The Battle of Groton Heights was the last major military engagement fought in the northern theater of the Revolutionary War and the largest battle fought in Connecticut. But what really makes it such an important battle to study is due to the egregious actions taken by the British and that their commander was none other than the infamous traitor, Benedict Arnold. The main scene of fighting occurred in Groton at Fort Griswold, which is a well-preserved fortification that you can tour today.
History
On September 6, 1781, a group of British soldiers under the command of Benedict Arnold (who then wore a British Brigadier General’s uniform) landed on either side of the Thames River on the Connecticut coast. Approximately 800 soldiers landed on the New London side to disrupt and harass the maritime community as another 800 landed on the Groton side, with the goal of attacking Fort Griswold on Groton Heights. One can only imagine what went through Benedict Arnold’s mind as he led an attack upon his own statesmen (he was from Norwich- upriver from Groton/New London).
On September 6, Fort Griswold (which was built in 1775 to protect the harbor) was manned by around 165 Connecticut militiamen and volunteers under the command of Colonel William Ledyard. Around 10am, British troops under command of Colonel Edmund Eyre had reached Fort Griswold and demanded the small garrison’s surrender (although the British artillery did not make it to the fort due to the rough terrain).
Colonel Ledyard and his men decided to defend the fort and refused surrender (they hoped that militia from the surrounding countryside would respond to the alarm and reinforce them). After one last demand, British Colonel Eyre threatened to provide no quarter to the men defending the fort. The American response: “we will not give up the fort, let the consequences be what they may.”
The far superior British force began the assault and were met with a deadly artillery barrage; however, their advance continued. As British troops began to breach the fort at different points (which included turning a fort cannon around on the defenders), the fighting quickly turned to hand-to-hand combat. At one point, British Major William Montgomery was leading a group of men over the fortification when he was impaled by a spear and killed.
After an intense fight that lasted about 40 minutes, a few British regulars managed to open the main gate to the fort and the troops poured in. Having realized the reality of the situation, Colonel Ledyard ordered his men to cease fighting. What happened next has been subject to some controversy (its been recorded differently by the Americans and the British).
The most detailed and consistent accounts state that following the fort’s surrender, nothing short of a massacre ensued. After Colonel Ledyard’s surrender of his sword, he was allegedly killed with his own sword, while his fellow defenders were massacred. The stats that support this were that only a handful of Americans were killed prior to the surrender; however, when all was said and done, at least 85 Americans were dead and over 40 severely wounded. While this extreme violence and confusion could have been the result of a few factors, the fort was still lost and dozens of men killed. The British lost around 50 men killed and over 130 wounded. Following the battle, many wounded were brought to the nearby home of Patriot Ebenezer Avery.
Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park
As one of the best preserved Revolutionary War-era fortifications, Fort Griswold is an awesome place to visit and a must-see for any history buff!
In 1953, Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park was designated as Connecticut’s 60th state park. Already on site was an 1830 granite memorial, which was the very first Revolutionary War obelisk-style monument in the United States. At 135 feet tall, the towering monument can be seen from passing ships on the Thames River. Next to the monument is the Monument House Museum, which displays artifacts and exhibits about the battle. There is no fee to visit the museum or grounds (the museum is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, Wednesday-Sunday, 9-5pm).
Walking into the original fort, you can immediately get a sense for the size and breadth of the defenses- it would have been very difficult to defend with only 165 men against an army over four times that size. Although the earthworks have sunken and diminished over time and the wooden parapets are long gone, the 245 year old fort is in remarkable shape.
Within the fort there are a few interpretive signs that give a history of the state park and fort itself, including a raised overlook that offers a stunning view of the Thames River and lower battery. We walked the perimeter and eventually came to a stone tunnel at the southern end of the fort. This tunnel will take you outside of the original fortification and down towards the lower battery, closer to the river.
The lower battery has raised earthworks and a shot furnace from 1843 (which was used to heat cannonballs to fire at wooden vessels).
Nearby is the Ebenzer Avery House, which was built in 1750 and originally stood on Thames Street. Today, the historic home is available to tour (its open from May to August and from Friday-Sunday). Interestingly, Ebenezer Avery fought at the fort on September 6 and was badly wounded- he was brought back to his own house to recover. We weren’t able to tour the house, but it was cool to see.
The action that took place at Fort Griswold is the story of the American Revolution. The farmers, blacksmiths and everyday colonists fought tooth and nail to defend their hometowns from an invading enemy. Many gave the ultimate sacrifice mere steps from their homes and too many wives had to bury their husbands. While the Battle of Groton Heights may not be mainstream Revolutionary War history, it is certainly an integral part of the war and American history.