USA > Connecticut > Tercentenary pamphlet series, v. 1 Connecticut and the British Government > Part 17
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With the settlement of the western frontier, all avail- able land in the colony was at last laid out in townships and all future towns, which were destined to be nearly one hundred in number, were to be formed by processes
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of subdivision and conjunction within the areas of the parent communities.
Four stages are to be noted in the settlement of the Connecticut towns. The first includes the coast towns and those which were located on the principal river, the Connecticut. These towns fall within the first twenty years of the colony's history. The second stage, covering the next fifty years, marks the beginning of the opening of the back country, when towns were started at some distance from the older towns, generally on the smaller rivers and sometimes twenty or thirty miles from the coast. The third stage is characterized by a filling-in process of the real background of the colony, effected partly by migration of groups as in the earlier stages, but more often by the artificial method of land purchase and land promotion. In this stage the group was losing its identity as a homogeneous body of neighbors or as a covenanted company of church members and was be- coming a fortuitous collection of purchasers, sometimes from the same quarter and sometimes from widely scat- tered quarters, of rights and shares. Though dates have no special significance in this connection, this stage covers approximately the first thirty years of the eight- eenth century. The fourth stage, during which the last of the lands of the colony were assigned, concerns what may be called the frontier wilderness of the colony, when lands were dealt with in speculative fashion and whole townships were auctioned off to the highest bid- ders. With the disposal of the "western lands" the spirit of speculation reached its height in the colony and the original conditions of settlement, such as appear in the coast and river towns of the last three-quarters of the seventeenth century, had entirely disappeared. From this time forward purchasers of new and unoccupied
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lands had to look outside the colony, to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont and even central New York and the further West, for the acquirement of virgin soil. The steady push of the Connecticut settlers up from the coast and out from the rivers had come to an end, the boundaries had been reached and the frontier of the colony had ceased to exist.
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Connecticut. y ) saying withprawns som nifer is
TERCENTENARY COMMISSION OF THE · STATE OF CONNECTICUT
QUI
SUSTINET
TRANSTULIT
COMMITTEE ON HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS
George Washington and Connecticut in War and Peace
PUBLISHED FOR THE TERCENTENARY COMMISSION BY THE YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS 1933
GEORGE WASHINGTON AS PRESIDENT PAINTED AT PHILADELPHIA IN 1793 BY JOHN TRUMBULL (1756-1843) Purchased from the artist by Yale University in 1831 Now on exhibition in the Gallery of Fine Arts.
TERCENTENARY COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
COMMITTEE ON HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS
George Washington and Connecticut in War and Peace
GEORGE MATTHEW DUTCHER
W HILE Washington journeyed into each of the original thirteen states at least once, he made four round trips across Connecticut besides visiting the state on two other occasions. His career was mainly associated with a narrow zone lying along the route from Mt. Ver- non through Philadelphia and New York to Boston. Though he spent long periods in the immediate vicinity of Philadelphia and New York and made a single long stay at Cambridge, Massachusetts, his acquaintance with Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts was otherwise limited. Across the four smaller states along the route, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, he travelled frequently in various directions so that he may be said to have known these states more thoroughly than the others. While he was in Maryland a greater number of times than in any other state except his native Virginia, there were considerable sections that he never visited; and while his Revolutionary campaigns kept him in New Jersey for long periods, his acquaint- ance really extended to only about one half of the state.
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In the cases of Connecticut and Rhode Island, however, he repeatedly crossed each state in various directions, so that there was no considerable section which he did not visit. Though he was never in either of the two states for more than a few days at a time, his visits to Connecti- cut were more numerous and more protracted.
The contacts of Washington with Connecticut began with his first visit to New England early in the French and Indian War. On August 14, 1755, after Braddock's defeat, Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia commissioned Washington "Colonel of the Virg'a Regim't and Com'd'r- in-Chief of all the Forces now rais'd and to be rais'd for the Defence of y's H. M'y's Colony. ... " The ensuing operations involved acting across Maryland territory, near Cumberland, which brought him into conflict with the local Maryland commander, Captain Dagworthy, who held a British royal commission. The consequent disputes over the relative rating of royal and colonial commissions determined Washington, with the hearty support of Governor Dinwiddie, to carry his appeal to Governor Shirley of Massachusetts, who then ranked as commander in chief in North America. The undertaking involved heavy personal expense and the hardship of a winter journey of a thousand miles on horseback.
