Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park - Groton, CT - Battlefields on Waymarking.com

Fort Griswold (Groton side) and the not yet completed Fort Trumbull (New London side) guarded the entrance to the Thames river, from Long Island Sound. New London was being used as a store house for all the spoils of war that privateers were taking from British ships.

At sunrise on September 6, 1781, a large British fleet landed on both sides of the mouth of the river. In a surprise attack, Benedict Arnold was able to capture Fort Trumbull and New London. On the Groton side (east side) of the River, in a battle that lasted only 40 minutes, Fort Griswold was lost to the British forces.

The American forces killed Major William Montgomery, British, during the battle. At the battles end, Colonel William Ledyard surrendered the fort and his sword to the British.

According to the Americans, the British then slaughtered all the American survivors. The British account says nothing of this. The British left New London in flames after a victorious raiding party. They had no intention of holding what they had won.

The fort was rebuilt and used in other conflicts but the Battle of Groton Heights was its most famous battle. This fort is now a ruins that is preserved so that we can learn about Connecticut's involvement in the American Revolution.

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CT State Park website: (visit link)

Wiki Web page about the Battle: (visit link)

Name of Battle: The Battle of Groton Heights Name of War: American Revolution Entrance Fee: 6.00 (listed in local currency) Date(s) of Battle (Beginning): 09/06/1781 Date of Battle (End): 09/06/1781 Parking: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
Post a photo of you in front of a sign or marker posted at the site of the battle (or some other way to indicate you have personally visited the site.

In addition it is encouraged to take a few photos of the surrounding area and interesting features at the site.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   06/24/2022 childofatom visited it 05/06/2013 Chasing Blue Sky visited it 07/29/2011 G13 visited it 11/12/2010 Roscoe45 visited it 09/17/2009 KDubs visited it

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