Connecticut Historical Collections

New Haven, May 23, 17GG. "Last Monday morning early, an express arrived liere with the charming news; .soon after which'inany of ihe Iiihabitanis were awakened with the noise of small-arms from the dilfereni quarters of the town; all the Bells were rung; and cannon roared the glad tidings. In the afternoon the Clergy l^nblickly relumed thanks for ilie bless- ing and a company of Militia \\ere (.■olIcLieei under the priiici|ial direction of Colonel Wooster. la the evening weie Illuminaiion, Bonhre and dances — all wiihoul any remarkable indecency i>r disorder. 'I'he arrival of the regular Post troin Boston last night, hascomplciod our joy for (he wise and inicresiing repeal of the stam|i at t— Bu- siness will soon be transacted ns usual in ihis loyal Colony. — In short, cvci y ihing m nature seems to wear a more cheerful aspect than usual — to a great majority. ' The news of the battle of Lexington arrived at New Haven about noon, and Capt. Benedict Arnokl,* afterward-s Gcncfal Arnold, who was at the time commander of the Governor's Guards, immediately called out his company, and proposed their starting for Lexington, to join the American army as volunteers ; about forty of thein consented to accoirjpany their commander. Being in want of aminunition, Arnold requesteti the town authorities to furnish the company, wliich they refused to do. The next day, immediately before they started, Arnold marched his company to the house where the select men were sitting,. and after forming tiiem in front of tlie building, sent in word that if the keys of tlie powder house were not delivered up to him in five minutes, he would order the company to break it open and ftn-nish themselves. This threat had the desired effect, and the keys were delivered up- Arnold lived in Water street, near the Ship-Yard. His house is slill standing. 1G8 NEW HAVEN. They stopped nt Wetliersfield the second niglit, wliere the inl)abitants vied with each other in their attentions to them. They took the niidrllo road, through Pom (Vet, at wliich place tlicy were joined by General Putnam. On the Guards' arrival at Cambridge, they took up their quarters at a splendid mansion, owned by Lieut. Governor Oliver, who was obliged to flee on account of his attachment to the British cause. This company was the only one on the ground that was complete in their uniform and equipments, and, owing to their soldier-like appear- ance, were appointed to deliver the body of a British ofhcer, who had been taken prisoner by the Americans, and had died in consequence of wounds received at tlie battle of Lexington. Upon this occasion, one of the British officers appointed to receive the body from the Guards, expressed his surprise at seeing an American company appear so well in every respect, observing that in their military movements and equip- ments, " they were not excelled by any of his ]\Lnjesty's troops." Whilst at Cambridge, Arnold was sent by Gen. Washington, with 1000 men, with orders to penetrate into Canada, which, after encoun- tering immense obstacles, was finally accom|)lished. About a dozen of the Guards accompanied him in this expedition. The remainder, after remaining nearly three weeks at Cambridge, returned to New Haven. During the Kevolutionary war, while the enemy held possession of New York, the towns on the sea-board were continually liable to their incursions. In the canqiaign of 1779, the British seemed to have aimed at little more than to plunder, distress, and consume. The attack on this town took place on Monday, July 5th, 1779, the day on which the citizens were to assemble for the purpose of commemorating the Declaration of Indepenilencc. The following account of this event is taken from the Connecticut Journal, published in New Haven, July 7th, 1779. Neiv Haven, July 1th. About two o' clock on the morning of the 5th instant, a fleet consist- ing of lht> (Camilla and Scorpion mi;n of war, \vith tcntlers, transjiorts, &ic. to tlie nurnher of 48, commanded by Commodore Sir (icorge Col- lier, anchored oil' AVcst Haven. They had on board about 3000 land forces, commanded by Major Cicn. Tryon ; about 1500 of whom, under Brigadier Gen. Garth, landed about sun-rise on 'West Haven point. The town being alarmed, all the preparation which the confusion and distress of the inhabitants, and a necessary care of their families would permit, was made for resistance. The ^Vest bridge, on INIilford road, was taken up, several field pieces were carried thither and some slight works thrown up for the defense of that pass. The division under Gen. Garth being landed, immediately began tlieir march towards the town. The first opposition was made by about 25 of the inhabitants, to an advanced party of the enemy of two companies of light infantr}^ These, though advancing on the height of JMilford hill, were attacked with great spirit by the handful of our people, driven back almost to West Haven, and one of them was taken jjrisoner. The enemy then advanced in their main body, with strong flanking parties, and two field pieces : and finding a smart fire kept up from our field pieces at the NEW HAVEN. 