On this errand Washington set out in due state on February 4, 1756. After spending some days in Philadel- phia, he lingered in New York where he passed his twenty-fourth birthday. Across Connecticut he hastened by way of the old Post Road through the towns along the Sound as far as New London, and thence through Nor- wich1 and Providence. Boston was reached before the end
IDefinite information is not available concerning the exact route followed on this journey from New London to Providence, or on the return trip be- tween Providence and New London, but the routes indicated in the text are considered probable.
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of the month. After transacting successfully his business with General Shirley, as witnessed by an order dated March 5, 1756, his return journey took him across only the corner of Connecticut between Westerly and New London, whence he crossed the Sound and travelled through Long Island to New York. A few more days were passed agreeably with friends in New York, and on March 23 he was back in Virginia. Washington's ex- pense account for the trip, a few passing references in his correspondence, and five brief entries in the Pennsyl- vania Gazette constitute the principal contemporary evi- dences now available concerning this journey. Of his hurried passage through Connecticut no record of even a single incident or observation seems to have survived. Few persons today are aware that in this seven weeks' trip Washington anticipated by nearly twenty years his famous journey of June, 1775, to Cambridge.
At the initiative of John Adams of Massachusetts, Washington was chosen by the second Continental Con- gress, commander in chief of the forces of the United Colonies on June 15, 1775. Six days later he set out on horseback from Philadelphia to assume command. After stopping for a few days in New York to acquaint himself with the situation there, and to take such measures as were required by the local circumstances, he travelled by way of New Haven, Hartford, and Springfield to Cambridge, where he arrived on July 2 and assumed command the following day. Only slight record survives with regard to Washington's experiences or observations in passing through Connecticut, either in 1775 or on his return journey from Cambridge to New York in 1776.
2 It is assumed, though the data are not conclusive, that this journey from New Haven to Hartford was made through Wallingford, Durham, and Middletown, and that the night of June 29-30 was spent in the Silas Deane house at Wethersfield.
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The Connecticut Courant (Hartford) of Monday, July 3, 1775, has only the following brief notice of Washington's appointment and journey to Cambridge:
On Friday last [June 30] passed through this Town for the Camp at Charlestown, his Excellency General Washington, appointed by the Hon. Continental Congress, Commander in Chief of all the Provincial Troops in North-America. He was accompanied by General Lee, and a Number of other Gentle- men.
The same journal contains no reference to the general's return after the British evacuation of Boston. Setting out from Cambridge on April 4, 1776, General Washington travelled by way of Providence, Norwich, New London, and New Haven, and arrived in New York on the thirteenth. Mrs. Washington, however, made the journey by way of Hartford as is shown by the following entry in the Connecticut Courant of Monday, April 15, 1776:
Friday last [April 12] the Lady of his Excellency General WASHINGTON, passed through this Town, on her Way to New-York.
More than four weary years elapsed between Washing- ton's journey through Connecticut in April, 1776, and his next visit to the state. In pursuance of the treaty of alliance between France and the United States, signed in February, 1778, a body of French troops under the command of General Comte de Rochambeau, escorted by a fleet under Admiral de Ternay, arrived at Newport on July 10, 1780. The first communications between Washington and Rochambeau were conducted by La- fayette. Many reasons, however, pointed to the desira- bility of a personal conference between the two com- manders. The precarious state of operations around New York made the absence of Washington, especially for any considerable period, most undesirable. Inasmuch as
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the French forces at Newport had been promptly block- aded by a superior English fleet, it was likewise inexpedi- ent for the French general and admiral to absent them- selves for long. Under these circumstances the interview was arranged for a midway point. Hartford was selected as the place and September 20 as the date.
