Fort Griswold facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Griswold
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Lower battery of Fort Griswold
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| Location | Bounded by Baker Ave., Smith St., Park Ave., Monument Ave., and Thames River Groton, Connecticut |
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| Website | Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000694 |
| Added to NRHP | October 6, 1970 |
Fort Griswold is an old American fort in Groton, Connecticut. It was named after Matthew Griswold, who was a leader in Connecticut. This fort was very important during the early parts of the American Revolutionary War. It worked with Fort Trumbull, which was across the Thames River.
Fort Griswold helped protect the port of New London, Connecticut. New London was a key place for supplies for the Continental Army. It was also a safe harbor for privateers from Connecticut. These privateers were like legal pirates who attacked British ships. Today, the 17-acre site is a park called Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection takes care of it.
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History of Fort Griswold
Work on Fort Griswold began on December 5, 1775. This was right after the American Revolutionary War started. The fort was finished in 1778. It was also known as Groton Fort. It sits on a hill, which allowed its cannons to fire at ships entering the Thames River. About 100 feet below the main fort, there was another battery for more guns. This was built during the Revolutionary War and improved later.
In September 1781, British soldiers attacked New London. Their leader was Benedict Arnold. The British knew a lot about Fort Griswold's layout. Arnold brought his ships up the river from an angle where the fort's guns could not hit them. The British forces split up. Some went to burn New London. The rest attacked the fort in the Battle of Groton Heights.
The British eventually broke into the fort. Colonel William Ledyard was the American commander. He surrendered by offering his sword to the British officer. The British officer took the sword and killed Colonel Ledyard. Benedict Arnold left the fort soon after. New London was left burning.
Later Uses of the Fort
Fort Griswold was rebuilt and used in other wars. But the Battle of Groton Heights was its most famous moment. It was used during the War of 1812. In 1814, Commodore Stephen Decatur and his ships were stuck by a larger British force. They used the fort for defense. In the 1840s, the fort's lower battery was rebuilt. It was set up for 20 cannons.
After the American Civil War, the lower battery was changed again. It was set up for large 10-inch cannons. For most of its time with the Army, Fort Griswold was a smaller part of Fort Trumbull. It did not have many soldiers after the Civil War. An ordnance sergeant, who took care of weapons, looked after it. Sergeant Mark Wentworth Smith was the caretaker from 1863 to 1879. He was a veteran of the Mexican–American War. Sergeant Smith died in 1879 at age 76. He was the oldest active-duty soldier in the Army's history. Fort Griswold became old-fashioned after the Spanish–American War. A new fort, Fort H. G. Wright, was built in 1906 on Fishers Island. This new fort protected Long Island Sound.
Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park
The State of Connecticut has owned and run the site since 1953. It is now called Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park. You can see the restored earthwork battery and cannons. There is also a shot furnace and a powder magazine. The park also has several monuments and memorials. These honor people from Connecticut who fought in different wars.
- The Groton Monument is a tall granite stone. It honors the defenders who died during the Battle of Groton Heights. It was built between 1826 and 1830. It is 135 feet (41 meters) tall and has 166 steps.
- The Monument House Museum is next to the monument. It has exhibits about the Revolutionary War. The Daughters of the American Revolution run it. Visitors can climb the monument and visit the museum. It is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- The Ebenezer Avery House is a historic house from the Revolutionary War time. Wounded soldiers were cared for here after the Battle of Groton Heights. You can take tours of this museum on summer weekends.
Images for kids
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Lower Battery of Fort Griswold, July 16, 2020