169. bridge aforesaid, chose not to force an entrance to the town by that, the usual road, but to make a circuitous march of nine miles, in order to enter by the Derby road. In this march our small parly on Milford hill, now increased to perhaps 150, promiscuously collected from several companies of the militia, had a small enc(Hmter with the enemy's left flank, near the INIilford road, in which was killed their adjutant Cmwp- bcU,* the loss of whom they lamented with much apparent sensibility. Our people on the hill, beini^ obliged by superior numbers to give way, kept up a continual fire on the enemy, and galled them much, tbrougfi all their march to Thomson's bridge on the Derby road. In the mean time, those who were posted at the West bridge, perceiving the move- ments of the enemy, and also that another large body of them bad landed at the South Eiiil, on the east side of the Harbor, quitted the bridge and marched thence to oppose the enemy at Tliomson's bridge. But by the time they had reaclied the banks of the river, the enemy were in possession of the bridge, and the places at which the river is here fordable ; yet having received a small accession of strength by the coming in of the militia, they gave the enemy a smart fire from two field pieces and small arms, which continued with little abatement, till the enemy were in possession of the town. Our.))eople being obliged to retreat, either to the fields north and west of the town, or through the town across the Neck bridge, the enemy entered the town between 12 and I o'clock. In the mean time, the division of the enemy, before mentioned to have landed at South End, which was imder the imme- diate command of Gen. Tryon, was bravely resisted by a small party of men,, with one field piece, who, besides other execution, killed an officer of the enemy, in one of their boats at their landing. This di- vision marched up by land, and attacked the fort at Black Rock ; at the same time their sliij)ping drew up and attacked it from the harbor. The fort had only 19 men, and li pieces of artillery, yet was defended as long as reason or vidor dictateil, and then the men made good their retreat. The town being now in full possession of the enemy, it was, not- withstanding the subjoined proclamation, delivered yp, except a ftiw instances of protection, to promiscuous plunder: in which, besides rob- bing the inhabitants of their watches, money, pifite, buckles, clothing, bedding and provisions, they broke and destroyed iheir household furniture to a very great amount. Some [\miilies lost every thing their houses contained : many have now neither food nor clothes to shift. A body of militia sufilclent to penetrate the town, could not be col- lected that evening : we were obliged therefore to content ourselves with giving the enemy every annoyance in our power, which was done with great spirit for most of the afternoon at and about the Ditch- corner. * His grave is still to be seen on the summit of the high ground on the Millord road, near the iniuicbction of the Orange oi^ West Haven road. After lie was shot, he was carried mlo ii small house then standing in the vicinity. He was attended by his servant till lie expired. oo 170 N r: w n v v k n. Early on Tuesday morniii^^ the enemy unexpectedly, and with the utmost stillness and dispatch, called in tlu.'ir n;nar(ls and retreated to their boats, carrying wiih iheni a number of the inhabitants captive, most, if not all of whom, were taken wiihont arn)s, and a few wdio chose to accompany them. Part of them went on board their fleet, and part crossed over to General Tr) (jii at Jvir^t Haven. On Tuesilay aliernoon the miliiia collected in such numbers, and crowded so close upon Gen. Tryon, that he ihoughl best to retreat on board his fleet, and set sail to the westward. The loss of the enemy is unknown ; hut for many reasons it is sup- posed to be considerable, and includes some officers whom they lament besides Adjutant Campbell, Ours, by the best information we can ob- tain, is 27 killer!, and 19 womided. As many of our dead upon examlnalion appeared to have been wcjunded with shot, but not nior- liilly, and afterwards to have been killed with bayonets, this demon- straied the true reason why the number of the dead exceeded that of the wounded to be, that being wounded and falling into the enemy's bands, they were afterwards killed. A lui-ther confirtnation of this charge is, that we have lidl ;md direct testimony, which aliirms that Gen. Garth declai(;d lo one of our militia v. ho was wounded and taken, that " he was sorry his ujen had not kdled hiui, instead of taking him, and that he would not ba\e his men give (juarter to one militia man, taken in arms."