Accordingly Washington left his headquarters in Bergen County, New Jersey, near the New York line, on September 18, 1780, crossed the Hudson at King's Ferry (Stony Point) and arrived at Hartford3 on the twentieth. The American commander in chief was ac- companied by General Knox who commanded the artil- lery and engineers in the Continental army, by the Marquis de Lafayette, and by several aides and an escort. The Comte de Rochambeau was accompanied by several officers of his staff and by Admiral de Ternay. This historic first meeting of the commanders of the two allied forces took place in the Wadsworth mansion which stood on the site of the present Wadsworth Athe- næum. The honor conferred upon Hartford by this famous meeting was modestly borne, for the Connecticut Courant of Tuesday, September 26, indulged in not a single headline and confined its record of the event to these seventy-nine words:
Last week their Excellencies Governor TRUMBULL, General WASHINGTON, Count ROCHAMBEAU, and Admiral TERNAY arrived in this town, with the Marquis DE LA FAYETTE, Gen- eral KNOX and several other officers of distinction from the
3 Conclusive evidence is lacking with regard to the route followed on this journey from the Hudson to Hartford, but the weight of evidence seems to indicate that the same route was taken as on the return journey and on the trips in March and May 1781. The present writer is inclined to believe that this is due to confusion with the other journeys, and that this trip was made from Peekskill to Ridgefield and thence through Woodbury and Farmington to Hartford.
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allied Armies. The greatest satisfaction was expressed by the parties at this meeting, and the highest marks of polite respect and attention were mutual. The corps of Guards and Artillery were on duty, and saluted with thirteen Cannon on the arrival and departure of these Gentlemen.
The participants on each side seem to have carried away the most agreeable impressions of their new friends. The results of the discussions were embodied in a docu- ment in the form of propositions submitted by the French and of answers prepared by Washington. The principal conclusion was that no effective operations could be undertaken without additional resources in men, ships, and money to be provided from France. Operations during the remainder of the calendar year seemed precluded by the lateness of the season, by the presence of the superior British fleet off Newport, and by the impossibility of securing the cooperation of a second French fleet under the Comte de Guichen. In view of these circumstances the conference was less pro- longed than had been anticipated, so that Washington set out on his return journey two days ahead of schedule. Furthermore, he suddenly changed his route and, instead of returning the way he had come, he rode from Litchfield by way of Fishkill to West Point where his unexpected arrival on the morning of September 25 happened just in time to balk the treason of Arnold, Connecticut's way- ward son. It may be mentioned that of the fourteen gen- erals who composed the court which tried Major André a few days later, three were natives of Connecticut: Huntington, Parsons, and Paterson.
In order to attend a second conference with the French officers, Washington made his next journey through Connecticut, leaving his headquarters at New Windsor, near Newburgh, on March 2, 1781. He trav-
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elled by way of Hartford and Lebanon,4 the home of Governor Trumbull, where some of the French were quartered. Immediately upon his arrival at Newport, on March 6, he went on board the flagship of the French naval commander, Admiral Destouches, to initiate the deliberations. Two days later in pursuance of the plans agreed upon, Destouches sailed for the Chesapeake to assist in an attempt to capture Arnold and his British troops who were then ravaging Virginia. Unfortunately he encountered the British fleet off the Capes and after a fight on March 16, found it desirable to abandon the enterprise and return to Newport. Thus, abruptly, the purpose of the conference had been frustrated before Washington was able to get back to his headquarters. The return journey, begun on March 13, was made by way of Bristol to Providence and thence through Bol- ton, Hartford, and Litchfield back to New Windsor where Washington arrived once more on March 20. The Connecticut Courant in its editions of March 6 and March 20 respectively, noted, with its customary brevity, the passage of Washington through Hartford on this journey both going and returning:
Sunday last [March 4] his Excellency General Washington, with his suite, passed through this town, on his way to the Eastward.
Last Friday afternoon [March 16] his Excellency General WASHINGTON arrived in town from Newport, and on Sunday morning proceeded on his journey to the Army.
The situation of the French was sufficiently altered by
4 Again conclusive evidence does not exist to determine the route taken from Lebanon to Newport or on the return journey from Providence as far as Bolton. The available evidence strongly favors Lebanon, Norwich, North Stonington, Jamestown, Newport for the outward trip, and Providence, Plainfield, Canterbury, Windham, Bolton as the return route. There seems to be no adequate proof to support the supposition of some writers that the return journey was made through Pomfret.
