Connecticut Historical Collections

Zadock Henedicl, U,\) 17 0 Benjamin Sperry, ib'j IG 3 Robbiiis' Century Sei'iaou. 366 1) A N n u n Y . Tryon, it appears, had, a few years previous, broke down liis carriage while passing through Norwalk. I\Tr. Lockwood, being then a clerk in a store in that place, rendered Tryon some assistance, and being recog- nized by him, on account of his services on that occasion, Tryon, on his leaving Danbury, intended to give him a furlough ; while he was wri- ting it, one of Tryon's oflicers came in, exclaiming, " the d — d rebels are upon us, we must be ofi';" Tryon threw down his pen, and left his prisoner to take care of himself. As the British were entering Danbury, a Mv. Hamilton, who had a roll of cloth in some building near the Episcopal church, was deter- mined at much hazard to secure it; he accordingly went to the place where it was, took it, and being on horseback rode oft'. The enemy's light horsemen followed hard after, exclaiming, we'll have you, old daddy ! we'll have you ! Not yet ! replied the old gentleman. The light horsemen rode up and endeavored to cut him down, but the old gentleman's cloth began to unroll and fly out behind; this so frightened their horses, that they could not get within striking distance : they how- ever chased him through nearly the whole extent of the street. Mr. Hamilton turning a short corner near the north end of tlie street, the horsemen gave up the ])ursuit. Three or four men in or near Capt. Starr's house, which was situated on the west side of the street, about 40 rods above the present court house, had the temerity to fire upon the enemy ; the light horsemen rode up and cut them down, threw their bodies into the house, and set it on fire. The present Episcoj)al church was filled up to the galleries with barrels of pork and (lour; these were rolled out into the street by the enemy and burnt. It is said that it was over one's shoes in the street near by, with pork fat, after jlhe conflagration. The following account of the expedition of the l>ritish to Danbury, &ic. in April, 1777, is from the Connecticut Journal. " Oil i-'iiday, tlic 'J5ili iii.vlant, twenty six sail uf tlie ei»ein)''sship> apponicL! oiVNor- walk Islaiuls, slaiuliug in lor Cedar Puiiit, wlicrct liey anuhoivd at -1 uVluck, P.M. audsoiiii began landing troops; by 10 o'cKnk- ihey liad laiideil two brijradcs, cmsi^iinj^ of upwards oi'two thousaml inen, and marched iiumediaiely lor Danbury, wlierclliey arrived liie next day at '2 o'clock, P. M. " The handlul of conlinenial lrooi)s there were obliged to evacuate the town, hav- inj^ previously .■secured a part of the stores, provi.sions, i^cc. The enemy on their arri- val be;,'aii burning- and destroying the stores, houses, provisions, A;e. " On the appearance of the enemy, tlie country was alarmed. Early the next morn- ing, Brigadier Liciieral Silliman, wiiii about five hundred militia, (all that witc col- lected,) pursued the enemy; at Reading, he was joined by Major General Woosler, and Brigadier General Arnold. The heavy rain all the afienioon, retarded the march of our troops so much that they did not reach Bethel, (a village two miles from Dan- bury,) till 11 o'clock at night, much fatigued, and their arms rendered useless by being vet. It was thought prudent to refresh the men, and attack the enemy on their return. Early lhe~iiiext morning, (which proved rainy,) the wliole were in motion, two hun- dred men remained with Gen. Wooster, and about four hundred were detached under General Arnold and General Silliman, on the road leading to Norwalk. At 'J o'clock, A. M. intellitretice was received thai (he enemy had taken the road leading to Nor- walk, of which G(.Mieral Woosler was atlvised, and pursued iheii"\^vith wlu/in he came up about 11 o'clock, when a smart skirmishing ensued, in which General Woos- ter, who behaved witli great intrepidity, unlbrtunately received a wound by a inuskel ball, thro' the groin, which it is teared will prove mortal. Gen. Arnold, by a forced march across the country, reached Rulgehcld at 11 o'clock, and having posted his D A N B u n Y . 367 small party, (being joined by about 100 men,) of 500 men, waited the approach of the enemy, who were soon discovered advancing in a column with three field pieces in front, and three in rear, and large tlank guards of near two hundred men in each. At noon they began discharging their artillery, and were soon within musket shot, when a smart action ensued between the whole, which continued about an hour, in whicb our men beliaved with great spirit, but being overpowered by numbers, were obliged to give way, though not uniil ihe enemy were raising a small breastwork, thrown across the way, at which Gen. Arnold had taken post with about 200 men, (the rest of our small body were posted on the flanks,) who acted with great spirit; the general had his horse shot under him, when the enemy were within about ten yards of him, but luckily received no hurt; recovering iiimself, he drew his pistol and shot the soldier, who was advancing with his fixed bayonet. He then ordered his troops to retreat through a shower of small and grape shot. In the actron the enemy suffered very considerably, leaving about thirty dead and wounded on the ground, beside a number unknown buried. Here we had the mi.