"Investigation of Fort Griswold
Groton Heights
May 15, 2010
HISTORY: “ During the Revolutionary War, New London harbor on the Thames River was home port for many privately owned armed ships that preyed upon British supply vessels and merchant ships. The privateers were licensed by the State of Connecticut according to the rules established by the Congress. Each year they increased in numbers and captured more British shipping. Their exploits peaked with the taking of the Hannah by the Minerva in the summer of 1781. Seizure of the Hannah’s rich cargo, which included personal supplies for the British officers, stationed in New York, helped prompt the events that soon followed.”
East of the river on Groton Heights was Fort Griswold, which was a completed work. Fort Griswold commanded the harbor and the surrounding countryside. It was somewhat square with projecting fortifications on two corners and a projection on the east side. A deep trench surrounded the fort on three sides. The lower walls were faced with stone and were topped with a barrier of cedar pickets projecting outward. Above this was an earthen wall with openings for cannon. A tunnel-like passageway led to a covered ditch, which ended at a battery for cannon southwest of the fort. A v-shaped earthen mound protected the gate at the north end. Barracks for 300 men paralleled the innermost wall and the magazine was set into the southwest bastion near the flagpole. The fort was in good condition and the magazine was full in 1781.
Late that summer, the British generals were anxious to distract Washington who was then marching south. They decided to create a diversion by attacking an important northern supply center, New London, and with the same stroke, destroy the rebel pirate ships. The command of the expedition was led by Benedict Arnold who had deserted the American cause the year before, and who, being a native of nearby Norwich, knew the harbor area well.
At sunrise of September 6, 1781, the people of the town awakened with the news that a large force of British regulars had landed on both sides of the river’s mouth and were coming upon them fast. They could do nothing but flee. A number of rigged ships in the harbor caught a favorable breeze and escaped upstream, but the rest were trapped. The 800 men led by Arnold into New London met only scattered resistance as they set about the task of destroying the immense stockpile of goods and naval stores kept there. One hundred and forty-three buildings, nearly all the town were consumed with fire.
Fort Griswold had been garrisoned with about 150 colonial militia and local men under the command of Colonel William Ledyard. Colonel Ledyard and his officers, expecting reinforcements elected to defend the post against the superior force. Colonel Eyre, the British commander sent forward a flag demanding surrender. Ledyard refused and the demand was made again. Eyre threatened that if he were forced to storm the fort, no quarter would be given to its defenders.
The British force immediately spread their ranks and advanced on Fort Griswold. As they neared the ditch, they were met with an artillery barrage that killed and wounded many, but the seasoned and disciplined troops continued their charge. Some tried to gain the southwest bastion but they were repulsed and Colonel Eyre was badly wounded. Under heavy musket fire, another group dislodged some pickets and by hand to hand combat reached a cannon and turned it against the garrison. Another party led by Major Montgomery charged with fixed bayonets. They were met with long spears and the Major was killed. A few of the Regulars managed to reach the gate and open it and the enemy force marched in, in formation. Seeing this, Colonel Ledyard ordered his men to stop fighting, but some action continued on both sides.
The American version of the story holds that after Ledyard gave up his sword in surrender that he was immediately killed with it and that a massacre ensued. When it was over, more than 80 of the garrison lay dead and mutilated and more than half of the remainder were severely wounded. The British version makes no mention of the massacre or the manner of Ledyard’s death. The entire battle lasted only 40 minutes.
Major Montgomery was buried in the fort’s parade ground.
INVESTIGATION: There were 4 members and 2 guest investigators from East of the River Paranormal present. We arrived at 7:30pm and took a walk of the Fort and surrounding areas in order to familiarize ourselves with the area. It was a clear, warm evening with temperatures in the upper 50’s. After our walk-through we decided to start at the cannon area and work our way back to the main gate, including investigation of the tunnel and trench, as well as the grave of Major Montgomery. We worked our way to the cannon placements and started with an EVP session, which, unfortunately resulted in no findings. We then worked our way down to the magazine and furnace building and sat on the steps leading into the furnace building. Here we felt a presence and also felt the stone steps moving beneath our feet as if someone was walking up the steps to the furnace. At the same time one of the guest investigators and myself felt as if someone walked around the side of the building. We both got up simultaneously and walked around the building to find no one there. At the back of this building I had a sensation that I was surrounded by several people. Moments later, my husband felt extreme cold. On checking the temperature we found no changes. There was a small fluctuation in the K2, however. We did an EVP session here and once again did not hear anything on the recording. One of the other members was standing a few feet away and felt as if she were surrounded by several people. Having no temperature fluctuations and no changes in the K2 meter or in the pictures, we decided to move up to the trench area.
Three members were investigating the trench, myself, my husband and one other member. We proceeded to do an EVP session, but there was so much background noise from the ferry, seagulls, planes and traffic that we were not able to hear anything on the tape recordings. My daughter and myself did feel a cold presence when she started to attempt to interact with whomever may have been present, but once again there were no fluctuations in either the K2 or temperatures in the area. We did get one picture with multiple small orbs in the area that we felt the cold spot. Please see pictures that are posted.
In the tunnel we were presented with windy conditions and many echoes. This made it impossible to do an EVP session so we moved toward the main gate where Major Montgomery is buried. We did another EVP session and once again did not hear any unusual voices on the review. Pictures did not show any evidence and there were no fluctuations in the K2 or temperature readings.
Every investigation is worth the time and effort that we put into it, but I would have to say that we found very little evidence of paranormal activity at Fort Griswold. Maybe the American version of the history is skewed and we should believe the British history that there were no deaths and the Fort was taken without a battle." (
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