History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 156

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 156

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" Whatever effect was produced this we know, that Sir Thomas's ' un- offending inhabitants' did not agree to give up the ship, though threat- ened by a force competent, in a hnman view, to destroy them when compared with the present means of defence in their power. It was ex- claimed from old and young, ' We will defend.' The male citizens, though duly appreciating the humanity of Sir Thomas in not wishing to destroy them, thought proper to defend their wives and their children, and, in many instances, all their property, and we feel a pleasure in saying that a united spirit of defence prevailed, and, during the short hour granted ns, expresses were sent to Gen. Cushing at New London, and to Col. Ran- dall, whose regiment resided nearest to the scene of danger. The de- tachment stationed here under Lieut. Hough was embodied; Capt. Pot- ter, residing within the borough, gave orders to assemble all the officers and meu under his command that could be immediately collected. They cheerfully and quickly assembled, animated with the true spirit of patriotism. The ammunition for our two 18-pounders and 4-pounder was collected at the little breastwork erected by ourselves. The eiti- zens of the Borough, assisted by two strangers from Massachusetts, manned the 18-pounders at the breastwork, and also the 4-pounder. One cause of discouragement only seemed to prevail, which was the de- ficiency of ammunition for the cannon. This circumstance, however, together with the superior force arrayed against us, did not abate the zeal for resistance. Such guards of musketry as were in our power to place were stationed at different points on the shores. In this state of preparation we waited the attack of the enemy. About 8 o'clock in the evening they commenced by the fire of a shell from the bomb-ship, which was immediately returned by a shot from our 18-pounder. This attack of the enemy was immediately succeeded by one from three launches and four barges, surrounding the point, throwing rockets and shot into the village. This also returned as often as by the light of the rockets streaming from the barges we could discover them. Assisted by the above military force, the inhabitants alone, some seventy years old, defended the town until abont 11 o'clock, and had it not been for the spirited resistance manifested a landing no doubt would have been effected. At this time Col. Randall had arrived, and having issued orders to the militia under his command, they began to assemble, and from the short notice given them were truly prompt and active in appearing at the post of danger; some volunteers had also arrived. From this addi- tional strength the apprehensions of the enemy's landing in a measure vanished. Their shells, rockets, and carcasses having been prevented

from spreading the destruction intended, they ceased firing them about 12 o'clock. All was still from this time until daylight. A fire of rock- ets and shots from the launches and barges again commenced, which was spiritedly returned from our artillery taken from the breastwork, in open view of the enemy and exposed to their shot, on the end of the point, and they (were) compelled to recede. This truly hazardous ser- vice was nobly performed. Col. Randall having been prompt in his ap- pearance, as were all the officers and soldiers of his regiment, they were now organized, ready, and eager to receive our invaders. From the spirit manifested among the citizens, volunteers, and soldiers, and the judicious arrangements made of the troops assembled, had a landing been attempted a good account would no doubt have been given of them. We were now also assisted by numbers of volunteers.

"The barges having receded from the fire of our four and eighteen pounder on the Point, they were taken back to the breastwork.

"About eight o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, the brig 'De- spatch' hauled within half a mile of onr breastwork, and opened a well- directed and animated fire.

"Our few guns being now well manned by citizens and volunteers from Stonington, New London, Mistick, and Groton, they were ready to re- ceive her.

" Her fire was returned with a spirit and courage rarely to be equalled, and of those gallant souls who stood this conflict we can only say they gloriously did their duty. Heroes having so nobly acted, with ours will receive the plaudits of their country.

" What effect such bravery had on the enemy will appear from the fact that the brig was compelled to cut her cable and retire out of reach of our shot.

" Her anchor has since been taken up, with a number of fathoms of cable. No attack was afterwards made by the brig. This contest with the brig (called the 'Despatch') continued on our part from the breast- work until the ammunition was expended. To this circumstance, un- fortunately for the village, and mortifying to those so gallantly engaged in the defence, may be attributed the principal injury sustained by the buildings. For two hours or more she kept up a constant fire without having it in nur power to return a shot, during which time we are con- fident, had there been a supply of ammunition, she would have been taught the use and meaning of her name. The further particulars which transpired on Wednesday and Thursday having been noticed by you in the publication above referred to very correctly, the public must be sat- isfied without any comments from us.

