History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 105

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317

USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 105

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¡ nals of any town in any of our wars. Eleven of the dead bore the name of Avery and six that of Perkins. The names of the killed, which were enrolled on a marble slab inside the lofty granite monument erected fifty years after the event, and the names of the wounded, corrected by Charles Allyn, Esq., in his "Centennial History of the Battle," are as follows :

Lieutenant-Colonel William Ledyard, commanding.

Groton.

Captain Elijah Avery.

Captain Elisha Avery

Lieutenant Ebenezer Avery.

Ensign Daniel Avery ....

Sergeant Christopher Avery

Sergeant Jasper Avery.

Sergeant Solomon Avery

David Avery

Thomas Avery ..

...

" Captain Samuel Allyn Ledyard, Captain Simeon Allyn

429

GROTON.

Belton Allyn ... Benadam Allyn ...

Ledyard, Groton.

Nathaniel Adams ...

Captain Hubbard Burrows

Captain Solomon Perkins, in the face.

Lieutenant Obadiah Perkins, in the breast.

Ebenezer Perkins, in the face ..

Elisha Prior. in the arm

Lieutenant William Starr, in the breast.

John Starr, in the arm.

Daniel Stanton, Jr., in the body

Stonington. Hartford.

Ensign Jos. Woodmansee, lost one eye ..

Groton.

Sanford Williams, in the body.

Asael Woodworth, in the neck.

Thomas Woodworth, in the leg.

Zite Woodworth, in the knee ..

ADDITIONAL NAMES NOT ON AVERY'S LIST, BUT IN THAT PRINTED BY MR. IIARRIS.

Samnel Stillman, arm and thigh. Saybrook. Tom Wansnc (l'equot Indian), bayonet-stab in neck Groton.

If to these we add

Edward Stanton, in the body Stonington who is in the list of wounded reported by the committee of the Legisla- ture, we have exactly the number (35) reported by Stephen Hempstead as being paroled.

The large proportion of officers among the killed and wounded is ac- counted for by the fact that after six years of war many men had been in the army or militia and earned their titles. When the alarm was sounded, the same spirit which had raised them to command at once brought them to the fort as volunteers. They were there prompt for duty. Others were officers of privateers or merchantmen lying in the harbor, whose fearless hearts prompted them to lend a hand in defenso of the fort.

OTHERS, BOTH UNHURT AND WOUNDED, NOT TAKEN PRISONERS.

Benjamin Bill, wounded in the ankle. Groton.

Josima Bill, in the leg .. 66

Benajah Holdridge

Samuel W. Jaques. Exeter, R. I. Amos Lester, in the hip. Groton.

Cary Leeds, died December 28th

William Latham, Jr. (a boy of twelve, who was allowed to go free).

Henry Mason, in the leg.

Japheth Mason ..

James Morgan, fifteen bayonet-prieks in back and legs.

Thomas Mallison

Joseph Moxley, Jr., in the body

Elisha Morgan.

John Prentis, slightly wounded.

WOUNDED ON NEW LONDON SIDE.

Samuel Booth Hempstead, shot in thigh.

Elijah Richards, died September 20th.

Jonathan Whaley.

PRISONERS CARRIED OFF.

Sergeant Rufus Avery, Caleb Avery, Peter Avery, Samuel Abraham, Joshua Baker, Reuben Bushnell, Captain William Coit (taken on New London side), Charles Chester, Nathan Darrow, Elias Dart, Levi Dart, Gilbert Edgecomb, Daniel Eldridge, Ebenezer Fish, Walter Ilarris, Jeremiah Harding, - Kilburn, Ebenezer Ledyard (hos- tage), William Latham, Jonathan Minor, Isaac Morgan, Isaac Row- ley, Lieutenant Jabez Stow (of Fort Trumbull), Saybrook, Corporal Josiah Smith, Halsey Sanford, Solomon Tift, of Groton, Horatio Wales, Thomas Welles.

The loss of so many brave, enterprising business men, mostly in the prime of life, and of not a few promising youth yet in their teens, was long felt both in the business of life and in the church. The Con- gregational Church was reduced to such an extent that it has been said that only one active male mem- ber remained. According to a report afterwards made to the Legislature of Connecticut, there were fourteen houses burned in Groton by the invading British forces immediately after the massacre on that day. They were owned by the following persons : Elihu Avery, Benjamin Chester, Elijah Avery, Ebenezer Ledyard, Youngs Ledyard, Capt. Leeds, Micha Jeffers, Edward Jeffers, Dr. Amos Prentice, Thomas Mumford, Ensign

Lieutenant Parke Avery, Jr., lost one eye ... Groton.

