The Battle of Groton Heights was a battle of the American Revolutionary War. This article is about military actions only. ... is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Waterfront of Groton, Connecticut looking upriver Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. ... William Ledyard (born December 6, 1738, Groton, Connecticut; died September 6, 1781, Groton) was a colonel in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. ... Temporary grave of an American machine-gunner during the Battle of Normandy. ... For other persons named Benedict Arnold, see Benedict Arnold (disambiguation). ... The Northern theater of the American Revolutionary War after Saratoga consisted of a series of battles between the American revolutionaries and British forces, from 1778 through 1781 in what are now the New England and Mid-Atlantic states of the United States. ... The Battle of Cobleskill (Cobleskill massacre) occurred on May 30-June 1, 1778, in Cobleskill, New York. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Colonel John Butler Colonel Zebulon Butler Strength 900 regulars and Native American warriors 360 milita Casualties 3 killed 8 wounded 300+ killed and captured (164+6 known dead) The Wyoming Valley battle and massacre was an encounter during the American Revolutionary War between American Patriots... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Unknown Colonel Hunter The Big Runaway occurred in 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, when settlements throughout the West Branch Susquehanna Valley in Pennsylvania in what became the United States were attacked by Loyalists and Native Americans allied with the British. ... Combatants British United States Commanders Robert Pigot John Sullivan Strength 7,139 10,100 Casualties at least 260 at least 211 The Battle of Rhode Island was a battle fought on August 29, 1778 when units of the Continental Army under the command of John Sullivan attempted to recapture Aquidneck... On September 17, 1778 during the American Revolution, German Flatts was attacked by Loyalists and Iroquois. ... Combatants United States and Vermont Republic British Commanders Seth Warner Christopher Carleton Strength unknown number of local militia 454 soldiers plus sailors on the ships Casualties 79 captured, unknown killed and wounded 1 killed, 17 missing and 1 wounded On October 24, 1778 with snow already on the ground but... Incident in Cherry Valley - fate of Jane Wells from the original picture by Alonzo Chappel by Thomas Phillibrown, engraver. ... Combatants United States British Commanders Anthony Wayne Henry Johnson Strength 1,350 700 Casualties 15 killed, 83 wounded 63 killed, 70 wounded, 543 prisoners The Battle of Stony Point was a battle of the American Revolutionary War. ... The Battle of Minisink, which commenced on July 22, 1779 at Minisink Ford in Orange County, New York during the American Revolution was one of the most bloody and decisive battles of the War where Loyalists and Iroquois under the leadership of Joseph Brant, a Mohawk who was a Colonel... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Colonel Francis McLean General Solomon Lovell and Captain Dudley Saltonstall Strength 600 regulars 1,000 regulars, 43 warships Casualties 13 killed and wounded 474 killed, wounded, and captured; all ships lost The Penobscot Expedition was the largest American naval expedition of the American Revolutionary War... The Sullivan Expedition, also known as the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition, was a campaign led by Major General John Sullivan and General James Clinton against Loyalists (Tories) and the four nations of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War. ... The Battle of Newtown (29 August 1779) was the only major battle of the Sullivan Expedition, an armed offensive led by Gen. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Hessians Commanders Nathanael Greene Wilhelm von Knyphausen Strength 2,050 6,000 Casualties 15 killed, 40 wounded 25–50 or more killed {Note the appendix to The Hessians gives possible casualites estimates as being 25 killed, 75 wounded} The Battle of Springfield was a battle... Combatants Albany County Militia Tryon County militia Kings Royal Regiment of New York Butlers Rangers Brants Volunteers 34th Regiment of Foot Commanders Brigadier General Robert Van Rensselaer John Johnson Strength 3037 800 to 1500 On October 19, 1780 after destroying the area around Stone Arabia, John Johnson... Combatants Militia 120 Kings Royal Regiment of New York 150 Butlers Rangers 130 Iroquois 100 34th Regiment of Foot 40 Lakes Corp 25 8th Regiment of Foot 12 Yaegar Commanders Colonel Marinus Willet Major John Ross, Captain Walter Butler Strength about 500 about 670 Casualties 12 killed... This article is about military actions only. ...

Background

During the war, the harbor on the Thames River was a home port for many privately owned ships, many of them armed. They preyed upon the British merchant marine and supply ships. These privateers were licensed by the state of Connecticut. By 1781, the largest military structure on the New London side of the river was Fort Trumbull, which was still unfinished and vulnerable to attack. The Thames River, seen from the waterfront in New London, Connecticut The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. ... For other uses, see Privateer (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport[3] Largest metro area Hartford Metro Area[2] Area  Ranked 48th  - Total 5,543[4] sq mi (14,356 km²)  - Width 70 miles (113 km)  - Length 110 miles (177 km)  - % water 12. ... Nickname: Motto: MARE LIBERUM Coordinates: , NECTA Norwich-New London Region Southeastern Connecticut Settled 1646 (Pequot Plantation) Named 1658 (New London) Incorporated (city) 1784 Government  - Type Council-manager  - City council Margaret Mary Curtin, Mayor Kevin J. Cavanagh, Dep. ... Fort Trumbull, Connecticut by Seth Eastman (1808 - 1875) Fort Trumbull was a fort built at New London, Connecticut, Connecticut. ...

