In 1775, GovernorJonathan Trumbullrecommended building a fortification at the port of New London to protect the seat of the government of Connecticut. The fort was built on a rocky point of land near the mouth of theThames RiveronLong Island Sound; it was completed in 1777 and named for Governor Trumbull, who served from 1769 to 1784. It was attacked in 1781 during theAmerican Revolutionary War, and was captured by British forces under the command ofBenedict Arnold.[3]
Benedict Arnoldhad changed his allegiances by this time, and he was serving as a brigadier general in the British Army when he led a raid on Groton and New London, Connecticut on September 6, 1781. Two bodies of troops were landed on either side of the mouth of the Thames River and marched towards Fort Trumbull in New London andFort Griswoldin Groton.
Fort Trumbull fell after little resistance, but about 150 Connecticut militiamen made a gallant stand at Fort Griswold in theBattle of Groton Heights. The British were finally able to enter the fort, and militia commander Lieutenant ColonelWilliam Ledyardoffered his sword to Major Bromfield, the British commander on the scene, as a token of surrender. According to contemporaneous accounts, Bromfield took the sword from Ledyard and drove it through him, and the British then proceeded to massacre the surviving defenders. Eighty-five of the militiamen were killed and the others were either severely wounded, taken prisoner, or managed to escape.
After the capture of both forts, the British proceeded to burn New London and then returned to their ships.
An account of the battle published in a Philadelphia newspaper follows:
- Extract of a letter from New London, dated Sept. 12.
Arnold had long promised to visit New London and the neighbouring towns on the sea shore, and the enemy having frequently appeared in sight of the harbour, the alarm guns fired on the present occasion were considered by the country around us the salutes of prizes or other vessels belonging to the port. He however arrived the 6th inst. about five o, and at seven o’ landed about 2500 men, half on each side of the river. At 8 o’ the militia mustered in parties of 8 or 10, and annoyed the enemy until about 100 of them came up and disputed their way to Fort Trumbull; their great superiority obliged our people to yield to them the possession of the fort. Col. Ledyard, with about 76 other brave fellows, retreated to the fort on Groton side, which they determined resolutely to defend. The next assault was upon this fort, where they were repulsed several times by a bravery unequalled, for about three hours. A flag was then sent, demanding a surrender of the fort, accompanies by a threat of giving no quarters in case of refusal. The commandant consulted with his brave garrison, who refused to submit. The action was then renewed, when the flag staff was unfortunately shot away; notwithstanding which the defence was gallantly continued until about five or six hundred of the enemy having forced the pickets had entered through the breach. At this time there were but four of the garrison killed, and it was thought prudent to submit, to preserve the lives of the remainder. The officer who at this time commanded the assailants, (Major Montgomery being killed) enquired who commanded the garrison? Colonel Ledyard informed him that he had had that honour, but was unfortunate in being obliged to surrender it, at the same time delivered up to him his sword, and asked for quarter for himself and people; to which the infamous villain replied, "ye rascals, I give you quarters," and then plunged the sword into his body. The inhuman banditti, taking this as a signal, drove their bayonets up to the muzzles of their pieces into the breasts of all that were taken, except one or two who made their escape.
After massacring the living they insulted the dead, by actions too horrid to mention --- the bodies were arranged alongside of each other for the purpose, and, to shew contempt to Col. Ledyard, they singled out a Negroe to place next to him.
Never was there more distress in any place than there is here at present; there are 50 widows within 8 miles of Groton fort.
