials which ean be ob- tained, this is the best that I have been able to eollect. In the review of these things we witness the fading nature of all earthily seenes. How applicable are the words of inspiration, 'Your fathers, where are they ? and the prophets, do they live forever?' While it is our lot to be placed on the stage of human action, let it be our constant solicitude to seek an interest in that kingdom 'whose Builder and Maker is God,'-to act our parts worthily in the vicissitudes of human life, that, through grace, we may be approved when called upon to pass in review before the intel- lectual world; that when the chief Shepherd shall appear we may appear with Him in glory."?
DANBURY IN 1770.
Danbury had no trouble with the Indians. There arc no traditions of burnings and scalpings. Dr. Peters says that in 1770 there were not four hundred Indians in all Connecticut. Here is his brief glance at Danbury :
"It has much the appearance of Croydon, and forms five parishes, one of which is Episcopal, and another Sandemanian ; a third is called Bastard San- demanian because the minister refused to put away his wife, who is a second wife. The town was the residence, and is now the tomb, of the learned and ingenious Rev. Mr. Sandeman, well known to the literary world. He was the fairest and most candid Calvinist that ever wrote in the English language, allowing the natural consequences of all his prop- ositions. He taught that a bishop must be the husband of one wife,-that is, he must be married before he was ordained,-and if he lost his wife he could not marry a second; that a bishop might dress . with ruffles, a red coat, and sword ; that all converted brothers and sisters, at their coming into the church, ought to salute with a holy kiss ; that all true Chris- tians would obey their earthly king; for which te- nets, especially the last, the Sober Dissenters of Con- necticut held him to be a heretic."
¿ Mr. Robbins was born in Norfolk, Conn., in 1777, was educated at Yale, and graduated, in 1796, with Prof. Silliman. In 1845 we find him in Hartford in charge of the Athenænm, in which city he died in 1868. He was a bachelor.
" We are glad to learn," says the News, " that this was from necessity, and not from choice. While here he became smitten with the charms of an amiable and accomplished young lady. She did uot reciprocate his feeling, however, and retused to become his wife. He never fell in love again, but made antiquarian lore his life-companion and solace. The young lady afterwards married, and was the mother of Mr. Lncius H. Boughton.
"Contemporary with Mr. Robbins were Selleck Osborne and Comfort Mygatt. The former conducted the village paper, and the latter repre- sented the town in the Legislature. During Mr. Robbins' stay one of the village poets bloomed forth in a string of verses calculated to harrow up the feelings. One of these verses could hardly be considered compli- mentary. It ran:
"' Danbury is a thriving town, And nobody can prevent them : An uufledged Robbin preaches there, And a Maggot represents them.' "
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DANBURY.
INHABITANTS IN 1793.
The following is a list of the taxable inhabitants of Danbury in 1793:
DANBURY LIST, 1793.
Andrews, Samuel; Andrews, Isaiah ; Andrews, Levi ; Ambler, 'Squire; Atkins, Andrew ; Ambler, Peter ; Ambler, Stephen ; Abot, Silas.
Bates, Nathan ; Barton, John; Babcock, Nathan ; Barnum, Samuel; Barnum, Abijalı ; Barnum, Noah ; Barnum, Nathaniel; Barnum, Jr., Abijah; Barnum, John; Barnum, Oliver; Bears, Daniel ; Benediet, Jr., Jos .; Benedict, Cyrus; Benedict, Jr., Ebenezer; Benediet, Noble; Benediet, Com- fort ; Benediet, Elijah ; Benedict, Caleb ; Benediet, Abijah; Benediet, Timothy ; Benediet, Zadock ; Benediet, Jr., Eliakim; Benedict, Jr., Thomas ; Benedict, Thomas; Benedict, Phoebe; Benedict, Jr., Asael; Benediet, Elihu; Benediet, Jr., Sam- uel ; Benediet, Joshua ; Benedict, Jr., Caleb ; Ben- ediet, Jr., Abraham; Benediet, Dorias; Benedict, Nathan ; Benediet, Daniel; Benediet, Lemuel ; Benedict, Abigail; Benedict, Theophilus ; Bene- diet, Thos. H .; Benedict, Jonas ; Benedict, Ebe- nezer (3d) ; Benedict, Stephen B .; Benedict, Thad- deus; Benediet, Ezra; Benediet, Eleazor ; Briden, John; Beach, L .; Bedient, Eliazur; Beaty, James ; Beaty, Daniel ; Boughton, Asa; Boughton, Mrs. Susan; Boughton, Ebenezer; Boughton, Abijah ; Boughton, Joseph ; Boughton, Matthew ; Boughton, David; Boughton, Daniel; Boughton, Mrs. Deb- orah; Besare, Newcomb; Burrit, Philip; Burr, Oliver ; Burr & Co .; Baldwin, Samuel; Baldwin, Caleb; Brush, Stephen ; Bronson, Ezra; Bronson, Levi; Bronson, Ira; Barber, Benj. ; Barber, Sim- eon ; Brodroek, John ; Beebe, Jonathan.