Eusign Ebenezer Avery, in the head

Amos Avery, in the hand.

Jobin Daboll, Jr., in the hand ..

Ensign Charles Elthridge, knee.

Christopher Eldridge, in the face.

Samuel Edgecomb, Jr., in the hand.

Andrew Gallup, in the hip.

Robert Gallup, in the body

Sergeant Stephen Hempstead, in the body

Corporal (dlehia)) Judd, in the knee.

Captain William Latham, in the thigh Groton. 16

Captain Edward Latham, in the body

Jonathan Latham, Jr., body 28

Christopher Latham, Jr., body. Groton. 16

Frederick Moore, body ...

John Morgan, in the knce ...

Jabez Pendleton, in the hand. =

Sergeant Ezekiel Bailey.

Corporal Andrew Billings Ledyard,

Andrew Baker

John P. Babcock

John Billings

Preston. Groton.

Sammel Billings.

William Bolton

John Brown

Jonathan Butler ..

Lieutenant Richard Chapman Sergeant Eldredge Chester.

Daniel Chester.

Jedidiah Chester.

Frederic Chester.

John Clark

New London.

Elias Coit

Lientenant James Comstock

William Comstock.

Philip Covill.

Daniel Davis

Daniel Eldredge ..

Jordan Freeman (colored)

Captain Elias Henry Halsey.

Long Island.

Samuel Hill

Ledyard, Groton.

John Holt. Jr.

New London.

Sergeant Rufus Hurlburt Ledyard, Groton. =

Eliday Jones.

Moses Jones. Ledyard,

Benoni Kenson

New London.

Barney Kinney.

Captain Youngs Ledyard.

Groton.

Captain Cary Leeds.

Lieutenant Joseph Lewis.

Ledyard,

Ensign John Lester.

Daniel D. Lester

Wait Lester.

Thomas Lamb.

Sambo Latham (colored).

Captain Nathan Moore.

Corporal Edward Mills

Corporal Simcon Morgan Ledyard,

Thomas Miner.

Joseph Moxley

Corporal Luke Perkins, Jr.

David Palmer

Elisha Perkins

Ledyard,

Jatke Perkins

Asa l'erkins.

Elnathan Perkins.

Simeon Perkins.

Captain Peter Richards

New London. 66

Captain Adam Shapley

Captain Amos Stanton.

Lieutenant Enoch Stanton.

Stonington.

Sergeant Daniel Stanton.

Sergeant John Stedman

Sergeant Nicholas Starr

Corporal Nathan Sholes.

Ledyard,

Captain John Williams

Lieutenant Henry Williams

Ledyard,

Lieutenant Patric Ward

Sylvester Walworth.

Joseph Wedger. Ledyard,

Thomas Williams,

Daniel Williams.

John Whittlesey ......

Stephen Whittlesey

Christopher Woodbridge. Groton.

Ilenry Woodbridge

Total, 88.

NAMES OF THE WOUNDED,

Paroled and left at home.

" A Particular Account of the Men that were Wounded at Fort Gris- wold, in the Battle with the British, on the 6th of Sept., 1781, who were paroled by Captain Bloomfield ; and Ebenezer Ledyard, Esq., was taken as Hostage to see them forthcoming, if called for." In the presence of Rufus Avery.

Ledyard, Groton.

Ledyard, Groton. 46

Thomas Starr, Jr.

David Sealmiry

Ledyard, 16

Stonington. Saybrook. =

Jonas Lester

Saybrook. Groton.

William Seymour, lost his leg.

New London. Grotou. Saybrook. New London. Groton.

New London. Hebron.

New London. Groton. :

430

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Eldredge, Capt. Moore, and John Chester. The town of Groton at that day was reputed to contain a pop- ulation of three thousand four hundred and eighty- eight persons. So soon as the shock of battle was over the sorrowful survivors are on record in town- meeting, Nov. 7, 1781, voting a supply of clothing and provisions for soldiers still in the field, the tax to pay for which was called the half-crown tax ; and the very next spring, viz., April 5, 1782, they voted to send more men into the field. But the war soon closed triumph- antly, and none more rejoiced at the termination of it and the establishment of peace and a free government than did the decimated, liberty-loving inhabitants of Groton.

