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diff --git a/26946.txt b/26946.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8bebd6c --- /dev/null +++ b/26946.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1881 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Defence of Stonington (Connecticut) +Against a British Squadron, August 9th to 12th, 1814, by J. Hammond Trumbull + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Defence of Stonington (Connecticut) Against a British Squadron, August 9th to 12th, 1814 + +Author: J. Hammond Trumbull + +Release Date: October 18, 2008 [EBook #26946] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEFENCE OF STONINGTON *** + + + + +Produced by Jane Hyland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +THE + +Defence of Stonington + +(CONNECTICUT) + +AGAINST A BRITISH SQUADRON, + +AUGUST 9TH TO 12TH, 1814. + + +"Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona." + + + + +HARTFORD: 1864. + + + + +ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE COPIES PRINTED. + +FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION. + + +[Transcriber's Note: the various spellings of Ramilies have been retained +in the text. Similarly, some opening quotes are not always matched with +closing quotes.] + + +CONTENTS. + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE, page v + +RECORD OF THE EXTRAORDINARY ATTACK ON STONINGTON, 9 + +NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS, FROM THE CONNECTICUT GAZETTE, 20 + +MUSTER-ROLL OF CAPT. WM. POTTER'S COMPANY, 22 + +ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK, PUBLISHED BY THE BOROUGH AUTHORITIES, 24 + +LETTER FROM CAPT. AMOS PALMER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 33 + +EXTRACT FROM GEN. ROOT'S SPEECH IN CONGRESS, 1817, 37 + +THE BATTLE OF STONINGTON, BY PHILIP FRENEAU, 38 + +CELEBRATIONS OF THE ANNIVERSARY, 42 + +NOTES, 47 + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE. + + +The repulse of a British squadron, at Stonington, by a few undisciplined +volunteers, having only two effective guns, imperfectly protected by a +low earth-work,--and this repulse accomplished without the loss of a +single life,--was not the least glorious achievement of the War of +1812-14. The fiftieth anniversary of the action is close at hand. Few +who witnessed,--only three or four who participated in it, survive. In +this day of great events, when armies and navies are gathered on a scale +of magnitude of which our fathers never dreamed,--when from the heights +of modern science, we look back to the guns and the ships of war of the +last generation, as to the toys of childhood,--when we are in the very +crisis of a war greater in itself, and waged for a grander issue, than +the world has hitherto witnessed,--it is not surprising that so few find +leisure or inclination to look from the present to the past, or to +recall to memory the heroism of their fathers. + +Yet there are some for whom the story of _The Attack_ has not yet lost +its interest. They learned it in childhood, from the lips of those who +shared the perils and the glory of the action. They grew up, amid +associations which could hardly fail to kindle an honest pride in their +birth-place. To them, the "Tenth of August" was not merely a +school-holiday, but an anniversary entitled to equal honors with +Independence Day itself. They have helped draw the "old Eighteens," +through the streets of the Borough, in solemn procession to the site of +the demolished Battery. They have seen the cherished Flag--pierced and +torn in a dozen places by the enemy's shot,--float again from the +flag-staff, in honor of the day: and some of them were standing by when +"Old Hickory" bared his head to salute it, and bade the citizens +preserve, with all care, this precious memorial of the courage and +patriotism of their townsmen. + +It is for these--the companions of my own school-days,--and in honor of +the volunteers of 1814, that I have reproduced some of the contemporary +accounts of the attack and defence of Stonington. The first (pp. 9-20) +was written by Col. Samuel Green, the publisher of the _Connecticut +Gazette_, who visited the Borough during the action, and obtained his +knowledge of facts of which he was not an eye-witness, from the actors +themselves and from official sources. This account, printed in the +_Gazette_, of August 17th, was copied into many of the newspapers in the +northern states, and appeared in Niles's _Weekly Register_, November +5th, with some