Show famous forts in LL S history by ELMO SCOTT WATSON OD hsi Neway sr union monument to shame of benedict arnoldin connecticut history the ha name of fort graswold stands stand sins ina a monument to the infamy of benedict arnold ente in the revolution after washington had made his dash south to cn capture liture cornwallis Cornwall ls sir henry clinton attempted a counter move by sending a force to ge connecticut ond and attack new london tho the honio home port of the american Americ nn privateers who hind been harassing the british shipping the command of this expedition was given to benedict arnold as though the measure inc asuro of hla his infamy could best lie he completed by his carrying the sword and torch into his native state new london was defended by two 1 forts forta on the thames river fort trum bull on the west side anti and fort griswold on groton till hll on the cost cast arnold had an urmy army of about 1200 men composed of a few british soldiers but mostly thirles and hessians sending scatting colonel eyre with a part of this force to take fort griswold arnold led the remainder against fort forit trumbull on september 0 1781 the militia in number and commanded by col william ledyard immediately evacuated fort trumbull and crossed over to gris wold although poorly armed many of them having nothing spears for weapons they were ste sted d to nades a desperate resistance by ther the knowledge that some of the in arnolds Arnold 9 army w were ere old neighbors of theirs so determined was their resistance that they repeatedly hurled back the assaults which eyre launched on three sides of the fort the british commander was mortally wounded as was waa major montgomery who took ills ilia place finally major bromfield the next nest in command succeeded in carrying the walls at the point of the bayonet by this time the fighting was virtually over colonel ledyard ordered his men to lay down their arms but the tories and hessians infuriated by the stubborn resistance of the americans and the loss of their leaders began a slaughter of their conquered foes to the credit of the british officers it must be said that they tried in vain to stop the massacre of the brave defenders of fort griswold 71 were killed CO 00 badly wounded and only 20 succeeded in escaping from the place of slaughter unharmed the british loss was 48 killed and woun wounded Cled ledwards Led yards sacrifice was in vain tor for arnold continued its his march to new london and reduced it and its shipping to ashes but sir henry cliftons Clin tons expedition failed in its main purpose for washington grieved though lie he was at ts plight kept on to yorktown and to victory |