"In the publications of the transactions of Friday we have discovered one error. Amidst the combined fire of the 'Ramillies' frigate and bomb-ship, Lieut. Lathrop and volunteers from the Norwich artillery, in fact did proceed to undertake in assisting to get off the cannon from the breastwork ; but they met other brave lads who had accomplished this hazardous duty.

" The praise, therefore, of this performance, however they may have distinguished themselves in other duties, is not correctly bestowed. In passing the proceedings of Thursday and Friday, we would not overlook the singular communication received from Commodore Hardy, which preceded the fire on Thursday.

" Two subjects, estcemed very important by Sir Thomas, seem con- nected, Torpedoes and Mrs. Stewart,-a lady, we presume, worthy of the notice even of Commodore Hardy. But a demand made on those with whom, it was well known, no power existed to comply is not a little ex- traordinary : besides, this communication is totally different from and unconnected with the one it was sent as an answer to. It would appear from reading the documents that assurances were given that no torpe- does ever did, or ever should, go from this place. This was not the fact; no promises or concessions of any kind ever were made. To this singular letter no general reply was given; that part only was noticed relative to Mrs. Stewart. The enemy left us on Friday without having accom- plished that destruction which they told us was to be effected. The damage done the buildings is estimated at about four thousand dollars.

" This would undoubtedly have been much greater had not the vol- unteer vigilant firemen from Capt. Potter's company, before mentioned, and others, continued firm at their posts, determined that not a flame kindled by those fiery engines of the enemy but should be extinguished, and it was done. This duty, perhaps, was as important and useful for the salvation of the village as any performed during the conflict.

" The list of individuals given to the public as distinguishing them- selves during the contest we esteem very imperfect. To give a correct list of all those who did distinguish themselves in the various duties that were performed is not easy to do; we shall, therefore, forbear. Having thought proper to bestow a just tribute of praise on the officers and sol- diers of the thirtieth regiment, who first arrived at the scene of action,

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

it becomes us to express, also, the high sense which we entertain of the services and judicious and soldier-like conduct of the eighth and twen- tieth Regiments, assembled under his command. During this protracted bombardment nothing more excited our astonishment and gratitude than this, that not a man was killed on our part. We understand from good anthority the enemy had a number killed and several badly wounded in their unprovoked attack upon us.

" We have made some estimate of the number of shells and fire carcasses thrown into the village, and we find there has been about three hundred. The amount of metal fired by the enemy will exceed, we think, fifty tons. About three or four tons of bombs, carcasses, and shot have been collected.

" WILLIAM LORD,

" ALEX. G. SMITII,

Magistrates. Warden.

" JOSEPH SMITHI, " AMOS PALMER,

" AMOS DENISON,

" GEO. HUBBARD,

" THOMAS ASI,

" REUBEN CHIESEBROUGHT,

Letter from Capt. Amos Palmer to the Secretary of War. From Niles' Weekly Register, Oct. 21, 1815:

" DEFENCE OF STONINGTON.

" The defence of Stonington by a handful of brave citizens was more like an effusion of feeling warm from the heart than a concerted mili- tary movement. The result of it we all know, and it afforded sincere delight to every patriot. But the particulars we have never seen so ac- curately described as in the following concise narrative from the chair- man of the committee of defence to the Secretary of War, of which we have been provided with a copy for publication .- Nat. Intelligencer.

"'STONINGTON BOROUGH, Aug. 21, 1815. "" To the Hon. WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD, Secretary of War.

" ' SIR,-The former Secretary of War put into my hands, as chairman of the committee of defence, the two eighteen-pounders and all the mu- nitions of war that were here belonging to the general government, to be used for the defence of the town, and I give my receipt for the same. "' As there is no military officer here, it becomes my duty to inform you (of ) the use we have made of it. That on the 9th of Angust lust (year) the "Ramillies," seventy-four, the "Pactolus," forty-four, the " Terror," bomb-ship, and the "Despatch," gun-brig, anchored off the harbor. Commodore sent off a boat with a flag; we met him with an- other from the shore, when the officer of the flag handed me a note from Commodore Hardy, informing that one hour was given the unoffending inhabitants before the town would be destroyed.

