September 10 1781

We had prepared our paper this far for publication, when at about day 
break on thursday morning last, twenty-four sail of the enemy's shipping 
appeared to the westward of this harbour, which by many were supposed to 
be a plundering party, after stock; alarm guns were immediately fired, but 
the discharge of cannon in the harbour has become so frequent of late that 
they answered little or no purpose. The defenceless state of the 
fortifications and of the town are obvious to our readers; a few of the 
inhabitants who were equipped advanced towards the place where the enemy 
were tho't likely to make their landing, and manoeuvered on the heights 
adjacent, until the enemy at about 9 o'clock landed in two divisions of 
about 800 men each, one of them at Brown's farm near the light-house, the 
other at Groton point, the division that landed near the light-house 
marched up the road, keeping out large flanking parties, who were attacked 
in different places on their march by the inhabitants who had spirit and 
resolution t o oppose their progress; the main body of the enemy proceeded 
to the town and set fire to the stores on the beach, and immediately after 
to the dwelling-houses lying on the mill-cove; the scattered fire of our 
little parties, unsupported by our neighbors more distant, galled them so 
that they soon began to retire, setting fire to stores and dwelling houses 
promiscuously in their way; the fire from the stores communicated to the 
shipping that lay at the wharves, and a number were burnt, others swung to 
single fast and remained unhurt, At 4 o'clock they began to quit the town 
with great precipitation, and were pursued by our brave citizens with the 
spirit and ardour of veterans, and drove on board their boats. Five of the 
enemy were killed and about 20 wounded , among the latter is a Hessian 
captain who is a prisoner, as seven others. We lost four killed and ten or 
twelve wounded, none mortal. 

The most valuable part of the town is reduced to ashes, and all the 
stores. Fort Trumbull, not being tenable on the land side, was evacutated 
as the enemy advanced, and the few men in it crossed the river to Fort 
Griswold, on Groton Hill, which was soon after invested by the division 
that landed at the point; the fort having in it only about 120 men, 
chiefly militia hastily collected, defended it with the greatest 
resolution and bravery, and once repulsed the enemy, but the fort being 
out of repair could not be defended by such a handful of men, tho' brave 
and determin'd against so superior a number; they did all that men of 
spirit and bravery, in such a situation could do; but after having a 
number of their party killed and wounded, they found that further 
resistance would be in vain, and resigned the fort: Immediately on their 
surrendery, the valiant Colonel Ledyard, whose fate in a particular manner 
is much lamented, and 70 other officers and men were murdered, most of 
whom were heads of families. The enemy lost a Maj. Montgomery and 41 
officers and men in the attack, who were found buried near the fort; their 
wounded were carried off. Soon after the enemy got possession of the fort 
they set fire to and burnt a number of dwelling houses and stores on 
Groton bank, and embarked about sun set, taking with them sundry of the 
inhabitants of New-London and Groton.

A Colonel Ayers, who commanded the division at Groton, was wounded and it 
is said died on board the fleet, the night they embarked. 

About 15 sail of vessels with effects of the inhabitants, retreated up the 
river on the approach of the enemy and were saved, and four others 
remained in the harbour unhurt. The troops were commanded by that infamous 
traitor to his country Benedict Arnold, who headed the division which 
marched to this town. By this calamity it is judged that more than one 
hundred families are deprived of their habitations and most of them of 
their ALL.

This neighborhood feel sensibly the loss of many deserving citizens, and 
tho' deceased can't but be highly indebted to them for their spirit and 
bravery in their exertions and manly opposition to the merciless enemies 
of our country in their last moments.



September 14 1781

The following savage action, committed by the troops who subdued Fort 
Griswold on Groton hill, on Thursday last, ought to be recorded to their 
eternal infamy: 

Soon after the surrendery of the fort they loaded a wagon with our wounded 
men, by orders of their officers, and set the wagon off from the top of 
the hill, which is long and very steep; the wagon went a considerable 
distance with great force, till it was suddenly stopped by a tree; the 
shock was so great to those faint and bleeding men that part of them died 
instantly; the officers ordered their men to fire on the wagon while it 
was running. 



September 21 1781

Arnold's burning fleet, after leaving this harbour, plundered great part 
of the inhabitants on Long Island; 400 of them landed at Southhold, and 
plundered and carried off to the value of £3000. 

Monday se'nnight a flag sailed from hence with five of Arnold's burning 
party that were taken prisoners here; the flag overtook the fleet at 
Whitestone, and returned here last Sunday with five lads that were taken 
at Fort Griswold. 

Since our last 7 or 8 dead bodies of officers and soldiers have drove 
ashore on the Great Neck, and 3 others on Groton shore which were thrown 
out of Arnold's burning fleet. Our advices from New York are that the 
enemy lost 220 men, killed and dead of their wounds, in their attack on 
Groton Fort and this place, besides about 70 deserters. 

The following is the most accurate list we have been able to collect of 
the names of the brave and worthy citizens who were murdered at Fort 
Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781, including those who have since died of their 
wounds. 

The whole number of killed and those since died of their wounds is said to 
be 82. Should we be able to collect the names of the others, they shall be 
published.