Before the war and during the war attempts had been made to separate the North Society of Groton and make a new town. Just before the tragedy on Groton Heights an effort had been made to effect this division, which was no doubt delayed for a half- century in consequence of the reduced numbers caused by the massacre, the sense of consequent weakness in the number of stalwart leaders, and, above all, by the fraternity and common sympathy which had been formed and cemented in blood.

This effort towards the incorporation of a new town, to be taken from the north part of Groton, called forth the following vote in June, 1781, viz. : " Voted, That Thomas Mumford, Esq., and Capt. John Morgan be agents to represent this town and oppose a memorial preferred to the General Assembly, now sitting in Hartford, by Jonathan Brewster and others, praying for a part of this town to be set to a part of Norwich and Preston for the forming of a new town, as they shall be advised by counsel learned in the law."

In 1784, Robert Allyn was appointed to settle ac- counts with the State treasurer, and the same year Pine Swamp, east of Gale's Ferry, was ordered sold, and the proceeds divided between Groton and New London, for it had been common property between the two towns for procuring masts and spars time immemorial. In 1786 a new committee had to be appointed to oppose the indefatigable Brewster and others in their attempt to divide the town.

The question of compensation to the towns that had most suffered during the war had been agitated and memorials presented, but June 13, 1791, the town

" Voted, That Ebenezer Ledyard, Esq., be agent for the town to appear before the committee appointed by the General Assembly (to sit at Hart- ford) to look into the losses of the several towns in the State by the enemy's burning, etc., to represent and lay before said committee the losses the inhabitants of said town of Groton have sustained by the enemy's burning during the late war."

These losses by burning have been given.

In regard to the custom of towns as to building and repairing highways, it seems the town of Groton appealed to the Legislature for authority to lay a separate highway tax. It was granted, and the town was divided into five districts, corresponding to the military districts.

The same year the town gave its decided vote against alienating its Western lands, which were afterwards sold for the benefit of the public schools.

In 1797 the boundaries were run anew between the North and the South Society, which is the line now dividing the towns of Groton and Ledyard. In refer- ring to this perambulation, the committee incidentally indicated the location of the first meeting-house at Centre Groton. "It stood where Charles G. Smith's house now (1797) stands, which is one mile and twenty rods south of the society line." That Mr. Smith's house is still standing, and is owned by Miss Prudence Burrows.

In the year 1800 petitions for a turnpike to run from Groton Bank casterly to the Hopkinton line were sent to the General Assembly. Messrs. Starr Chester and Vine Stoddard were chosen to further the petition before the General Assembly. This was the origin of the celebrated New London and Providence Turn- pike Company, a corporation that served its day, but disappeared before the rise and increase of rail- roads.

It was so late as 1801 that the town voted to buy twenty additional acres of land for the enlargement of the Pequot reservation in North Groton, and it was so purchased and presented to the tribe. In 1808 the representatives were instructed to ask the General As- sembly for power to establish a home or work-house where the panpers might be provided with profit- able employment. The Legislature, by an act, per- mitted the change from the plan of scattered boarders to the system since in vogue, only the town now hires the keeper of its poor instead of owning its own farm, as the vote two years later had nearly ac- complished.

Ralph Hurlbut, Esq., and others revived the sub- ject of dividing the town, and carried a large petition to the General Assembly favoring it. It was hotly contested ; the representatives were instructed to op- pose it, and the measure again failed.

About this time the Rogerine Quakers brought in a petition asking relief from taxation, and the town voted to "abate them during the town's pleasure." This was certainly in the interest of peace towards a sect which avowed their belief in the doctrine of non- resistance. (See heading "Rogerines," herein.)

War of 1812 .- But soon the troubles with Great Britain began, and nowhere was the avowed doctrine and practice of the "Right of Search" vaunted by that power more strenuously denied than here where so many scafaring men found employment.