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May II so that Rochambeau and the Comte de Barras, who had arrived to take over the command of the fleet, wrote Washington requesting a third conference. Accord- ingly, he proposed that the meeting occur at Wethersfield on May 21. For this purpose Washington again left his headquarters at New Windsor on May 18 and recorded in his Diary under the nineteenth: "Breakfasted at Litchfield-dined at Farmington-and lodged at Weath- ersfield at the house of Joseph Webb .... " On the follow- ing day, Washington, "Had a good deal of private con- versation with Govr. Trumbull," and consulted with Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth and others about Connec- ticut's cooperation in the ensuing campaigns. Though the commander of the French fleet, Admiral Comte de Barras, was unable to be present, Rochambeau and General Chevalier de Chastellux, with their staffs, reached Hartford on the twenty-first where they were met by Washington and Generals Knox and Du Portail and the accompanying officers.
After receiving the welcome of the citizens of Hart- ford, the whole party went to Wethersfield where the conference was held, in the Webb house. Washington's Diary makes clear that, contrary to statements widely current, this conference did not definitely arrange for the Virginia campaign which culminated at Yorktown, but did decide, after considering the two alternatives, to plan for immediate operations against General Sir Henry Clinton in New York. Developments in connection with the ensuing campaigns and later news from Admiral de Grasse led, in August, to the sudden determination to adopt the alternative plan which had been discussed at Wethersfield and to transfer operations to the Chesa- peake and Virginia. From this fourth and last visit to Connecticut as commander in chief of the Continental
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forces, Washington returned by the same route from Wethersfield through Litchfield to New Windsor where he arrived on May 25. Meanwhile, in April, 1781, by a special vote of the corporation, Yale College had con- ferred on Washington the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Harvard had bestowed the same honor five years earlier.
The Connecticut Courant of May 29, 1781 contains only the following uninforming notice of the Wethersfield con- ference:
On Saturday the 19th instant his Excellency General WASHINGTON, accompanied by General KNOX, Gen- eral DU PORTAIL, and their respective Suites, arrived at Wethersfield; being escorted into town by a number of Gen- tlemen from Hartford and Wethersfield. As he dismounted at his Quarters he was saluted by the discharge of thirteen Can- non, by the Corps of Artillery under the command of Capt. Frederick Bull.
On Monday the 2Ist instant, his Excellency the Count De ROCHAMBEAU commanding the Army of His Most Chris- tian Majesty, at Newport, General CHATTELEAU [Chastel- lux], and their Suites, arrived at Wethersfield. They were met at Hartford by his Excellency General Washington, the Officers of the Army, and a number of Gentlemen who accompanied them to Wethersfield, where they were saluted with the Dis- charge of Cannon. Every Mark of Attention and Politeness were shewn their Excellencies and the other Gentlemen of the allied Armies, whilst attending the Convention.
It was as president that Washington made his final journeys through Connecticut. Shortly after the close of the first session of the first congress in 1789, Washington decided that it would be politic to undertake a tour through the New England states. With characteristic modesty he determined to accept no private hospitality but to secure entertainment at his own expense at inns and taverns along the route. He travelled by coach, though
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sometimes changing to horseback, and was accompanied by his aide and secretary, Major William Jackson and Mr. Tobias Lear, and attended by six servants. Though there was little opportunity to herald his coming he was wel- comed everywhere with the utmost enthusiasm. The tour was begun on October 15 from New York City, which was then temporarily the nation's capital. As far as New Haven it seems to have been comparatively un- eventful, but in that city and from there onward spon- taneous and cordial demonstrations greeted his progress.
The Connecticut Gazette (New London) of Friday, Octo- ber 30, 1789, under a date line of New Haven, October 21, furnished the following account of the president's visit in that city :
The citizens of this place were highly gratified by the pres- ence of the President of the United States, who came to town last Saturday [October 17] afternoon in good health. The next day he attended divine service in Trinity Church. His Excel- lency the Governor, his honor the Lieutenant-Governor, Hon. Roger Sherman, the honorable the Speaker, of the House of Representatives with the Treasurer, dined with him ;- and attended the afternoon Service, at the Rev. Dr. Edward's5 Meeting.