additional particulars. + +Following this, are copies of the muster-roll of the Borough company of +militia; the official account furnished for publication by the +magistrates, warden and burgesses (pp. 24-32); and a letter from Capt. +Amos Palmer, chairman of the citizens' committee of defence, to Mr. +Crawford, secretary of war, containing a concise narrative of the +action. Philip Freneau's _Battle of Stonington_,--though not of the +highest order of lyric excellence,--challenges favorable comparison with +many of the loyal effusions which have found their way to the public, +during the present war; and will be welcomed as an old friend by some +who value patriotism more than poetry. T. + + _Hartford, Conn., July 28th, 1864._ + + + + +THE DEFENCE OF STONINGTON. + + +[From the Conn. Gazette, Aug. 17th, 1814.] + +RECORD OF THE EXTRAORDINARY ATTACK ON STONINGTON.[1] + + + NEW LONDON, AUGUST 17, 1814. + +On Tuesday the 9th instant, at 5 P. M. the _Ramilies_, 74, _Pactolus_, +38, a bomb ship, and the _Dispatch_, 22 gun brig, arrived off +Stonington, and a flag was sent on shore with the following note-- + + + "_On board his Majesty's Ship, Ramilies, + Stonington, Aug. 9._ +TO THE MAGISTRATES OF STONINGTON. + +Gentlemen--One hour is allowed you from the receipt of this +communication, for the removal of the unoffending inhabitants. + + THOMAS M. HARDY.[2] + + +This notification was received by two magistrates[3] and Lieutenant +Hough of the drafted militia, who went off to meet the flag. The officer +was asked whether a flag would not be received on board. He said no +arrangements could be made. They inquired whether Com. Hardy had +determined to destroy the town. He replied that such were his orders +from the Admiral, and that it would be done most effectually. + +When the gentlemen reached the shore, a crowd waited with great anxiety +for the news; which being stated, consternation flew through the town. +An express was despatched to General Cushing,[4] at New London. A number +of volunteers hastened to collect ammunition; others ran to the battery, +which consisted of two 18 pounders and a 4 pounder, on field carriages, +with a slight breast work, 4 feet high. The sick and the aged were +removed with haste: the women and children, with loud cries, were seen +running in every direction. Some of the most valuable articles were +hastily got off by hand, others placed in the gardens and lots, or +thrown into wells, to save them from the impending conflagration. The +sixty minutes expired, but the dreaded moment did not bring the attack. +Nelson's favorite hero and friend was seized with the compunctions of +magnanimity;--he remembered what ancient Britons were; he remembered +that something was due to the character of Sir Thomas M. Hardy. Three +hours in fact elapsed, when at 8 in the evening the attack was commenced +by a discharge of shells from the bomb ship. Several barges and +launches had taken their stations in different points, from whence they +threw Congreve rockets, and carcasses. This mode of attack was continued +incessantly till midnight; and the fire was returned occasionally from +the battery, as the light of the rockets gave opportunity with any +chance of success. + +The few drafted militia which had been sometime stationed there, under +command of Lieutenant Hough, were placed in the best directions to give +an alarm in case a landing should be attempted. During the night the +volunteers and militia had assembled in considerable numbers; and the +non-combatant inhabitants had generally removed to the neighboring +farm-houses, in the momentary expectation of seeing their abandoned +dwellings in flames. It was a night of inexpressible anguish to many a +widow and orphan, to many aged and infirm, whose little pittance they +were now apparently to lose forever. But Providence directed otherwise. +This compact little village of 100 buildings had been for four hours +covered with flames of fire and bomb shells, and not a single building +was consumed nor a person injured. + +At the dawn of day on the 10th, the approach of the enemy was announced +by a discharge of Congreve rockets from several barges and a launch, +which had taken their station, on the east side of the town, and out of +reach of the battery. Several volunteers, with small arms and the four +pounder, hastened across the point, supposing the enemy were attempting +a landing. Colonel Randall of the 13th regiment, who at the time was +moving towards the battery with a detachment of militia, ordered