^lbrtime of losing Lieut. Col. Gold, one subaltern, and several privates killed and wounded. It was found impossible to rally our troops, and Gen. Arnold ordered a slanil to be made at Saiigatuck bridge, where it wa.s expected tiie enemy would pass. " At 9 o'clock A.M. the '28lh, about 500 men were collected at Saugatnck bridge, including part of the companies of Col. Lamb's battalion of artillery, with three Held pieces, uniier command of Lieut. Col. Oswald, a field piece with part cd' the artillery company from Fairfield, sixty continental troops, and three companies of volunteers from New Haven, with whom Generals Arnold and Siilim'an took post about two miles above the bridge. Soon after the enemy appeared in sight, their rear was attacked by Col. Huntington (qommandinga party of about 500 men,) who sent to Gen. Arnold for instructions, and for some oliicers to a.ssist him. Gen. Silliman was ordered to his assistance; the enemy finding our troops advantageously posted made a halt, and after .some little lime, wheeled olf to the left and forded Saugatuck river, three miles above the bridge. Gen. Arnold observing this motion, ordered the whole to march dicectly for the bridge, in order to attack the enemy in the flank. Gen. Silliman at the same time to attack their rear: the enemy, by running full yjieed, had parsed the bridge on Fairfield side with their main body, before our troops could cross it. Gen. Silliman finding it impossible to overtake the enemy on their route, prwceeiled to the bridge, where the whole were fbrmeil ; they marched in two columns, with two field pieces on the right, the other on ihe left of tiie enemy, when a smart skirmishing, and firing of field pieces ensued, which continued about three hours. The enemy having gained the high hill of Compo, several attempts were made to dislodge them, but without effect. Theenemy landed a number of fresh troops to cover their cmharka- lion, which they ellected a little l)L-foie .sunset, weighed anchor immediately, and stood across the Sound, for lluiuington on Long Island. Our loss cannot be exactly ascer- tained, no retinn being made. It is judged to be about sixty killed and wounded. Among the killed are 1 Lieut. Colonel, 1 (.'aptaiii, 1 Subalterns, and Doct. David Al- water, of this town, whose ileaili is greatly lamented by his acquaintance. Among the number wounded, are Col. John Lamb, (oi' artillery,) Arnah Bradley and Timo- thy Gurham, volunleeis from New Haven, though not mortally. " The enemy's loss is judged to be more than double our number, and about 20 pri- •soners. The enemy on this occasion behaved with their usual barbarity, wantonly and cruelly murdering the wounded prisoners who fell into iheir hands, and plunder- ing the inhabitants, burning and destroying every thing in their way. The enemy, the day before they left Fairfield, were joined by ten sail, chiefly small vessels." Dtii'Ing the Revoltitionj a lios])ital for tlie American army was kept for some time at Daiibiiiy . Two biiiltlings, each about GO feet in length, were built for that pur|)ose; ti)ey were situated about three fourths of a mile northwest from the court house, on land now owned by Samuel Wildman, Esq. Mr. Wildman lived in Danbury at the time it was burnt, and from him many of the foregoing particulars are derived. Many of tlie sick were brought from White Plains ; about 200 soldiers were buried near the hospital. A large proportion of the sick were soldiers from the south, who were not used to lite rigors of a northern climate. " In 1775, a dysentery raged In all parts of the town. The number of deaths in the town, during the year, was about 130, of which 6:t \ 368 1) A N B u n V , were in the limits of the first society. Says Mi\ Baldwin, in his Tliaiiksgivint,^ seriDon of that year, ' no less than 6-2 have been swept awiiy from within the limits of the society in less than eleven weeks, the summer past; and not far from 50 in other parts of the town. Much the greater part of this number were children,' A reuiarhable fact occurred that year. A military company of about 100 men was raised in the town, and ordered to the northern army on Lake Cham- plain. When they went, it was viewed by their friends as next to a final departure. At the conclusion of the campaign, they all returned safely, and found that great numbers of their friends had suiKc in death. The disorder had subsided before their return," Saiuhinanian Church, Daiibunj. The above is a north view of the Sandemanian church, situated neafr the norlliern part of the village of l)anl)ury. It is a small, unostenta- tious building, placed a little back of the other buildings on the mail) street, and very much resembles a common school house. It is he- lievetl 10 be the only house of worship now used by that denominatit)ii in this country.