"' Wo returned to the shore, where all the male inhabitants were col- lected. When I read the note aloud, they all exclaimed they would de- fend the place to the last extremity, and if it was destroyed they would be Imried in the ruins.

"'We repaired to the small battery that we had hove up; nailed onr colors to the flag-staff. Others lined the shore with their muskets. About seven in the evening they put off five barges and a large launch, carrying from thirty-two- to nine-pound carronades in their bows, and opened fire from their shipping with bombs, carcasses, rockets, round-, grape-, and canister-shot, and sent their boats to land under cover of their fire. We let them come within small grape distance, when we opened our fire upon them from our two eighteen-pounders with round- and grape-shot. They soon retreated out of grape distance and attempted a landing on the east side of the village. We dragged a six-pounder that we had mounted over and met them with grape, and all our mus- kets opened fire on them. So they were willing to retreat the second time. They continued their fire until eleven at night. The next morn- ing at seven o'clock the brig " Despatch" anchored within pistol-shot of our battery, and they sent five barges and two large launches to land under cover of their whole fire (being joined by the " Nimrod," twenty- gun brig). When the boats approached within grape distance, we opened our fire on them with round- and grape-shot. They retreated and came round the east side of the town. We checked them with our six- pounder and muskets till we dragged over one of our eighteen-pound- ers. We put in it a round-shot and abont forty or fifty pounds of grape, and placed it in the centre of their boats as they were rowing up in a line and tiring on us. Wo tore one of their barges all in pieces, so that two, one on each side, had to lash her up to keep her from sinking. They retreated out of grape distance, and we turned our fire upon the brig, and expended all our cartridges but five, which we reserved for

the boats if they made another attempt to land. We then lay four hours, being unable to annoy the enemy in the least, except from muskets on the brig, while the fire from the whole fleet was directed against our buildings. After the third express from New London, some fixed ammu- nition arrived. We then turned our cannon on the brig, and she soon cut her cable and drifted out. The whole fleet then weighed and an- chored nearly out of reach of shot, and continued this and the next day to bombard the town. They set the buildings on fire in more than twenty places, and we as often put them ont. In the three days' bom- bardment they sent on shore sixty tons of metal, and, strange to say, wounded only one man, since dead. We have picked up fifteen tons, In- cluding some that was taken up out of the water and the two anchors that we got. We took up and buried four poor fellows that were hove overboard out of the sinking barge.

"'Since peaco, the officers of the "Despatch" brig have been on shore here. They acknowledge they had twenty-one killed and fifty badly wounded, and further say, had we continued our fire any longer, they should have strnek, for they were in a sinking condition ; for the wind then blew at south west, directly into the harbor. Before the ammuni- tion arrived it shifted round to the north, and blew out of the harbor. All the shot suitable for the cannon we have reserved. We have now more eighteen-pound shot than was sent us by government. We have put the two cannon in the arsenal and housed all the munitions of war.'"

No history of the battle of Stonington, during the last war with England, has yet been written wherein the part acted by the militia has been fully given. No sooner were the British ships seen inside of Fisher's Island, on the 9th of August, 1814, than the tar-barrel signals were ablaze. Col. Randall, ever on the alert, reached the place before dark, and issued the following order :

" REGIMENTAL ORDERS.

"30TH REGIMENT C. M.

" In consequence of an attack on Stonington Point, and agreeable to orders received from the Brigadier, this Regiment is called into active service, and will assemble at the dwelling house of Oliver York fortlı- with, and all officers and soldiers will attend to this order, and warn others, and assemble accordingly.

"Given under my hand at Stonington Borough this 9th day of August, 1814.

" WILLIAM RANDALL, Lieut. Col. Comdr."