them to +assist the volunteers in drawing over one of the 18 pounders to the +extreme end of the point; the fire of which in a few minutes compelled +the barges to seek safety in flight. During this time the brig was +working up towards the Point, and soon after sunrise came to anchor, +short of half a mile from the battery, (or more correctly, the +breastwork). Our ammunition being soon exhausted, the guns were spiked, +and the men who fought them, being only about 15 or 20,[5] retired, +leaving them behind for want of strength to drag them off. + +The brig now continued deliberately to pour her 32 pound shot and grape +into the Village, without our having the power of returning a shot, for +an hour, and the bomb ketch occasionally threw in shells. A fresh supply +of ammunition being obtained, the 18 pounder was withdrawn from the +breastwork, the vent drilled, and the piece taken back again, when such +an animated and well directed fire was kept up, that at 3 o'clock the +brig slipped her cable and hauled off, with her pumps going, having +received several shots below her water line, and considerable damage in +her spars, &c. During this action between the eighteen pounder and the +brig, Mr. Frederick Denison was slightly wounded in the knee,[6] by a +fragment of a rock, and Mr. John Miner, badly burnt in his face by the +premature discharge of the gun. The flag, which was nailed to the mast, +was pierced with seven shot holes,[7] the breast-work somewhat injured, +and 6 or 8 of the dwelling-houses in the vicinity essentially injured. +At this time a considerable body of militia had arrived, and +Brigadier-General Isham[8] had taken the command; the inhabitants had +recovered from the consternation of the first moments; and were +deliberately moving off their furniture and goods. At 1 o'clock the +Ramilies and Pactolus had taken stations about two and a half miles from +the town, when resistance appearing hopeless, the Magistrates as a last +resort applied to the General for permission to send a flag off, being +impressed with the opinion that there must exist some latent cause of a +peculiar nature to induce a commander who had heretofore distinguished +himself for a scrupulous regard to the claims of honorable warfare,--to +induce him to commit an act so repugnant to sound policy, so abhorrent +to his nature, so flagrant an outrage on humanity. The General, we +understand, would not sanction, nor did he absolutely prohibit, a flag +being sent. They, therefore, on their own responsibility, sent on board +the Ramilies, Isaac Williams and Wm. Lord, Esquires, with the following +letter. + + +Copy.) _Stonington August 10, 1814._ +TO SIR THOMAS M. HARDY, + +SIR--Agreeable to notice received from you yesterday, this town is now +cleared of "unoffending inhabitants," and they feeling anxious about the +fate of their village, are desirous to know from you, your determination +respecting it. Yours, &c. + + _Amos Denison_, Burgess. + _William Lord_, Magistrate. + + +The deputation proceeded on board the Ramilies, and shortly after an +officer informed the boatmen that they might return to the shore, as the +gentlemen would be landed in a boat from the ship; and that Captain +Hardy had declared that no further hostilities would be committed +against the town. After remaining on board an hour, or more, the +deputation were conveyed in a flag from the ship, which was met by one +from the shore. They brought with them a very singular and extraordinary +communication. An exact copy cannot at present be obtained, as official +etiquette will not permit; but having read it when it was received on +shore, as far as memory serves us, it was as follows: + + +_On board H. M. Ship Ramilies, off Stonington, Aug. 10._ + +GENTLEMEN--You having given assurances that no torpedoes have been +fitted out from Stonington; and having engaged to exert your influence +to prevent any from being fitted out or receiving any aid from your +town: If you send on board this ship tomorrow at eight o'clock, Mrs. +Stewart, wife of James Stewart esq. late His Majesty's Consul at New +London, and their children, I engage that no further hostilities shall +be committed against Stonington; otherwise I shall proceed to destroy it +effectually.