Fort Trumbull
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Fort Trumbull State Park
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 Fort Trumbull in its post-1839 state painted by Seth Eastman for the US Army in 1870. |
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| location | Colchester , New London County , USA | |
| surface | 0.73 km² | |
| Geographical location | 41 ° 21 ′ N , 72 ° 6 ′ W | |
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| Setup date | 1949 | |
| administration | Connecticut State | |
Fort Trumbull is the name of a former military base in New London (Connecticut) in the US state of Connecticut . An adjacent, now demolished settlement was called Fort Trumbull neighborhood . Today the "Fort Trumbull State Park " is located there . The Coast Guard Station New London is now in the immediate vicinity.
The Fort
In 1775, Governor Jonathan Trumbull recommended the construction of a fortification on the port of New London to protect Connecticut's seat of government. Erected on a rocky headland at the mouth of the Thames River on Long Island Sound , the fort was completed in 1777 and named after Governor Trumbull, who was in office from 1769 to 1784. In 1781 it was captured by treason by British troops during the American Revolutionary War .
Arnold's raid
On September 10, 1781, the traitor Benedict Arnold , then a "Brigadier General" in the British Army, led an attack on Groton and New London. A team was landed on each side of the mouth of the Thames River and marched from there to Fort Trumbull and Fort Griswold in Groton.
Fort Trumbull fell after weak resistance, but approximately 150 Connecticut militiamen valiantly defended Fort Griswold. When the British had finally captured the fort, the commanding "Lieutenant Colonel" William Ledyard surrendered . He was killed with his own sword by Major Bromfield, the British commander. The remaining crew, 85 militiamen, were massacred. After capturing the two forts, the British burned New London and Groton and returned to their ships. The following report appeared in a Philadelphia newspaper:
- Excerpt from a letter from New London, dated Sept. 12th.
Arnold had long since promised to visit New London and the neighboring towns on the coast, and after the enemy had often appeared within sight of the harbor, the alarm shots on the occasion were interpreted in the surrounding area as a greeting or as signals from other local ships. However, he reached the country on the 6th at five o'clock (five o'clock) and at seven he landed 2,500 men, half on each side of the river. At 8 o'clock the militia mustered 8 or 10 at a time and held the enemy off until about 100 had fought their way to Fort Trumbull; their great superiority forced our people to hand over the fort to them. Col. Ledyard, with about 76 other brave companions, retired on the side of Fort Groton, which they fiercely defended. The next attack was against the fort, where they were repulsed several times by indescribable bravery, for about three hours. A flag was carried with the order to surrender the fort and accompanied by the threat that if refused, no pardon would be given. The commandant consulted with his brave garrison, which refused to surrender. The battle resumed when the flagpole was accidentally shot down. Even so, the defense held out chivalrously until five or six hundred enemies had broken through the blockades and penetrated through the breach. At that time only four of the defenders were killed and it was considered wise to surrender to save the lives of the rest. The officer in charge of the attackers at the time (after Major Montgomery was killed) asked who was in command of the garrison? Colonel Ledyard informed him that he had the honor but that he was so unhappy to have to surrender it, and at the same time he surrendered his sword and begged pardon for himself and his people; the inglorious villain replied: “You scapegoats, I'll pardon you,” and thrust the sword into his body. The inhuman bandits took this as a signal and rammed their bayonets into the chests of the prisoners up to the muzzle of the rifles, except for one or two who were able to escape.
After the massacre of the living, they insulted the dead by acts too horribly to be called - the bodies were displayed side by side and, to show contempt for Col. Ledyard, they chose a Negroe and laid that next him.
There has never been so much misery anywhere as right here; there are 50 widows living within eight miles of Groton.
Before leaving, on the evening of the same day they landed, they burned all the ships that could not go up the Norwich River with their goods, including some expensive prizes that had recently arrived. Some of the goods were loaded on board - about 40 sailing ships, all on fire, driving the current up and down. The Prizebrig Hope, which was loaded with supplies, luckily escaped general incineration, 'probably the fire from the coast seized the sails on the quarterdeck several times and went out again each time --- several ships in full flames approached at two or three Feet away, ten were forty yards away that burned to the waterline, but Providence decided she should escape and a very lucky one (Providence) it was because there were no other supplies in town ....
19th century
In the early 19th century, the fort was redesigned and rebuilt to meet the changed military needs. First a "redoubt" was built to the side to make an attack similar to that of the British impossible. The current fortification was built between 1839 and 1852 as a five-sided, four-bastion coastal defense fort. The new fort was built under the supervision of George Washington Cullum , who later served as superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York.
