Fort Trumbull facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Trumbull
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Fort Trumbull as constructed after 1839, painted by Seth Eastman under commission of the US Army in 1870
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| Location | Fort Neck New London, Connecticut |
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| NRHP reference No. | 72001333 |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 1972 |
Fort Trumbull is a historic fort located in New London, Connecticut. It sits right by the mouth of the Thames River where it meets Long Island Sound. The fort is named after Governor Jonathan Trumbull.
The first fort here was built in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War. The fort you see today was built much later, between 1839 and 1852. Fort Trumbull is now a 16-acre Fort Trumbull State Park. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
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Fort Trumbull's History: A Look Back
In 1775, Governor Jonathan Trumbull suggested building a fort in New London. This fort would protect Connecticut's government seat and important port. The fort was finished in 1777 and named after the governor.
The 1781 Attack: Benedict Arnold's Raid
Fort Trumbull was attacked in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. British forces, led by Benedict Arnold, captured it. Arnold had once been an American general but had switched sides to join the British Army.
On September 6, 1781, Arnold led a raid on New London and Groton, Connecticut. British troops landed on both sides of the Thames River. They marched towards Fort Trumbull in New London and Fort Griswold in Groton.
Fort Trumbull was captured quickly. However, about 150 Connecticut militiamen bravely defended Fort Griswold. This fight became known as the Battle of Groton Heights. The British eventually entered Fort Griswold. The American commander, Lieutenant Colonel William Ledyard, surrendered. Sadly, many of the American defenders were killed. Eighty-five militiamen died, and others were badly hurt or taken prisoner.
After taking both forts, the British burned New London. Then they returned to their ships.
Fort Trumbull in the 1800s
Around 1808, the fort was repaired. It was then redesigned and rebuilt between 1839 and 1852. This new fort was five-sided with four bastions (parts of a fort that stick out). It was built to hold many cannons to defend the coast.
The new fort was overseen by Army engineer George Washington Cullum. He later became the superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
During the American Civil War, Fort Trumbull was a key place for Union troops. It served as a training center and headquarters for the 14th US Infantry Regiment. Soldiers were recruited and trained here before going to war. For a short time, John F. Reynolds commanded Fort Trumbull. He later became a major general and died at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
From 1863 to 1879, Ordnance Sergeant Mark Wentworth Smith was stationed at Fort Trumbull. He also took care of Fort Griswold, which was across the river. Smith was a very old soldier for his time. He was wounded in the Mexican–American War and served until he died at age 76.
In the late 1800s, Fort Trumbull was updated for newer artillery. This included large Rodman guns and converted rifles. Today, two 8-inch converted rifles are still at Fort Trumbull in a restored firing spot.
Fort Trumbull in the 1900s
After the Civil War, Fort Trumbull was improved with more modern cannons. In the early 1900s, other new forts were built to protect Long Island Sound. Fort Trumbull became the headquarters for these forts.
Home to the Coast Guard Academy
In 1910, Fort Trumbull was given to the United States Revenue Cutter Service. This service later became the Coast Guard. The fort was used as the Revenue Cutter Academy, which was renamed the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1915. The Academy moved to its current location in 1932, about two miles up the Thames River.
A Place for Education
From 1939 to 1946, Fort Trumbull became the Merchant Marine Officers Training School. It trained over 15,000 Merchant Marine officers who served during World War II. Actor Jack Lord, famous for Hawaii Five-O, was one of the officers trained here.
After the war, the University of Connecticut used Fort Trumbull as a satellite campus. From 1946 to 1950, it educated war veterans using the GI Bill.
During World War II, Fort Trumbull was a site for research on sonar systems. This work continued, and from 1946 to 1970, Fort Trumbull housed the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory. This lab developed sonar and related systems for US Navy submarines.
In 1970, the Sound Laboratory merged with another center. Work continued at Fort Trumbull until 1996. This marked the end of nearly 150 years of Fort Trumbull serving as a federal military facility.
Fort Trumbull State Park Today
After several years of redevelopment, Fort Trumbull opened as a state park in 2000. It is now a popular spot for concerts and other special events. Visitors can explore the main fort, and there's an elevator to reach the upper parts. A museum about the fort's history is located in the former officers' quarters.