Cembers, Wm .; Cembers, John; Curtis, Reuben ; Curtis, Stephen; Curtis, Eliphalet; Cook, Thos .; Cook, Jos. T.,; Cook, Jr., Jos. T. ; Cook, Samuel ; Crofut, Seth ; Crofut, Benj .; Crofut, Levi; Crofut, Matthew ; Crofut, Joseph ; Coburn, Gilmore, Crany, James ; Corbin, Philip; Clark, James; Clark, Sr., Adam; Clark, Joseph; Cummins, Asa ; Chappal, Wm .; Comstoek, Stephen ; Comstoek, Seth; Com- stock, Daniel; Carrington, Daniel; Carrington & Mygatt ; Custer, Peter; Church, Jared N .; Corn- well, Nathan; Cornwell, Hannah; Coller, Levi; Cozier, Benj. ; Chapman, Joshua.
Dobbs, Wm .; Durly, Benj .; Dibble, Ezra; Dibble, Nehemiah ; Dibble, Daniel; Dibble, Josephi ; Dibble, Nathan; Dibble, Peter; Dibble, Elisha ; Dixon, Chas .; Dodd, John; Douglass, Nathan ; Deforest, Elihu; Deforest, Joseph; Diteman, Thos .; Diteman, Thaddeus; Ditcinan, Daniel ; Dean, John.
Eames, Everit ; Ely, Edwards.
Frost, Ezra ; Fineh, Peter; Finch, Jacob; Foot, John; Foot, David; Ferry, Solomon; Foster, Jesse; Foster, Timothy.
Gorham, Benj .; Gregory, Munson; Gregory, Deb- orah ; Gregory, John; Gregory, Isaac; Gregory, Thos .; Gregory, Nath .; Gregory, Matthew; Greg- ory, Samuel; Gregory, Jr., Nathan; Gregory, Nathan; Gregory, John; Gregory, Ezra; Greg- ory, Ebenezer; Glover, C .; Green, Douglass; Griffin, Catharine; Gray, Elias.
Hamilton, Silas; Hamilton, Paul; Hamilton, Jo- seph ; Hamilton, John ; Hoyt, Eli; Hoyt, Comfort ; Hoyt, Amos ; Hoyt, Daniel; Hoyt, Jr., Comfort ; Hoyt, Ared; Hoyt, Jonathan ; Hoyt, Ereas ; Hoyt, Stephen ; Hoyt, Elijah ; Hoyt, Agur; Hoyt, David ; Hoyt, Jr., Daniel; Hoyt, Thaddeus; Hoyt, Noah ; Hoyt, Jesse; Hoyt, Daniel D .; Hoyt, Drake; Hoyt, Jr., Noah; Hoyt, Justice; Hoyt, Eleazar ; Hoyt, John; Hoyt, Daniel (3d); Hoyt, Nathan ; Hubbell, Ezra; Hubbell, Noah ; Husted, Andrew ; Hayes, Win .; Hickok, Samuel; Hawley, C .; Haw- ley, John; Hodges, Ezra; Howington, Peter.
Jones, Isaac; Joye, Jr., John ; Joye, John; Joye, Daniel; Judd, Jacob; Judd, Jr., Thos. ; Judd, Ab- ner; Jarvis, Stephen ; Jarvis, Eli; Jennings, Samuel. Knapp, David; Knapp, John; Knapp, Jr., John ; Knapp, Elnathan ; Knapp, Daniel; Knapp, Noah ; Knapp, Jr., Noah; Knapp, Benj. ; Knapp, James ; Knapp, Jr., James; Knapp, Joshua; Knapp, Bracy ; Kellogg, Eliasaph.
Loveless, Richard; Lawrence, Oliver; Lindsley, Matthew ; Lindsley, Samuel ; Lindsley, James. McLean, John; McLean, Alex .; Mygatt, Eli; My- gatt, Filer ; Mygatt, Comfort ; Mills, John; Morris, Shadrach ; Morris, Ethel and Chancey; Morris, Ephraim ; Morehouse, Thaddeus; Mansfield, Glo- ver ; Munson, Ebenezer ; Murow, L.
