Tryon's raid facts for kids
Tryon's Raid was a series of attacks by British forces in July 1779. It happened during the American Revolutionary War. About 2,700 British soldiers, led by Major General William Tryon, attacked towns in Connecticut. They targeted the port towns of New Haven, Fairfield, and Norwalk.
The soldiers destroyed military supplies, public buildings, and ships. They also burned many private homes and churches. Local volunteer soldiers, called militia, tried to fight back but couldn't stop the attacks.
This raid was part of a bigger plan by the British commander, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton. He hoped to make General George Washington move his Continental Army into a battle. However, Clinton's plan did not work. Many people, including British leaders, criticized General Tryon for how harsh the attacks were. Even though the raids caused a lot of damage and affected supplies, they didn't change the overall war.
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Why the Raid Happened
After France joined the American Revolutionary War in 1778, British forces in New York City mostly focused on defending the city. There wasn't much fighting in the northern states. General George Washington and Sir Henry Clinton watched each other carefully near New York. Washington kept his army in New Jersey and at West Point. These places were important for communication and supplies.
In 1779, General Clinton came up with a new idea. He wanted to make Washington move his army so they could have a big battle. First, Clinton sent troops in May to capture Stony Point, New York and Verplanck's Point. These were key spots on the Hudson River. Washington did send more troops to the area. But Clinton thought the American positions were too strong to attack directly.
So, Clinton decided to send Major General William Tryon to raid towns along the Connecticut coast. At the same time, Clinton kept other troops ready in Mamaroneck. These troops would attack Washington's army if he moved to stop Tryon. They also planned to attack American positions in New Jersey.
Tryon gathered about 2,600 soldiers for the raid. They sailed on ships in Long Island Sound, led by Sir George Collier. The soldiers were split into two groups. One group was led by Brigadier General George Garth. It included British soldiers and German soldiers called Hessians. The second group was led by Tryon himself. It included more Hessian soldiers and American Loyalists. Loyalists were colonists who supported the British King.
Attacks on Coastal Towns
New Haven Attacked
The British ships left New York on July 3. They arrived at New Haven two days later. General Garth's soldiers quickly took control of New Haven. They started destroying public supplies and ships in the harbor. General Tryon had ordered the town to be burned. But Garth decided not to do that. He only destroyed public property.
Tryon's own group landed in East Haven, Connecticut. They faced strong resistance from local militia, but they managed to capture Black Rock Fort. Tryon's soldiers burned barns full of grain and some large houses. By the time the British left, over 1,000 militia had gathered from nearby towns.
Fairfield Burns
The British soldiers got back on their ships on the afternoon of July 6. They had spent the night in armed camps. They then sailed to Fairfield, Connecticut, arriving two days later. When the ships arrived, the people of Fairfield quickly fled.
Tryon's forces met very little resistance there. They went on a rampage, destroying many buildings. They burned 83 homes, two churches, and public buildings like a school and the courthouse. After another night on shore, the British sailed across Long Island Sound. They rested and got more supplies in Huntington, New York for two days.
Norwalk Destroyed
The British fleet reached Norwalk, Connecticut late on July 11. The soldiers didn't finish landing until 3:00 AM on July 12. So, they rested until morning. The two groups of soldiers landed on different sides of the harbor. They were met by only about 50 local militia, who were easily scattered.
The British forces then began their attack on the village. They ended up destroying most of the homes and businesses in Norwalk. After the destruction, the fleet returned to Huntington. On July 14, Tryon received orders to return to New York.
What Happened Next
General Tryon reported that 26 of his soldiers were killed, 90 were wounded, and 32 were missing. For the Americans in New Haven, records show 23 were killed, 15 wounded, and 12 captured.
General Clinton's plan was a complete failure. When General Washington heard about the invasion, he quickly ordered his Connecticut soldiers near West Point to move fast. But they arrived after Tryon's ships had already left. So, they missed the chance to defend their home state.
However, Washington did benefit from Clinton's plan. Clinton had to take soldiers from the Stony Point fort to join Tryon's raid. This made the fort weaker. On the night of July 15–16, American forces led by General Anthony Wayne successfully captured the outpost. Even though Clinton later took Stony Point back, he gave it up later that year. This was because the 1779 raids didn't achieve anything important.
Tryon was heavily criticized for the raid by both Americans and even some British. Washington said Tryon was making war against women and children. An American official named Silas Deane called the raids "barbarity." A British official in London, John Pownall, wondered why Tryon would allow such "wanton severities" (meaning cruel and unnecessary actions). General Clinton himself asked Tryon for a written report to explain the burnings. Clinton complained that he had been forced to order such raids, saying, "I have been a buccaneer already too long; I detest that sort of war."
The last major British raid on the Connecticut coast happened in 1781. It was led by Benedict Arnold, who was from Connecticut. He attacked the port of New London. Arnold had been an American officer but joined the British after his plot to hand over West Point to them was discovered in 1780. He fought with the British for the rest of the war and moved to London in 1782.
