Connecticut Historical Collections

"When infoniKiiiou iif the enemy's Uindini; at ^Vcst Haven reached the town, ami as their forces a|)])ioaehe(l the place, persons of every age aiiti sex were seen lleein'^ in all direclions. A nuniber of the in- habitants took rijfiige on the l"'ast liock. where they remained until the enemy left New Haven. Many, however, chose to remain, hoping that by staying (]tiietly in their habitations, they should be secure from tho molestations of the enemy ; but a large number of the more patriotic inhabitants made instant preparations to harass tlie Englisb as much as possible. Capt. James Ilillhouse, with a small band of brave young men, some of whom were students of Yale College, advanced very near the royal troops, while on jiarade ground near the \Vest Ha\'en cburcb ; and when tliey commenced their march, fired on the advanced guards and drove them back to the main body ; but owing to superior numbers, this little band was soon forced to retreat. The Re'\ Dr. Daggett, at that time president of Yale College, was a warm friend to the American cause ; — armed with a musket, he joined bis fellow citi- zens and went out to oppose the enemy ; be \Aas wounded and taken Now Fort Halt:. NEW IIAVr. N. 173 prisoner near the West bridge. Dr. Daggett would in all probability have been murdered by the British, but for the interference of Chan- dler, their guide, who was formerly his pupil at the College. Whilst in their hands, the President was asked, whether if released, he would again take up arms against them ? — to which he answered, " I rather believe I shall if I get an opportunity." The British entered New Haven on the old Derby road, through Westville : a small body of men, under Capt. Phineas Bradley, with two small cannon, made a stand to oppose their entrance on the top of the hill, on the east side of the Westville bridge, (formerly called Thompson's bridge,) but their ammunition failing, they were obliged to retreat. The embankments thrown up on this occasion by the Ameri- cans are still visible. The enemy then continued their course towards New Haven, and when at the west end of Chapel street, placed a large loaded field piece, and fired it ofFdown the street. Our informant, INIr. Amos Doolittle, who was one of the party that resisted the enemy at Westville, states, that when obliged to leave there, his wife being sick, he returned to his house, which was near the College, and after throw- ing his gun and equipments under the bed, awaited the coming of the enemy with anxiety. As soon as they arrived in front of his house, an English lady who resided with him stepped to the door, and addressing one of the ollicers, requested a guard for the house. The ofliccr asked her, with an oath, who she was ; she informed him that she was an Eng- lish woman and then had a son in his majesty's service ; upon which the oflicer addressing a Highlander, ordered him to guard the house, and not allow the least injury to be done to its inaiates. It was owing to the address of this lady, that INIr. D. was not carried to New York by the enemy ; for some of the soldiers entering the house by the back door, and discovering the gun under the bed, inquired the purpose of it. The lady, with great presence of mind, answered that the law obliged every man to have a gun in his house, adding that the owner of it was as strong a friend to King George as themselves. A store near his house having been broken open by the soldiers, one of them advised Mr. D. to go and provide himself with whatever he wanted, adding that he was perfectly welcome — but not wishing to take advantage of bis neighbor's distress, the olFer was of course declined. It is mentioned in the preceding account, that among the killed and wounded were Mr. Beers and Capt. Gilbert. The circumstances of the death of these persons are stated to be as follows: — As the British entered the town, Capt. Parker, a British oflicer, over- taking Capt. Gilbert, ordered him to surrender; upon which, Capt. G. turning round shot the oflicer and badly wounded him. He was im- mediately pursued, and being wounded in the leg whilst endeavoring to escape, was soon overtaken by the enemy and immediately disinuched with their bayonets. Mr. Beers lived near the corner of York and Chapel streets: a shot was fired at the enemy near his premises; they immediately came into the house, charged him with the act, and mor- tally wounded him, while he declared his innocence. 