BELONGING TO GROTON 

Lt.-Col. William Ledyard, Mess. Elijah Avery, John Williams, Simeon Allen, 
Samuel Allen, Amos Stanton, Hubbart Burrows, Nathan Moor, Youngs Ledyard, 
Joseph Lewis, Henry Williams, Ebenezer Avery, John Lester, John Stedman, 
Daniel Avery, David Avery, Esq., Daniel Chester, Solomon Avery, Jasper 
Avery, Elisha Avery, Thomas Avery, David Palmer, Sylvester Walworth, 
Philip Covil, Ezekiel Bailey, Jeremiah Chester, David Seabury, Henry 
Woodbridge, Christopher Woodbridge, Elnathan Perkins, Luke Perkins, Luke 
Perkins, Jun., Elisha Perkins, asa Perkins, Simeon Perkins, John Brown, 
John P. Babcock, Nathaniel Adams, Barney Kinne, Samuel Hill, Nathan 
Sholes, Joseph Moxley, Thomas Starr, Jun., Nicholas Starr, Moses Jones, 
Rufus Hurlbut, Belton Allen, Benadam Allen, Andrew Billings, Simeon 
Morgan, Patrick Ward, Christopher Avery, Jonas Lester, Edward Mills, Wait 
Lester, Thomas Miner, Andrew Baker, Solomon Tift, Josiah Wigger.


BELONGING TO NEW LONDON 

Mess. Peter Richards, James Comstock, Richard Chapman, John Holt, Samuel 
billings, John Clark, John Whittelsey, Stephen Whittelsey, Eliaday Jones, 
Jonathan Butler, Wm. Comstock of Fort Trumbull, Daniel Williams, William 
Bolton.


BELONGING TO STONINGTON 

Mess. Enoch Stanton, Thomas Williams, Daniel Stanton.


BELONGING TO PRESTON 

Mr. John Billings.


BELONGING TO LONG ISLAND 

Capt. Ellis, Henry Halsey.


NEGROES 

Lambo Latham, Jordan Freeman.


By the best information we can get there were 6 of the above killed and 20 
wounded, previous to the enemy's gaining possession of the Fort. 

The number of the enemy found buried in Groton amounts to 61. 



October 12 1781

The following is a list of dwelling-houses, stores, &etc., in New London 
which were set on fire by the enemy and consumed. The names of the owner 
or occupant are indiscriminately mentioned in this list. 

North end of the town, and Main Street (entries are followed by the number 
of families residing within). 

Picket Latimer's house and barn - 1, Widow Plumbe's house and barn - 2, 
Henry Latimer's (late) house - 1, Late Deacon Green's house and shop - 4, 
Christopher Prince's house - 1, James Pitman's house - 1, Daniel Byrne's 
house - 1, Roswell Saltonstall's house and cooper's shop - 1, Joseph 
Hurlbut's house and cooper's shop - 1, Widow Roger's house - 1, Henry 
Deshon's house - 1, Gen. Slatonstall's house, 2 stores, shop and barn - 1, 
Store improved by Owen Neil for a house - 1, Late Duncan Stewart's house - 
2, Heirs of Peter Harris, 1 store and one barn., Joseph Packwood's store., 
Roger Gibson's house - 2, Samuel and Richard Latimer's house - 2, Ichabod 
Power's house - 2, Peter Latimer's house and cooper's shop - 4, Widow 
Shapley's house - 1, Guy Richards & Son, 3 stores and slaughter house., 
John Hartell's work-shop. 

On Beach Street. 

Widow Elliot's house and barn - 1, Edward Hallam & Co., 3 stores and 
barn., David Mumford's store., Roswell Saltonstall's distill house, and 
store., do do opposite thereto 1 store and a cooper's shop improv'd as a 
house - 1, Store improv'd by John Springer's family -1, Thomas Wilson's 
store., Shoe-maker's shop., Nathaniel Shaw's two stores., Joseph 
Packwood's store., John Deshon's house and two stores - 1, Widow Skinner's 
house - 1, Elijah Richard's house - 1, Widow Potter's house - 2, Barsheba 
Smith's house - 2, Court house, church, jail, jail-house, watch-house and 
barber's shop - 2. 

On the Bank. 

Samuel Belden's store., do do do on the wharf improv'd by a family - 1, 
Widow Hancock's two houses - 2, Shop improv'd by Thomas Gardiner., John 
Erving's house, one store and barn - 1, Jonathan Douglass's house and 
cooper's shop - 1, Daniel Deshon's house - 3, Widow Leete's house - 1, 
Charles Chadwick's house and empty store - 1, John Champlin's shop., James 
Thomson's house and barn - 2, Samuel Belden's house and barn - 1, John 
M'Curdy's house, 2 stores, and barn - 1, Widow M'Neils house, and shop 
opposite - 1, Richard Potter's house and store - 1, Widow Bulkley's two 
houses - 4, Widow Fosdick's house and barn - 1, Jonathan Starr's work-
shop., Jere. Miller's house, store, and barn - 1, Joshua Starr's house and 
work-shop - 2, do do do and barn - 1, Titus Hurlbut's 2 houses, 2 shops, 
and barn - 5, James Tilley's house, rope-walk and barn - 1, Doct. 
Wolcott's house and barn - 1, Jacob Fink's house and slaughter house - 1, 
John Way's house and cooper shop - 1, Russel Hubbard's house, store, and 
barn - 3, James Lamphear's house - 2, Widow Short's house - 4, Andrew 
Palmes's house - 2, Nathan Douglas's house, tan-house, and barn - 1, Jere. 
Miller's house improved by W. Constant - 1, Joseph Coit's house and two 
barns - 1, do do on the wharf, one house and two stores - 1, Nath'l Shaw's 
house, shop, and two stores - 3.

At the head of Long Bridge Cove. 

Deshon & Christopher's house and tan-house - 1, A house on Hog Neck - 1.

Total, 65 houses containing 97 families, 31 stores, 18 shops, 20 barns, 9 
public and other buildings, besides a variety of other small buildings of 
different kinds not here enumerated. 

Total of buildings here enumerated - 143. 

There were burnt at Groton at the same time 1 school-house, 4 barns, 2 
shops, 2 stores, and 12 dwelling-houses.