East of the river on Groton Heights, Fort Griswold commanded the harbor and the surrounding territory. The fort is square with protecting fortifications on the two corners. The lower walls were faced with stone and were topped with a barrier of cedar pickets projecting outwards. A tunnel-like passage way led to a covered ditch which ended at a battery for the cannon southwest of the fort. There were barracks for 300 men inside the fort. Waterfront of Groton, Connecticut looking upriver Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. ... Classical drawing of Fort Griswold by Benedict Arnold Fort Griswold is an American military base, now decommissioned, in Groton, Connecticut that played a key role in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. ...

The national historic site is set on the place of battle

Late in the summer, British generals were eager to distract General George Washington. They decided to create a diversion by attacking an essential northern supply center of New London and destroy the “Rebel pirate ships” in a single blow. The command of this mission was given to Benedict Arnold, who had deserted the American cause the year before. Arnold, being a native of Norwich, Connecticut, knew the area very well. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (768 × 1,024 pixels, file size: 220 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The remains of the fortress, the obelisque form the National Historic Site to commemorate the American Victory during the [Revolutionary War]. I, the creator... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (768 × 1,024 pixels, file size: 220 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The remains of the fortress, the obelisque form the National Historic Site to commemorate the American Victory during the [Revolutionary War]. I, the creator... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... Look up pirate and piracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other persons named Benedict Arnold, see Benedict Arnold (disambiguation). ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Battle

At sunrise on September 6, 1781, a large force of British regulars landed on both sides of the river’s mouth. The people of the town could do nothing but evacuate. Several ships in the harbor escaped upstream. The 800-man detachment that Arnold led met with no resistance as it destroyed stockpiles of goods and naval stores. Under the orders given, much of the town was to be spared. Unknown to Arnold, however, at least one of the ships he was to burn contained a large quantity of gunpowder. When it ignited, the resulting explosion set fire to the surrounding buildings. The fire was soon uncontrollable and 143 buildings were consumed by flames. is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The tunnel-like passage

Meanwhile, the British force of 800 men that landed on the east side of the Thames River was slowed by tangled woodlands and swamplands. A battalion of New Jersey Loyalists, who were responsible for moving the artillery, could not keep pace with the regulars who came within striking range of Fort Griswold. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (768 × 1,024 pixels, file size: 252 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The tunnellike passage is still kept under the remains of the fortress I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (768 × 1,024 pixels, file size: 252 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The tunnellike passage is still kept under the remains of the fortress I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy... Britannia gives a heros welcome to returning American Loyalists. ... For other uses, see Artillery (disambiguation). ...

The fort was garrisoned by about 150 militia and local men under the command of Colonel William Ledyard. He and his officers were expecting reinforcements soon. British commander Colonel Eyre sent a flag demanding the surrender of Fort Griswold, but Ledyard declined. Eyre then threatened to give no quarter to the defenders if he were to force to storm the fort, but Ledyard responded as before. William Ledyard (born December 6, 1738, Groton, Connecticut; died September 6, 1781, Groton) was a colonel in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. ...

Soon, the British force advanced on the fort. As they neared the ditch, they were met by an artillery bombardment which killed and wounded many. Some tried to take the southwest bastion, but were repulsed. Colonel Eyre was badly wounded during the assault. Under heavy musket fire, another group removed some pickets and, in hand-to-hand combat, captured the cannon and turned it against its own men. Another party, led by Major Montgomery, led a bayonet charge, in which Montgomery was killed. A few of the British regulars forced open the gate and entered the fort. Colonel Ledyard then ordered his men to cease fire, but fighting continued on both sides. Muskets and bayonets aboard the frigate Grand Turk. ... For other uses, see bayonet (disambiguation). ...

The American version of what followed claims that after Ledyard gave up his sword in surrender, he was immediately killed with his own sword and a massacre followed. The British version makes no mention of either the massacre or Ledyard’s death.

Aftermath

The museum, next to an obelisk, relates the history of the battle.

The British troops embarked, leaving behind a small group to lay a gunpowder trail from the magazine to the barracks and then torch it. The sabotage failed when a Rebel put the fire out. Arnold reported losses of 51 dead and 142 wounded. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (768 × 1,024 pixels, file size: 172 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Nowadays, the museum is set next to the thumb, in order to commemorate the victory I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (768 × 1,024 pixels, file size: 172 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Nowadays, the museum is set next to the thumb, in order to commemorate the victory I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the... Smokeless powder Gunpowder is a pyrotechnic composition, an explosive mixture of sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate that burns rapidly, producing volumes of hot gas which can be used as a propellant in firearms and fireworks. ...

It was errorously reported that among the Patriot forces, there was reportedly an African American unit called the Bucks of America. The only known member of this unit was a "Colonel" George Middleton. This Unit did exist but was not at Battle of Groton Heights. An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Prince Hall Freemasonry derives from historical events which led to a tradition of separate, predominantly African-American, Freemasonic fraternal organization in North America. ...

Fort Griswold was the scene of military preparations in at least four other wars.

External links

• Photos of the battle site, National Historic Landmark
• Photos of battle sites, surviving structures, battle information and aftermath