Before their departure, which was in the evening of the same day they landed, they burnt all the shipping that could not get up Norwich river, among which were several rich prizes lately arrived, with their cargoes, some of which were stored and the rest on board the vessels – about 40 sail, all on fire, were floating up and down the stream. The prize brig Hope, laden with provisions, happily escaped the general conflagration, altho'the fire from the shore several times caught the awning which covered her quarter deck, and went out --- several vessels in full blaze passed within two and three feet of her; ten lay within forty yards, and consumed to the wateredge, but Providence directed she should escape, and a very fortunate one it was, as there was no other supply of provisions in town.–The Pennsylvania Gazette, September 26, 1781
The fort was repaired circa 1808, and redesigned and rebuilt in 1812 to meet changing military needs under thesecond system of US fortifications. First aredoubtwas built at the site to react to threat of British attack.Secretary of WarHenry Dearborn's report on fortifications for December 1811 describes the fort as "an irregular enclosed work of masonry and sod, mounting 18 heavy guns [with] a brick barracks for one company".[5]The present fortification replaced the older fort, and was built between 1839 and 1852 as a five-sided, four-bastion coastal defense fort. It could accommodate 42 guns on the seacoast fronts, plus 10 additional guns in two flanking batteries outside the fort, along with flank howitzers inbastionsfor close-in defense.[6]The new fort was built under the supervision of Army engineerGeorge Washington Cullum, who later served as superintendent of theUnited States Military AcademyatWest Point, New York.[3]
During theCivil War, Fort Trumbull served as an organizational center for Union troops and headquarters for the14th US Infantry Regiment. Here, troops were recruited and trained before being sent to war. Fort Trumbull was briefly commanded byJohn F. Reynolds, who rose to the rank of major general and was killed at theBattle of Gettysburgin 1863.
From 1863 to 1879,Ordnance SergeantMark Wentworth Smith was assigned to Fort Trumbull and served as the caretaker of Fort Griswold, which was an un-garrisoned subpost of Fort Trumbull across the Thames River in the town of Groton. Among other duties, he maintained a vegetable garden to help feed the soldiers at Fort Trumbull. Smith was born in New Hampshire in 1803 and enlisted in the Army on January 27, 1827 at the age of 23. He was wounded in action at theBattle of Chapultepecduring theMexican War. For unknown reasons, he was allowed to serve on active duty in the Army until his death in 1879 at the age of 76. He was possibly the oldest enlisted man to serve on active duty in the United States Army in the 19th Century. (Army Air Forces Master SergeantJohn W. Westerveltserved on active duty during World War II until he was retired at age 77 in 1945.[7]Chief Torpedoman's Mate Harry S. Morris was born in 1888 and served in the Navy from 1903 to 1958 when he was "only" 70 years old.) Sergeant Smith is buried in theColonel Ledyard Cemeteryin Groton.
In the late 1800s Fort Trumbull was modified to accommodate more modern artillery pieces. Specifically, these artillery pieces were 15-inch and 10-inch Rodman smooth bore guns and 8-inch converted rifles. Two 8-inch converted rifles are still at Fort Trumbull in a restored firing position.
Fort Trumbull served as theMerchant MarineOfficers Training School from 1939 to 1946 and trained over 15,000 of the Merchant Marine officers who served during the Second World War. One of the Merchant Marine officers trained there was actorJack Lord, who is best known for playing Steve McGarrett on the popular TV seriesHawaii Five-Oin the 1960s and 70s.[8]The Fort was the site of a satellite campus of theUniversity of Connecticutfrom 1946 to 1950, educating war veterans attending college under theGI Bill.
During World War II, Fort Trumbull hosted an office ofColumbia University's Division of War Research, which developed passivesonarsystems. By 1946, this was consolidated withHarvard University's Underwater Sound Laboratory at Fort Trumbull.[9]A result of this work was that Fort Trumbull was the location for theNaval Underwater Sound Laboratoryfrom 1946 to 1970, which developed sonar and related systems for US Navy submarines. In 1970, the Sound Laboratory was merged with the Naval Underwater Weapons Systems Center (NUWS) to form theNaval Underwater Systems Center(NUSC) inNewport, Rhode Island. Work continued at both locations until the facility at Fort Trumbull was finally closed in 1996, marking the end of almost a century and a half of Fort Trumbull's service as a federal military facility.
Thames Baseball club playing at Fort Trumbull in New London, CT
After a redevelopment period lasting several years, Fort Trumbull was opened as a state park in the year 2000. It is used as a site for concerts and other special events. The main fort is open to the public and has an elevator to access the upper portions of the fort. There is a museum about the fort in the former officers' quarters.[1]
^Jump up to:ab"Fort Trumbull State Park".State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. August 10, 2016. RetrievedSeptember 20,2016.
^"Appendix A: List of State Parks and Forests"(PDF).State Parks and Forests: Funding. Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. January 23, 2014. p. A-1. RetrievedSeptember 20,2016.
Weaver II, John R. (2018).A Legacy in Brick and Stone: American Coastal Defense Forts of the Third System, 1816-1867, 2nd Ed. McLean, VA: Redoubt Press.ISBN978-1-7323916-1-1.