We have devoted so much space to the history of Groton in the Revolutionary war, in which the records of the town are so rich, and which are now for the first time more fully brought to light, that we cannot find space to go into detail in giving the part that Groton acted in the "second war for independence." IIer military were early on duty, and remained so during the war. The arrival of Commodore Decatur

431

GROTON.

in the harbor in the frigate " United States," late in the year 1812, followed by his prize, the British ship " Macedonian," which he had captured October 25th, aroused all the old enthusiasm, which had been com- paratively dormant for almost thirty years. Early in the following spring Sir Thomas Hardy, in the flag- ship " Ramillies," and Sir Hugh Pigot, in the " Or- pheus," hovered in sight of our coast. They were attended soon after by a squadron of other vessels bristling with heavy guns, and crowded with sailors and marines fresh from the brilliant naval victories of the Old World.

All was excitement along the coast. All remem- bered the 6th day of September, 1781, and Arnold's fleet. Again the fort on Groton Heights was manned. Maj. Simeon Smith, of New London, a native of Gro- ton, and a gallant gentleman, with a company of vol- unteers, repaired the breaches which time had made in its ramparts. Rumors of an instant attack filled the air, and these were confirmed by the mysterious movements of the enemy's fleet. The women and children had mostly left town for a place of safety, when Maj. Smith found he was deficient in wadding for his guns, and he then hastily sent out for flannel to be used for wadding. The stores and dwellings were mostly closed, and so the messenger from the fort was unsuccessful in his search, until he met Mrs. Auna Bailey on the street, who no sooner heard the story than she dropped her flannel petticoat, and bade them give it to the British at the cannon's mouth, and went on her way. The officers and garrison of the fort were much elated with the story, and Commodore Decatur and his officers, when the danger was past, made her the heroine of the occasion at a ball given on board the ship " United States." Mrs. Bailey was ever after much noticed for her patriotism, receiving visits from Monroe, Lafayette, Jackson, and other notables. She died in 1851, aged ninety-two years.

Although no attack was made on Fort Griswold, it was the rallying-point for observation, and was greatly strengthened for defense and annoyance to the enemy in case of an attack. Several 24. pounders were added to her ramparts, and the lower battery was made formidable with heavy ordnance and men.

Other parts of Groton were made the scene of alarm and conflict, but the British officers were often outwitted and lost not a few men. Such was the re- sult of a Yankee ruse at the mouth of the Mystic River, which separates Groton from Stonington.

It occurred two days after the gallant repulse which Commodore Hardy met at Stonington. The British fleet was lying off the Hummocks. Knowing the watchfulness of the enemy for plunder, the militia and sailors planned to decoy a barge from the fleet, filled with armed men. This they did by sending out of the Mystic a large, sharp fishing-boat, formid- ably laden with boxes, bags, and barrels, and manned by Messrs. Haley, Burrows, Park, Washington, and Tufts, who, disregarding the enemy's fleet, were seen

defiantly crowding all sail westward. Soon the well- known barge appeared, and endeavored to head them off and take them as a prize. The ruse had suc- ceeded, for the American boat, after several vain at- tempts to outsail their pursuers, in great apparent confusion and irregular rowing, started for the shore, and landed at Groton Long Point, just before they were overtaken by their pursuers, who also landed and gave chase. At this moment a whole company of Groton militiamen, under Capt. Jonathan Wheeler, rose and fired, killing some, wounding others, and driving them into the water, where they surrendered at discretion. The wounded were cared for and borne up to Mystic, and nursed till they recovered, and were exchanged, together with the rest of the crew. The captors sold the barge for twelve hundred dollars, from which a handsome sum was given to the cap- tives when they were exchanged.