Niehols, Samuel; Nichols, Jr., Samuel; Nichols, Ebenezer; Norris, Steplien.
Osborn, Moses; Osborn, Daniel; Osborn, David ; Osborn, Levi; Osborn, Joseph ; Olmstead, Daniel ; Olmstead, Joseph.
Peck, Abijah; Peek, Levi; Peek, Luther; Peck, Elakin and Mijah; Peck, Stephen; Pieket, Ebene- zer; Picket, Jr., Ebenezer; Pieket, Seymour ; Picket, Darius; Pieket, James; Pratt, John; Phillip, Abial; Phillip, Samuel H .; Pell, S .; Patch, Q .; Patch, Thomson; Patch, Ezra; Pateh, Elijah; Perry, Major; Peirce, David; Peirce, Joshua ; Platt, Jos. ; Porter, Jr., John.
Roekwell, Josiah ; Roekwell, Jabez; Rockwell, Levi ; Robinson, Z .; Robinson, Calvin; Ryder, John ; Roberts, Wm.
Starr, Caleb; Starr, Joshua; Starr, Nathan; Starr, Ezra ; Starr, Widow Richard ; Starr, Nath. ; Starr, Peter; Starr, Thos. (3d) ; Starr, Jr., Thos .; Starr, Widow Rebecca ; Starr, Jr., Jonathan ; Starr, Ethel; Starr, Jabez; Shove, Jr., Seth; Shove, Daniel; Shove, Jr., Daniel; Shove, Seth ; Stalkes, Widow Annie; Sturges, Joseph; Sturges, Simon ; Sa- bins, Jeptha; Smith, Samuel; Sut, James; Shute, Riehard; Shute, John W .; Selleck, Nath'l; Sel-
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
leck, Lewis; St. John, Gamaliel ; Scovil, Stephen ; Scovil, Eneas; Sanford, Elijah; Scott, Joseph ; Stevens, Thos .; Stevens, Eliphalet; Stevens, James; Stevens, Jonathan; Stevens, Widow Esther; Stev- ens, Nathan ; Stevens, Ezra; Stevens, Samuel ; Stevens, Forward ; Stevens, Elijah; Stone, Levi; Stone, Oliver; Stone, Aaron; Stone, Widow Annie; Stuart, James; Stuart, Miss Eleanor; Stuart, Jacob N.
Tucker, Thos .; Taylor, Timothy; Taylor & Cooke; Taylor, Gilead; Taylor, Ira; Taylor, Major; Taylor, Widow Hannah; Taylor, John; Taylor, Theoph- ilus; Taylor, Salmon; Taylor, Jonathan ; Taylor, Najalı ; Taylor, Lemuel ; Taylor, Eliazor ; Tweedy, Samuel; Tweedy, Wm .; Trobridge, Isaac; Tro- bridge, John ; Trobridge, Joseph.
Vandusen, John ; Vaughn, Wm.
Whittlesey, M. B .; Whittlesey, Elisha; Wood, Elijah ; Wood, Benj .; Wood, David; Wood, Daniel ; Wood, Jr., Daniel ; Wood, John; Wood, Jr., John; Wood, Nathan; White, Jos. M .; White, Widow Mary; White, Ebenezer B. ; White, Thos. P .; White, Ebenezer J .; White, Russel; Wildman, Timothy ; Wildman, Jr., Thos .; Wildman, Libbeus; Wildman, David; Wildman, Ezekiel; Wildman, Jr., Isaac; Wildman, Elia- kim ; Wildman, Jr., Samuel; Wildman, Abraham; Wildman, Daniel; Wildman, Noah; Wildman, Nirum; Wildman, Jr., Timothy ; Wildman, Eli ; Wildman, Isaac; Wildman, Nathan; Wildman, Jonathan; Wildman, Samuel ; Wildman, Joseph ; Wildman, Thomas; Washburn, Ephraim ; Wash- burn, Edmond; Wilks, Matthew ; Wilks, Jr., Matthew; Wicks, Benj .; Wildman, Benj. ; Wild- man, Jr., Abraham ; Wildman, Jedediah; Whit- ney, Nathan ; Wylley, Abraham; Whiting, F. ; Whittock, Samuel; Weed, Timothy ; Weed, Sam- uel; Weed, David; Weed, Bartholomew ; Weed, Eleazor ; Weed, Ephraim; Weed, Asa ; Webster, Jonathan.
The whole list amounted to £16,863, 12s. 5}d.