Maj .- Gen. Win. Williams, of Stonington, living in New London at the time, issued an order to Brig .- Gen. Jirah Isham to call out his brigade for the defense of Stonington, which was immediately done. The following is a copy of the order issued by him to Lieut .- Col. Wm. Randall, of the Thirtieth Regiment, which did not reach him until long after he had issued his orders and nearly all of his regiment had reached the scene of battle :

" LIEUT. COL. WM. RANDALL, Comm. of the 30th Regt., Third Brigade, Conn. Militia.

"SIR,-Pursuant to orders from the Major General of the 3rd Division you will immediately call your Regt. into service in addition to the sig- nals to be given at your signal pole (if not already done) you will use every exertion to get all your Regt. out as soon as possible and march them immediately to Stonington Point that place being in imminent danger of invasion.

" Lose no time.

" Yours Itespectfully

"NEW LONDON, Ang. 9, 1814,

"JIRAHI ISHAM, Brig. Genl. 3rd Brigade. " half past 8 P.M."

Col. Randall's regiment was rallied and called out by the blazing tar-barrel signals, and without stopping to form as companies went immediately to Stonington borough, and were organized out of reach of the

Burgesses."

641

STONINGTON.

enemy's guns, and held in readiness to repel any landing that they might attempt.

The militia of the State of Connecticut at the time of the last war with England were organized in con- formity to a law of Congress enacted in 1792, consist- ing of divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, and companies. The eastern division of the State militia was at that time commanded by Maj .- Gen. Williams, assisted by staff-officers Maj. Francis Richards, Maj. Thomas Shaw Perkins, aides-de-camp ; Lieut .- Col. Coddington Billings, inspector ; Robert Coit, quarter- master.

The Third Brigade of said division was commanded by Brig .- Gen. Jiralı Isham, assisted by staff-officers Martin Lee, aide-de-camp ; George L. Perkins, brigade major ; Henry Wheat, brigade quartermaster.

The Thirtieth Regiment of said brigade was com- manded by Lieut .- Col. Wm. Randall, and the follow- ing is a correct roll of the field- and staff-officers of said regiment and their attendants at the battle of Stonington, Aug. 10, 1814:

William Randall, heutenant-colonel ; Nathan Wheeler, first major; Nathan Pendleton, second major; Henry Chesebro, adjutant ; Sam- uel Chapman, quartermaster; Giles R. Hallam, paymaster; Ira Hart, chaplain; William Lord, surgeon ; John Billings, surgeon's mate; Nathan Smith, sergeant-major; John P. Williams, second sergeant-major; Augustus L. Babcock, drum-major ; Christopher Dewey, fife-major; Jolin Champlin, private ; Henry Newgear, Giles Wheeler, Ira R. Wheeler, Nathan S. l'endleton, John Frink, Chas. T. Hart, Thomas Brooks, waiters.

The following roll-copies of the eight companies of said regiment show the names of the men who re- sponded to their country's call and marched to Ston- ington borough to defend the place when attacked by the British fleet, Aug. 10, 1814 :

THIRTIETH REGIMENT.

First Company .- Denison Noyes, captain; Reuben Palmer, Jr., lieuten- ant; Ephraim Williams, ensign; William S. Bradford, sergeant; George Sheffield, second sergeant; Joseph Noyes, third sergeant; Isaac Wheeler, third, fourth sergeant; John Yeomans, Eleazer Wheeler, Jr., Perry Barber, Jr., corporals; Privates, John Davis, Charles Palmer, John Noyes, Samuel Helme, Benjamin F. Stanton, Nathaniel M. Noyes, Peleg West, Constant Taylor, Samuel Chese- brongh (2), Thomas B. Stanton, Elihu Robinson, Charles P. Noyes, Elias Stanton, Stephen F. Stanton, Ezra Witter, John Dodge, Na- thaniel Robinson, Paul Bradford, William Chesebrough, Ross Austin, Stiles Stanton, Jabez Swan.