We give this as a single specimen of the mode of warfare that characterized the times. We have only room for one more specimen of their mode of warfare along this harassed coast, whose inhabitants were hemmed in from their accustomed haunts upon the sea, and were kept in a constant state of alarm. The sloop " Fox," of Mystic, Capt. Jesse Crary, was cap- tured by Hardy's marines, but Crary himself and his crew escaped with the loss of his vessel and cargo. The " Fox" was a fast sailer, and her captors soon finding it out, used her to overtake and seize other American craft. Capt. Crary now purchased the sloop "Hero," procured letters-of-marque at New London, and being well armed and manned, with Capt. Ambrose Burrows in command, set sail deter- mined to recapture the "Fox." They convoyed six or eight sail of trading vessels as far as Point Judith, and then turned in quest of their game. The Amer- icans soon espied the "Fox," when, evidently sus- pecting their object, she tacked ship and ran off. The " Hero," now on her lee, gave chase. Both vessels were equal in their sailing qualities, having been built by the same ship-builder, Capt. Eldredge Packer, but the Yankees knew better how to sail their vessel. The "Fox" wore round under a whole sail breeze and attempted to bring her two brass six-pounders to bear on her pursuer, but the manœuvring of the "Hero" prevented the success of the attempt. Small- arms were now within range and were freely used, and the "Hero's" single four-pounder was brought to bear on the enemy. The "Fox" now attempted to change her course, when the impetuous "Hero" came down upon the British vessel and ran her bowsprit into the "Fox's" mainsail. A rush was then made for the enemy's deck, and the "Fox," under Lieut. Claxton, of the "Ramillies," was soon recaptured and brought into the Mystic River. Capt. Thomas Eldredge, who was wounded through the arm, is the only survivor, and he still lives at Mystic River, having retired from active business as sea-captain, he having been for many years on the New York, New

432

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Orleans, and Galveston line of steamships. These conflicts will give an idea of the kind of fighting in- cident to maritime towns.

During the presence of Decatur's ships in the Thames River, Nathan Daboll, a noted mathematical teacher of this town, and, with his father, of the same name, the originator and publisher of " Daboll's Al- manac," and the author of a world-wide treatise on arithmetic which bears his name, taught the mid- shipmen and boys on board Decatur's pent-up fleet, . and was painfully acquainted with the circumstances of a duel fought at Westerly between two midship- men belonging to our fleet, in which one of them fell and was buried in the Ledyard Cemetery, near Groton Heights. A pathetic story as told by Judge Daboll.

The senior Nathan Daboll, a resident of Centre Groton, near where the first Congregational meeting- house had once stood, commenced the publication, or rather the authorship, of the "New England Alma- nac and Farmers' Friend" about A.D. 1772. It was generally published in New London, as it has con- tinned to be for over a century. This first author died March 19, A.D. 1818. The Hon. Nathan Da- boll, his successor, who was the teacher on board De- catur's ship, was somewhat of a politician, as well as philomater, and repeatedly filled the offices of select- man, member of both branches of the General Assem- bly, also clerk and judge of the Probate Court. He received the degree of A.M. from Wesleyan Univer- sity, and died Aug. 18, 1863, aged nearly eighty-three years. His son, David A. Daboll, A.M., has followed in the footprints of his father in literary and political honors, but sketches of the living, like that of the Hon. Erasmus D. Avery and others who have en- joyed the honors and confidence of their fellow-citi- zens, though interesting, belong rather to the future biographer.

As a large part of the Eighth Regiment was of Groton, so most of its officers time immemorial were of the same town. The Allyns, the Billings, the Averys, the Morgans, the Gallups, and others were noted not only for their high military positions, but for their fine military bearing. Groton bore her full share in the privations of the war of 1812. She held the old fort on Groton Heights, as we have seen, and for many months almost daily expected a warlike raid of fire and sword, similar to the one which their fathers experienced little more than thirty years be- fore. The presence of the American fleet on the borders of the town so long pent up, being watched by the numerous naval armament of Sir Thomas Hardy, accustomed the inhabitants of Groton and New London to the constant alarms of war. Says the historian, Miss Caulkins, " An increase of force or a change of position in the blockading squadron would cause immediate apprehension.

" A signal-gun from the fort was sufficient to set every living being in motion. There were rumors of spies in town under various disguises, and suspicious

persons appeared and disappeared strangely. The American ships had in the mean time retreated up the river, and being lightened, passed the bar at Gale's Ferry.

"Commodore Decatur threw up a light intrenchment on Allyn's Mountain, near Gale's Ferry, where he had a fine view of the Sound and harbor. Some- times a sloop or schooner would be chased ashore and the inhabitants would collect to defend it. This was always the occasion of great and apparently hilarious excitement in the neighborhood. In Mystic Harbor a spirited affair of this nature occurred on the 12th of June, 1813."

One sloop had been destroyed, and another, the "Victory," had been attacked, but the enemy was driven off after a warm action of fifteen minutes by a party of about twenty Mystic men, under the com- mand of Capt. Haley.