CHAPTER XVII. DANBURY (Continued). THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.#
The Burning of Danbury-Sir William Howe's Official Report-Killed, Wounded, and Missing-The Connecticut Journal's Account-The Ap- proach to Danbury-Tryon's Headquarters-Amusing Incident-The Prisoners-Destruction of Ruin-Demoralization of Tryon's Troops- The Anxious Generals-Benjamin Knapp's distinguished Guests-The Retreat-The Battle-Gen. Wooster Mortally Wounded-His Death in Danbury-List of Sufferers-Total Loss-Petition for Relicf-Roll of Revolutionary Soldiers.
"WHEN this section of country," says the News, was called Pahquioque, or Pahquaige, it presented a
somewhat different appearance from what it does now. We can easily understand that. But the imagination must be an active one, enjoying very excellent health, to picture our neighborhood as it was in 1684, when, according to Mr. Robbins, the first settlement was made.
"It is reasonable to suppose that the original eight families came to Danbury by what was since the turn- pike between here and Norwalk. It is the most direct and presents less obstacles in the matter of high ground than any other way. So long ago as that there could not have been more than a trail, if as much, to direct and aid them. What must have been their thoughts as they forced their way we cannot know. Judging the aspect of nature to be then considerably more for- bidding than it is now, we must admire the courage of the original eight, even if we cannot respect their judgment.
"Presuming there was a trail, its location through here must have been the present Main Street, and would naturally present to the new-comers a place of residence principally because it defined something.
" According to Mr. Robbins' account they located close together, four on one side and four on the oppo- site side. Their object was to start a village. This with a view to sociability and protection, would de- mand concentration. The lands on whose cultivation they depended they sought here and there as the rich- ness of the soil made necessary, and these locations varied so much that to reside upon the tracts would have so scattered the settlers as to have made the nucleus of a village 'a barren ideality,' and to have put social intercourse and mutual protection beyond the pale of possibility. It is likely enough that the eight families' homesteads did not cover more than the ground between South Street and the court-house.
"The land was got from the Indians, and some of it remains in the possession of the families to this day, never having been sold or bought since the day the Indians, beguiled by the glitter of new jackknives, swapped it for the bright treasures.
"Mr. Eli T. Hoyt owns a piece in Great Plain Dis- trict, known as 'Unity Rocks,' which came from the Indians. Mr. Philo White, in the same district, occu- pies ground that his grandfather, the Rev. Ebenezer, mentioned in the sermon, got from the Indians. The homestead of Mr. Russell Hoyt came into his family from the same source.
"In May, 1684, the General Court empowered Thomas Benedict, Thomas Fitch, and John Burr to plant a town at this point. What Messrs. Fitch and Burr did in the matter we do not know. Mr. Bene- dict's two sons, Samuel and James, were of the ' origi- nal eight.' The Mr. Beebe of the same party was a brother-in-law. The Dr. Wood was also a brother- in-law. Mr. L. Starr Benedict and Mr. Charles Bene- dict are direct descendants of James Benedict. Per- haps the Danbury man of to-day who holds the most immediate connection with the first families is Mr.
* The following history of Danbury in the Revolution is reproduced, by permission, from the columns of the Danbury News through the conr- tesy of J. M. Bailey, Esq., " The Danbury News Man."
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DANBURY.
Eli T. Hoyt, who is the great grandson of John Hoyt, of the ' original eight.' Mr. Hoyt has the rare distinc- tion of having lived nnder the administration of every President, and of having voted for sixteen of them.
"By a careful wrench of the imagination we can see Danbury something as it existed then. We know from the quality of the land that the eminences were full of fir-trees. We deduce, also, from the lay of the land, that along the streams alders grew in profusion, and that in that portion east of Main Street and west of the Town Hill ridge there was a rather considera- ble swamp.
"We are pretty confident that the swamp must have been a prominent feature in the topography from the fact that the first settlers set their heart upon ealling their town Swampfield, and were only deterred there- from by the arbitrary action of the General Conrt, which substituted the name Danbury."
THE BURNING OF DANBURY.
"The American view of the night of terror which has gone down in history as the burning of Danbury has been already given in Mr. Robbins' sermon, on a previous page. The following is the English version of the affair, being Sir William Howe's official report:
"' The troops landed on the afternoon of the 25th of April (Friday), four miles to the eastward of Norwalk and twenty miles from Danbury. In the afternoon of the 26th the detachment reached Danbury, meeting only small parties of the enemy on their march, but Gen. Tryon having intelligence that the whole force of the country was collecting to take every advantage of the strong ground lie was to pass on his return to the shipping, and finding it impossible to procure carriages to bring off any part of the stores, they were effectually destroyed; in the execution of which the village was unavoidably burnt.