During the Civil War , Fort Trumbull served as an organizational center for Union forces and as the headquarters for the US 14th Infantry Regiment . Troops were recruited and trained here before they were sent to war. Fort Trumbull was briefly commanded by John F. Reynolds , who rose to "Major General" and fell at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. From 1863 to 1879, the "Ordnance Sergeant" Mark Wentworth Smith was assigned to Fort Trumbull and served as site manager of Fort Griswold, which then served as a vacant sub-post. Among other things, he maintained a vegetable garden to feed the Fort Trumbull soldiers. Smith was born in New Hampshire in 1803 and joined the Army around 1820. He was wounded at the Battle of Chapultepec during the Mexican-American War . For reasons unknown, he was given permission to remain on active service until his death (1879). He was probably the oldest serving in the United States Army in the 19th century. Only an "Army Air Forces Master Sergeant" John W. Westervelt served longer. He served in World War II until his retirement in 1945 until he was 77 years old.
20th century
After the civil war, Fort Trumbull was expanded again and modern artillery was installed. In the early 1900s, several other modern Endicott era fortifications were built to defend Long Island Sound . Fort Trumbull served as the headquarters of these forts until it was handed over to the Revenue Cutter Service (later the Coast Guard ) in 1910 as the location of the Revenue Cutter Academy ( United States Coast Guard Academy , 1915). The Coast Guard Academy moved to its current premises in 1932. The fort later served the Merchant Marine as an Officers Training School (1939-1946). One of the "Merchant Marine officers" trained there was actor Jack Lord , who became known for his role as Steve McGarrett in the Hawaii Five-O television series in the 1960s and 70s. After the Second World War, Fort Trumbull became the satellite campus of the University of Connecticut (1946–1950). War veterans were trained there according to the GI Bill .
From 1950 to 1990 Fort Trumbull was a location of the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory , that sonar systems and similar instruments for US Navy submarines . In 1990 the Sound Laboratory was merged with the Naval Underwater Systems Center in Newport and the facility at Fort Trumbull was closed.
Redevelopment & State park
The "Neighborhood of Fort Trumbull", a settlement with around 20 single and multi-family houses that was built in the early 20th century, was demolished in the 2000s to make way for an economic development plan for New London. The plan was challenged in a process that went to the United States Supreme Court (Kelo v. City of New London). The city emerged victorious. The conflict is considered to be indicative of over-bureaucratisation and inefficiency of the government. 35 acres (9 hectares) of land should be developed under this plan. The Fort Trumbull District / MDP area is about a mile from New London's Historic Old Town.
Two factors triggered the project: In 1996 the US Navy closed the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Fort Trumbull and in 1997 Pfizer Inc. announced that the company wanted to set up a Global Research and Development Headquarters on a neighboring site. Despite the legal success, the project never got going. No investors were found. Until 2015, the areas that the city had acquired could not be sold. In addition, Pfizer announced in 2009 that they would be closing their facility and moving to another facility in Groton. The New London campus was sold to General Dynamics in 2010 , who built office buildings in the area. Today, New London Main Street , a civic organization that has been maintaining the New London Historic Waterfront District since 1998, is fighting to prove the economic vitality and preserve the historic character of the district.
Fort Trumbull itself was renovated over several years and opened as a state park in 2000. Since then it has been marketed as a tourist attraction and used for concerts and events. There is a museum in the former officers' quarters .
See also
Individual evidence
- ^ Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey.
- ^ State Parks and Forests : Funding, Recruiting, and Referrals. (PDF)
- ↑ a b Fort Trumbull, Connecticut (1775) . United States Army Center of Military History. March 15, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
- ↑ Arnold had long promised to visit New London and the neighboring towns on the sea shore, and the enemy having frequently appeared in sight of the harbor, 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, 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 defense 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 that honor, 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 prices 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
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Fort Trumbull History Site
- ^ Jacoby, Jeff, "Eminent disaster: Homeowners in Connecticut town were dispossessed for nothing," The Boston Globe, March 12, 2014
- ↑ http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fifth_amendment
- ↑ a b c 'Kelo' Revisited . In: Weekly Standard , February 10, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ↑ Somin, Ilya The story behind Kelo v. City of New London - how an obscure takings case got to the Supreme Court and shocked the nation . The Washington Post, May 29, 2015.
- ^ Pfizer and Kelo's Ghost Town . In: The Wall Street Journal , November 11, 2009, p. A20. "Pfizer bugs out, long after the land grab."
- ^ A 'wrong turn': From giddy optimism to stunning disappointment , The Day. November 11, 2009.
Web links
- The History of Fort Trumbull by John Duchesneau ( Memento from October 26, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
- Adapted from US Senate website, product of the US Government
- Fort Trumbull State Park Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Fort Trumbull State Park Friends of Fort Trumbull
- History of Fort Trumbull ( October 26, 2009 memento in the Internet Archive ) John Duchesneau