Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park - Groton, CT
Posted by: CraigInCT
N 41° 21.279 W 072° 04.812
18T E 744252 N 4582241
Lost to the British, on September 6, 1781, in a surprise attack.
Waymark Code: WM4H25
Location: Connecticut, United States
Date Posted: 08/24/2008
Views: 77
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: (
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Wiki Web page about the Battle: (
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