The peace of 1815 was hailed with inexpressible de- light, and the inhabitants, sick of war and war's alarms, were glad once more to address themselves to peaceful pursuits, which certainly had suffered by the predominance of the military. Yet up to the time of the reorganization of the militia system, Groton, as we have seen, kept up her five militia companies, varying to the phases of flank and artillery compa- nies, and taking a martial pride in the semi-annual pageant of drill and review. A few of these old mi- litia captains and soldiers still live to fight their peaceful battles of parade and plumes, and wassail at the choice of officers over again as they meet to re- count old times.

CHAPTER XLI.

GROTON-(Continued).

GROTON MONUMENT-CELEBRATION, ETC.

FROM time to time after the war of 1812 there would be some memorial service on Groton Heights, like that of Rev. Timothy Tuttle on the 6th of Sep- tember, 1821, who preached a memorial sermon on that occasion. Previous to the anniversary of that day in 1825 a movement for a celebration had been made, and as the gathering of that year led to the lay- ing of the corner-stone of the present monument in 1826, the aid of the State, and the dedication of the monument afterwards, it is fitting a few words should be said further of those memorial days.

On the 1st day of August, 1825, " a meeting of citi- zens of New London, Groton, Stonington, etc.," was held in New London, in pursuance of a notice given in the public papers, to take into consideration what arrangements could be made "for perpetuating the remembrance of the battle fought at Fort Griswold on the 6th of September, A.D. 1781." Dr. John O. Miner, of Groton, was appointed chairman, and Lodo- wick Fosdick, of New London, clerk.

433

GROTON.

"Yoted, That Ebenezer Avery, Elijah Bailey, Noyes Barber, Charles Bulkeley, Elias Perkins, John P. Trott, George Hubbard, Samuel F. Denison, and Jonathan Brewster, Esquires, be and they are hereby ap- pointed a committee for the purpose of making arrangements for cele- brating in a suitable manner the coming anniversary of the 6th of Sep- tember, and to give a seasonable notice thereof.

" And said committee are also hereby requested to prepare some place for a more permanent perpetuation of said day, and report such plan to the meeting that shall convene on Groton Heights on the Gth of Sep- tember next."

This committee called a meeting on the 6th of Au- gust, at Elijah Bailey, Jr.'s, in Groton, himself a sur- vivor of the massacre, as were several others of their number. This was the first direct action towards a monument, though much had been said about it. On the 6th of August the committee met and published the outline of their plans, which was that on the ap- proaching anniversary of the massacre there would be an oration and an outdoor entertainment near Cold Spring, at Groton Bank. Subscriptions to defray expenses were directed to be taken at the several taverns in New London, Groton, Stonington, and Preston. As an inducement, the public were promised a sight of the survivors, who were to be present, and were invited to come as the guests of the public. In the next Gazette notice was given of the expected presence of the Third Regiment, Col. Ely, and of the Eighth Regiment, Col. Joseph D. Mason, also sev- eral volunteer companies attached to other corps. On the 31st of August a full programme was published, Charles Bulkeley, chairman. On the memorable day the following programme was carried out : A proces- sion, under Marshals Adam Larrabee, of Groton, and Lodowick Fosdick, of New London, was formed in the following order : (1) the escort, composed of the Third and Eighth Regiments of Infantry, Capt. Trott's corps of artillery, Capt. Allyn's corps of infantry, (both of New London), and Capt. Stanton's corps of artillery, of Stonington; (2) Revolutionary officers and soldiers, consisting of eighteen venerable surviv- ors of the massacre, some of whom were disfigured with scars received in the fort, and one wearing a vest perforated with two bullets; (3) committee of ar- rangements; (4) orator, Hon. William F. Brainard, and clergy ; (5) officers of the army and navy, and officers of the militia not attached to the escort, in uniform; (6) citizens. There were ten thousand present as estimated, and they found great difficulty in getting transportation across the Thames River. During the march, which was delayed till after one o'clock, minute-guns were fired. "They marched with imposing dignity," says the Gazette editor, "to Fort Griswold, where a thousand females, the elite of the towns, were already seated on a platform in the rear of the veterans, and heard the patriotic, vehe- ment, animated, and most eloquent oration of William F. Brainard, Esq.," which was published. The dinner came off at the Cold Spring. A company called the "Ledyard Volunteers," improvised for the occasion, temporarily manned the fort, and enlivened the scene. Rev. Dr. McEwen prayed at the beginning, and Rev.

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 105

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1317

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317