"' On the 27th, in the morning, the troops gutted Danbury, and met with little opposition until they came near to Ridgefield, which was occu- pied by Gen. Arnold, who had thrown up intrenchments to dispute the passage, while Gen. Wooster hung upon the rear with a separate corps. The village was forced and the enemy driven back on all sides.
"' Gen. Tryon lay that night at Ridgefield, and renewed his march on the morning of the 28th. The enemy, having been reinforced with troops and cannon, disputed every advantageous situation, keeping at the same time small parties to harass the rear, until the general had formed his detachment upon a height within cannon-shot of the shipping, when, the enemy advancing seemingly with an intention to attack him, he ordered the troops to charge with their bayonets, which was executed with such impetuosity that the rebels werc totally put to flight, and the detachment embarked without further molestation :
"'The inclosed returns set forth the loss sustained by the king's troops, and that of the enemy from the best information :
"" Return of the stores, ordnance, provisions, etc., found at the rebels' stores, and destroyed by the king's troops in Danbury .- A quantity of ordnance stores, with iron, etc .; 4000 barrels of beef and pork ; 1000 barrels of flour ; 100 large tierces of bisket ; 89 barrels of rico ; 120 puncheons of rum ; several large stores of wheat, oats, and Indian corn, in bulk : the quantity thereof could not possibly be ascertained; 30 pipes of wine; 100 hogsheads of sugar; 50 ditto of molasses; 20 casks of coffee; 15 largo casks filled with medicines of all kinds; 10 barrels of saltpetre; 1020 tents and marquees ; a number of iron boilers; a large quantity of hos- pital-bedding ; engineers', pioneers', and carpenters' tools ; a printing- press complete; tar, tallow, etc .; 5000 pairs of shoes and stocking; at a mill between Ridgebury and Ridgefield, 100 barrels of flour, and a quan- tity of Indiau corn.
"' Returned of the killed, wounded, and missing .- Ono drummer and fifer and twenty-three rank and file, killed; three field-officers, six captains, three subalterns, nine sergeauts, ninety-two rank and file, wounded ; one drummer and fifer and twenty-seven rank and file, missing. Royal artil- lery, two additional killed, three matrosses and ouo wheeler wounded, and one matross missing.
"' Return of the rebels killed and wounded .- Killed : Gen. Wooster, Col. Goold, Col. Lamb, of the artillery, Col. Hemman, Dr. Atwater, a man of considerable influence, Capt. Cove, Lient. Thompson, one linudred pri- vates. Wounded : Col. Whiting, Capt. Benjamin, Lieut. Cooe, two hun- dred and fifty privates. Taken: fifty privates, including several con- mittec-men.'
" The Connecticut Journal of that time, after speak- ing of the landing of the British and their march to Danbury, in which there are no particulars other than those given in the preceding accounts, says,-
""" Early the next morning (Saturday) Brig .- Gen. Silliman, with about five hundred militia, pursued the enemy ; at Reading he was joined by Maj .- Gen. Wooster and Brig .- Gen, Arnold. The heavy rain all the after- noon retarded tho march of our troops so much that they did not reach Bethel (a village two miles from Danbury) nutil eleven o'clock at night, much fatigued and their arms rendered useless by being wet. It was thoughit prudent to refresh the men and attack the enemy on their return. Early the noxt morning (which proved rainy) the whole were in motion : two hundred men remained with Gen. Wooster, and abont four hundred were detached under Gen. Arnold and Gen. Silliman, on tho road leading to Norwalk. At nine A.M. intelligenco was received that tho enemy had taken tho road leading to Norwalk, of which Gen. Wooster was informed, and pursucd them, with whom he came up about eleven o'clock, when a smart skirmish ensned, in which Gen. Wooster, who behaved with great intrepidity, unfortunately received a wound by a musket-ball through the groin, which it is feared will prove mortal. Gen. Arnold, by a forced march across the country, reached Ridgefield at eleven o'clock, and, having posted his small party (being joined by about one liundred men) of five hundred men, waited the approach of tho enemy, who were soon discovered advancing in a column with three field-pieces in front and three in the rear, and large flank-guards of near two hundred men in each. At noon they began discharging their artil- lery, and were soon within musket-shot, when a smart action ensucd between the whole, and which continued for about an hour, in which our men behaved with great spirit, but, being overpowered by numbers, were obliged to give way.
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