--For which purpose I possess ample means. + + T. M. HARDY, Capt. + + +This letter was received indignantly. No answer was given. It was a fact +well known that no torpedoes have been fitted out at Stonington, and +that the inhabitants are unfriendly to the system; but neither +individuals nor the town have power to prevent their resorting to that +place. The condition _sine qua non_, is truly _tragi-farcical_. Neither +the town of Stonington or the State of Connecticut, had any legal power +to comply with it, which Capt. Hardy well knew. And if Stonington Point +with its rocky foundations had been in danger of being blown up, +scarcely a voice would have been raised to have saved it on such +disgraceful terms. The first duty of a citizen we are taught in +Connecticut, is to obey the laws. Mrs. Stewart is under the protection +of the government of the United States, and the petition of her husband +for a permission for a departure is in the hands of a proper authority, +who will undoubtedly decide correctly in the case.[9] + +Our countrymen at a distance, from the importance Capt. Hardy has +attached to the circumstance of Mrs. Stewart's being sent off to the +British squadron, may possibly apprehend that she has received insult, +or signified some fears for the personal safety of herself and +children.--So far from this being the fact, no lady ever experienced +greater civilities from the citizens; as no one has better deserved +them. And her feelings during the proceedings at Stonington, demanded +the sympathy of her friends. + +By the terms offered by Capt. Hardy, it was impossible to discover +whether he was most doubtful of his ability to accomplish the +destruction of the town, or desirous of a pretext to save it. He assured +the gentlemen who accompanied the flag that this was the most unpleasant +expedition he had undertaken. + +The truce on the part of the enemy having expired at 8 o'clock on +Thursday morning, a flag was soon after observed at the battery to be +coming on shore, and there not being sufficient time to give information +of the fact at head quarters and receive instructions, it was determined +by the officer then commanding to send a boat off to receive the +communication. Mr. Faxon, of Stonington, took charge of the boat, met +the flag, and offered to convey the dispatch agreeable to its +directions. The British officer, Lieut. Claxton, questioned his +authority to receive it; enquired whether Mrs. Stewart would be sent +off; and said he would go on shore. Mr. Faxon replied, that he knew +nothing of Mrs. Stewart; and that if he attempted to proceed for the +shore, he would undoubtedly be fired on. He continued his course, when +a centinel was directed to fire forward of the boat, but the ball passed +through the after sail. They immediately put about and steered for the +ship; the lieutenant swearing revenge, for what he termed an insult to +his flag. + +An explanation of the circumstance was immediately transmitted by +General Isham to Capt. Hardy, which he received as satisfactory. + +At the moment, a flag had started for the Ramilies,[10] from the civil +authority of the town, which was received on board; by which was sent +the following letter:-- + + + _Stonington Boro', Aug. 14, 1814._ +TO THOMAS M. HARDY, _Commander of H.B.M. Ship Ramilies_. + +Sir--Since the flag went into New London for Mrs. Stewart, and family, +General Cushing, who commands at New London, has written, we are +informed, to the Secretary of War on the subject, and it is our opinion +that the request will be complied with. But whatever may be the result +of the communication from Gen. Cushing, you will be satisfied it is not +in our power to enter into any arrangement with you respecting her. + +From yours, &c. + +Isaac Williams, } +William Lord, } _Magistrates._ +Alexander G. Smith, } +Joseph Smith, _Warden._ +Geo. Hubbard,} _Burgesses._ +Amos Denison,} + + +To this letter, Capt. Hardy replied verbally, that he should allow till +12 o'clock for Mrs. Stewart to be brought on board.[11] At this time the +principal part of three regiments of militia had arrived, and the town +was perfectly secure against a landing. + +At 3 o'clock, the bomb ship commenced throwing shells into the town; and +being out of reach of our cannon, the General withdrew the militia, +excepting a guard of 50 men who were ordered to patrol the streets for +the extinguishment of fire, should any happen. The bombardment continued +till evening. + +On Friday morning the bomb ship renewed her operations a little before +sunrise, while the Ramilies and Pactolus were warping in. At eight +o'clock the frigate opened her fire and was soon followed by the +Ramilies. At this time the cannon were ordered to be moved to the north +end of the town, where they would have been