Early on Monday morning, the President set out from hence, for the Eastern States.
The Connecticut Courant for Monday, October 19, announced :
We are informed that the ILLUSTRIOUS PRESIDENT of the United States set out from New-York on a tour to the Eastward, last Thursday morning [October 15]; and that he may be expected in this city this evening.
In the issue for the following week, October 26, the visit to Hartford is described in the following lines:
5 Jonathan Edwards, Jr., was minister of the society now known as the United Church.
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The Illustrious President of the United States with his Suite, arrived in this City on Monday last [October 19], escorted by the Governor's Troop of Horse Guards, dressed in an elegant uniform, and by a large number of Gentlemen on horseback. Tuesday he spent the day in town-went to view the various branches of the woolen manufacture, and expressed great satisfaction at the progress, which had been made in that useful undertaking. On Wednesday, he proceeded on his tour to the Eastern States. The Corporation expressed their own sentiments and those of their fellow-citizens in the following address . ...
This account was followed by an address from the citi- zens of Hartford signed by the mayor, Thomas Seymour, and by Washington's reply thereto. The return journey through Hartford was thus briefly noted in the Connecti- cut Courant of Monday, November 16:
Last Monday afternoon [November 9] the President of the United States arrived in this City, from the Eastward, and next morning sat out for New-York.
Fortunately Washington has left his own daily record of this memorable journey and of his accurate observa- tions of the country through which he passed. Leaving New York on October 15, the distance of the first "day's travel was 31 miles. . . . to the Tavern of a Mrs. Haviland at Rye." The president's Diary6 then proceeds:
Friday, 16th. About 7 o'clock we left the Widow Haviland's, and after passing Horse Neck, six miles distant from Rye, the Road through which is hilly and immensely stoney, and trying to Wheels and Carriages, we breakfasted at Stamford, which is 6 miles further, (at one Webb's) a tolerable good house, but not equal in appearance or reality to Mrs. Haviland's. In this Town are an Episcopal Church and a meeting house. At
6 The Diaries of George Washington, 1748-1799, edited by John C. Fitz- patrick, A.M., Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, vol. IV, pp. 21-52. Grateful acknowledgment is made to Mr. Fitzpatrick and to The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union for permission to reprint the following extracts.
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Norwalk, which is ten miles further, we made a halt to feed our Horses. To the lower end of this town Sea Vessels come, and at the other end are Mills, Stores, and an Episcopal and Presbiterian Church.
From hence to Fairfield, where we dined and lodged, is 12 miles; and part of it very rough Road, but not equal to that thro' Horse Neck. The superb Landscape, however, which is to be seen from the meeting house of the latter is a rich regalia. We found all the Farmers busily employed in gathering, grinding, and expressing the Juice of their apples; the crop of which they say is rather above mediocrity. The average crop of Wheat they add, is about 15 bushels to the acre from their fallow land-often 20, and from that to 25. The Destructive evidences of British cruelty are yet visible both in Norwalk and Fairfield; as there are the chimneys of many burnt houses standing in them yet. The principal export from Norwalk and Fairfield is Horses and Cattle- salted Beef and Pork-Lumber and Indian Corn, to the West Indies, and in a small degree Wheat and Flour.
Saturday, 17th. A little after sun-rise we left Fairfield, and passing through Et. Fairfield breakfasted at Stratford, wch. is ten miles from Fairfield, and is a pretty village on or near Stratford Rivr. The Road between these two places is not on the whole bad (for this country)-in some places very gd., especially through Et. Fairfield, wch. is in a plain, and free from stone.
There are two decent looking Churches in this place, though small, viz: an Episcopal, and Presbyterian or Congregation- alist (as they call themselves). At Stratford there is the same. At this place I was received with an effort of Military parade; and was attended to the Ferry, which is near a mile from the center of the Town, by sevl. Gentlemen on horseback. Doctr. Johnson7 of the Senate, visited me here, being with Mrs. Johnson in this Town, (where he formerly resided). The Ferry is near half a mile; and sometimes much incommoded by winds and cross tides. The navigation for vessels of about 75 Tons extends up to Danby [Derby], ten miles higher, where it is said there is a pretty brisk trade. At Stratford they are es-
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