174 NEW II A V r. N . After the royal troops left tlie town, thousands of country people and militia flocked in, without any order: soon after they entered, a report havino; been circulated that the British army was surrounding the place, they IJcd for the country, and their jirogress could be traced for miles by the immense clouds of dust wliich arose in all directions. It is said, that some of the country people were base enough to take advantage of the i-eneral confusion, and carried off goods to a large amount. The following is a copy of President Daggett's account of the treat- ment he received from the enemy, which is preserved in the Secretary of State's ollice at Hartford. An account of ihe cruellies ami barbarities, wliich I receiveil frt^m the British sol- diers, alter I had ^urreluiere(l niysell' a prisoner into theii liands. — It is needless to relate all the leading' circuiii-.t;uices u Inch tiiiew aie in tlieir wny. It rnay be suffi- cient just to observe, iliat on Monday niorninj,' the 5lli in^t. the town of Nevv Haven was justly alarmed, with very thrt ateninj,' ap|iearaiices of a speedy invasion from the Enemv. " Numbers weiil oui armed to oppose them; 1 among the rest, took the station assigned me upon Millord lull, but was soon directed to ijuit it, and retire further north, as the motions of the Ilnemy re(]uired. Having' i:;one as far as I supposed was surticient, I turned down the hill to g-ain a little Covert of bushes which 1 had in my eye; but to my great surjirise, i saw Uie Enemy much nearer than I expected, their advanced guards being little more than *J(i rods di^tunt, ['lain ojien ground between lis. They instantly lired u[ion me, which they continued liU I had run a dozen rods, dis- charging not less than 15 or 'JO balls at me alone; however ituo' the preserving provi- dence of God, 1 escaped them all unhurt, and gainetl the liiile covert at which I aimed, which concealed me from liieir view, while I could plainly see them thro' the weeds and bushes, advancing towards me within about 12 rods. I singled out one of them, look aim, and fired upon him ; I loaded my rnuslvet again, but determined not to dis- charge it any more, and as I saw I could not escape from them, I determined to sur- render myself a iirisoner. I begged for Cluarter, and that they would spare iny life. They drew near to me, I think two only in number, one on my right hand, the other on my left, the fury of infernals glowing in their faces, they called me a drunned old Rebel and swore they whould kill me instantly. They demanded, what did you fire upon us for] I replied, because it is the exercise of war. Then one made a pass at me with his bayonet, as if he designed to thrust it thro' my body. With my hand I tossed It u]) fiuin its direction and sprung in so near to him that he could not hurt me with his bayonet. I siill coulinucd jileading and begging for my life, wiih the inmost importunity, using every ai :,'uiiient in my [>o\\er to inullify them, and iruluee ihein to desist from llieir muiderous pin|)u.se, l.)iie of them gave me four gashes on my head with the edge of his I'.ayonet, to the skull bmie, which caused a I'llenliful effusion of blooil. The other g ive me ihiee slight prieKs with the jioint of his bayonet on (he trunk of my body, but they weie no more than skin deep. But what is a thousand limes worse than all that has been related, is the blow.s ami bruises they gave me with the heavy barrels of their guns on my Bowels, by which I was knocked down once, or more, and almost deprived of life; by which bruises, I have been almost confined to my bell ever since. 'I'hese scenes rnighl talce up about two minutes of time. They seemed to desist ;l little ifoni their design of murder, after w hich they stript me of my shoe and knee buckles, and also my stock buckle. Their avarice furiher led them to loh me of my Pcjckel handkerchief, and a lillle old tobacco box. I'hey then bade me march towards the main body, which was about twelve rods distant ; where some offi- ceissomi iiu|uired of me who 1 was, 1 gave them my name, .siaiion and Character, and begged their protection, that I might not be a.ny more abused or hurt by the soldiers. They promised me their protection. But 1 was robbed of mv shoes .-ind was commit- ted to one of the most unfeeling sa\ ages that evei breathed, i'hey ihen drove me w ith ihe main body, a hasty march of five miles or more. I was insulted in the most shock- ing manner by the rutlian soldiers, many of which came at me wiih fixed bayonets and swore that thev would kill me on the spot. Thev damned me, those thai took me, because they spared my life. Thus amidst a thousand insults, my infernal driver liastened me along faster than my strength would admit in the extreme heat of the day, weakened as 1 was by my wounds and the loss of blood, which at a inoilerate conniuta- tion could not be less than one quart. Antl when I failed in some degree, thro' laint- ness, lie would strike me on the back with a heavy walking stalT and kick me behind NEW HAVEN. 175 ■with liis foot. At len;?th, by the supporting power of God, I arrived at the green in New Haven. Bin my lile was almost spent, the wcjrid around me .several times ap- pearing as dark- as midnight. I obtained Ilmvl- ol an olhcer to be carried into tiie wid- ow Lyman's and laid upon a bed, wliere I lay tlie rest oC the day and succeeding night, in such acute and exeiuciaiing [iain as I never lelt hcluie. jXai'Utali Dauuett. Atw Haven, Jidij 2Gl/i, 177'J. yrw Haven, Juhj 26M, 1779.