Second Company .- Asa A. Swan, captain ; Samuel Prentice, lieutenant ; George W. Baldwin, ensign ; Ephraim Meech, John Prentice, ser- geants ; John S. Hewitt, drummer ; Elias Wheeler, fifer ; Privates, Andrew Baldwin, Edward Coats, Jr., James Wheeler, George P. Stew- art, Avery Prentice, Coddington Swan, Samnel W. Prentice, Stephen Main, William Jackson, Christophier Avery (3), Joseph Ayer, Jr., Gurdon Chapman, Charles Church, Denison Swan, Sanford Brown, Eldridge Whipple, John Wilkinson, Levi Meech, Gardiner Mory, John Stewart, Thomas Davison.

Third Company .- Jesse Breed, captain ; William Frink, lieutenant; Dudley Brown, ensign; Daniel Bentley, Perez Wheeler, Roswell R. Avery, Ralph R. Miner, sergeants ; Elias Miner, Isaac Burdick, corporals; Privates, Asa Baldwin, Jr., Prentice Cook, Jonas Breed, Roswell Breed, Samuel Frink, Stephen Babcock, Jr., Roswell Breed, Thomas Hinckley, Jr., Simeon Baldwin, Roswell Brown, Oliver Miner, William Crandall, John Davis, Oliver Denison, Peleg L. Barber, James Bliven, John Breed, Oliver Wheeler, William S. Frink, Benjamin F. Frink, Christopher Bill, Shephard Brown, Thomas B. Miner, David Bromley, Peleg Wheeler, Cyrus W. Brown, Samuel Clarke (drummer), Charles P. Randall, Jesse Breed, Jr., Pitts D. Frink.

Fourth Company .- John W. Hull, captain; Silas Chesebrough, ensign; Henry Grant, Russell Wheeler, Elias Hewitt, Jr., sergeants; David Coats, Gilbert Miner, John D. Gallup, corporals; Joshua Clark, fifer ; Stephen Wilcox, drummer; Privates, John Breed, Ezra Stanton, Denison Miner, William Cogswell, Elijah Kenyon, James Holmes, Jr., Dudley Denison, Gilbert Brown, Luther Miner, Ansel Coats, Moses Palmer, Coddington Brown, John L. Berry, Obadialı Mathew- son, William Alexander, Robert Miner, Caleb Green, Nathan Stan- ton, Sanford Brown, Elias Irish, Joseph Tift, Benjamin F. Breed, William Chesebrough.

Fifth Company .- Jolin Hyde, lieutenant; Noyes Palmer, ensign ; Joseph D. Mason, Daniel Hobart, William Bailey, sergeants; William Wheeler, Jonathan Wheeler, corporals; Edwin Lewis, drummer; Privates, Amos Miner, Amos Gallup, Jr., Andrew Chesebrough, Amos Chiesebrough, Andrew Denison, Cyrus Peckliam, Daniel Wheeler, Daniel Mason, Elisha Frink, Elisha Brown, Elam Denison, Edward C. Williams, Frederick Denison, Frederick Denison (2), Gilbert Williams, IJazard Holmes, Henry Denison, Henry Lewis, Isaac Morgan, Jeremy Crandall, Jabez Gallup, John Leroy, John Miner, Justin Denison, John Bennet, Jesse Wheeler, Nathaniel Lewis, Noyes Lewis, Paul Miner, Robert Fellows, Samuel Stanton, Jr., Samuel Wheeler, Thomas Leeds, Theophilus Rogers, Gilbert Wheeler, Franklin Chesebrough, Franklin Palmer.

Sixth Company .- Daniel Carr, captain ; Gideon Chapman ; Nathan Chap- man, Henry Babcock, Moses Thomson, Jr., Simon Pendleton, ser- geants ; Reuben York, Cyrus Palmer, corporals; Privates, Horace Grant, Henry Grant, Julius Palmer, James York, Jr., Andrew Breed, Charles Chapman, Elias Chapman, Sanford Chapman, Palmer Chap- man, Freeman Pierce, Lewis Chapman, Amos Chapman, Robert Thompson, Jesse Chapman, Reuben Chapman, John Grey, Jr., Luke C. Reynolds, Gershom Breed, Robert Palmer, Jeffrey Chapman, Zeb- ulon York, Amos Thompson, George L. Chapman, Thomas Geere, Ezra Geere, George Geere, Jr., Lyman Willcox, Noah Willcox, Elisha Coon, John W. Eccleston, Rowland Eccleston, Amos Main (2), Elijah Perry, Simeon P. Kenyon, Joshina H. Thompson, Israel Palmer, Jr., Josepli Burton, Daniel Palmer, Richard Slocum.

Seventh Company .- Daniel Miner (2), captain ; Amos Holmes, lieuten- ant; Phineas Wheeler, ensign; Thomas Partelo, Chandler Maine, Jesse Maine, sergeants ; Joshua Brown, Avery Brown, Prentice Holmes, Benadam Palmer, corporals; Arnold Crumb, drummer ; Privates, James Brown, Lathan Brown, Sanford Brown, Joshua Brown (3), Mathew Brown, Peter Eldridge, Jonathan Allen Jr., Isaac Partlo, Jonas Partlo, Samuel Maryott, Amos Brown, Cyrus L. Park, Gurdon Ingraham, J. Ross Burdick, Isaac R. Taylor, John Allen, Allen Wheeler, Nathan York, John Maine, Daniel Dewey, John Brown, Beriah Lewis, Royal Maine, Joseph Kennedy, Nathan Kenyon, James Crandall, Joseph Holmes, Shepard Wheeler, Rufus Wheeler.

Eighth Company .- William Potter, captain ; Horatio G. Lewis, lieuten- ant: Daniel Frink, ensign; Francis Amy, Charles H. Smith, Peleg Hancox, sergeants; Gurdon Trumbull, Azariah Stanton, Jr., Junius Chesebrough, Joshua Swan, Jr., corporals; Privates, Phineas Wilcox, Hamilton White, Henry Wilcox, Nathan Wilcox, Samuel Burtch, Jonathan Palmer, Andrew P. Stanton, James Stanton, Thomas Breed, Amos Loper, Samuel Bottum, Jr., Benjamin Merritt, Elihu Chiesebrough, Jr., Christopher Wheeler, Amos Hancox, Zebediah Palmer, Nathaniel Waldron, Thomas Spencer, Nathaniel M. Pen- dleton, Simon Carew, Elisha Faxon, Jr., Ebenezer Halpin, Asa Wil- cox, Jr., Warren Palmer, Joseph Bailey, Jr., Nathaniel Lewis.

" HEADQUARTERS, Aug. 11, 1814.

" SIR,-By order of the Gen. commanding you will detach one com- pany (of about 30 men) from the Regiment under your command to stand guard at or near the bridge during the night, from which a patrol- ling party will be kept out, and be relieved from time to time; the party will be extended about one mile from the west end of the bridge to give information of the movements of the enemy, and communicate the same to Head Quarters.

" By order : GENERAL PERKINS, Maj. Brig.

" To COL. WM. RANDALL, 10th Regt."

" HEAD QUARTER,

"STONINGTON, 12th August, 1814.

"SIR,-By order of the Gen. commanding you will please detach Major Wheeler, of the 30th Regt., to take command of the Guards to be sta- tioned conformable to the enclosed order, which you will please hand to him, at the same time direct that he repair to this place at an early period for the above purpose.

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

" Major Wheeler will not neglect to station the said detachment be- fore sun-setting, and report from time to time during the night, as is re- quired by the enclosed order directed to Lieut .- Col. Tracy, of the 20th Regiment.

"GEO. L. PEAKINS, Maj. Brigade. " LIEFT .- COL. WMI. RANDALL, 30th Regt."

"Sın,-The General commanding has directed Col. William Belcher to furnish forty men to be put under your command for the purpose of extinguishing fires. You can call on him for the whole or any part of that number of men at any time when they are required.

" By order : MARTIN LEE, Aid-de-Camp.

" CAPT. WILLIAM POTTER,

" Aug. 12th, 1814."

" HEAD QUARTERS, STONINGTON, 13th Aug., 1814.

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 156

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