serviceable if an attempt +had been made to land under cover of the ships. This was a very +hazardous service, as the party would be entirely exposed to the fire of +the enemy. Volunteers in sufficient numbers instantly offered their +services; among whom were upwards of twenty of the Norwich artillery. +The command of the party was entrusted to Lieutenant Lathrop,[12] of +that corps. They marched to the battery and brought off the pieces +without the smallest accident; exhibiting all the steadiness which +characterises veteran soldiers. + +This tremendous cannonade and bombardment continued till nearly noon, +when it ceased; and about four o'clock the ships hauled off to their +former anchorage. + +During the succeeding night a large force was kept on guard, in the +expectation and hope that a landing would be attempted. The militia +during this afflicting scene discovered the very best disposition, and +were eager to take revenge of the enemy or sacrifice their lives in the +contest. + +It may be considered miraculous that during the several attacks, while +so many were exposed to this terrible and protracted bombardment and +cannonade, not a person was killed, and but five or six wounded, and +those but slightly. Among the wounded is Lieutenant Hough[13] of the +drafted militia. + +On Saturday morning the enemy relinquished the hope of burning the town, +weighed anchor, and proceeded up Fisher's Island sound. + +The volunteers who so gloriously fought in the battery, deserve the +thanks of their country. No men could have done better. Their example +will have the happiest influence. + +About forty buildings are more or less injured, 8 or 10 essentially so; +and two or three may be considered as ruined. The damage was principally +done by the brig. Many shells did not explode, several were +extinguished. The Congreve Rockets which were frightful at first, lost +their terrors, and effected little. + +The inhabitants, fearing another attack, have not returned to their +dwellings, and their desolate situation calls loudly upon the +philanthropy of their fellow citizens. If a brief should be granted for +collections in the churches of the State we trust very essential aid +will be furnished. Nineteen-twentieths of the inhabitants, it is said, +have no other property than their dwellings. + +A Nantucket man has been on board the British fleet to redeem his boat, +and learned that the Dispatch had 2 men killed and 12 wounded; her loss +was undoubtedly much greater. + + + * * * * * + + +NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS. + +[From the Conn. Gazette, Aug. 24th.] + +The following is handed us as a list of the volunteers (tho' presumed +not entirely perfect,) of those who so bravely stood the brunt of the +attack of Stonington Point:-- + +Of _Stonington_:-- + +Capt. George Fellows, Gurdon Trumbull, +Capt. Wm. Potter, Alex. G. Smith, +Dr. Wm. Lord, Amos Denison jun., +Lieut. H. G. Lewis, Stanton Gallup, +Ensign D. Frink, Eb. Morgan, + John Miner. + +Of _Mystic_:-- + +Jesse Deane, Jeremiah Holmes, +Deane Gallup, N. Cleft, +Fred. Haley, Jedediah Reed. + +Of _Groton_:-- + +Alfred White, Frank Daniels, +Ebenezer Morgan, Giles Moran. + +Of _New London_:-- + +Major Simeon Smith, +Capt. Noah Lester (formerly of the Army), +Major N. Frink, Lambert Williams. + +From _Massachusetts_:-- + +Capt. Leonard, and Mr. Dunham. + + +[From the Conn. Gazette, Aug. 31st.] + +By an error of the compositor, the following names were omitted in the +list published in our last paper, of volunteers who so greatly +contributed to the glorious defence and preservation of Stonington, +viz.:-- + +Simeon Haley, Thomas Wilcox, +Jeremiah Haley, Luke Palmer, +Frederick Denison, George Palmer, +John Miner, Wm. G. Bush, +Asa Lee. + +There were probably others, whom we have not learnt. + + +[From the original in the Comptroller's office, at Hartford.] + +MUSTER ROLL of the 8th Company of Infantry under the command of CAPTAIN +WM. POTTER in the Thirtieth Regiment of Con. Militia in service of the +United States, at Stonington, commanded by Lieut. Col. WM. RANDALL, from +the 9th of August when last mustered, to the 27th of August 1814.-- + +_Names and Rank. Commencement Expiration Alterations and Remarks + of service. of service. Remarks since last + muster._ + +_Captain_, William Potter, Aug. 9 Aug. 27 +_Lieut._ Horatio G. Lewis, " 9 " 27 + {detached for service +_Ensign_, Daniel Frink, " 9 " 23 { and ordered to N. + { London, Aug. 22. + _Sergeants:_ +Francis Amy, " 19 " 27 +Charles H. Smith, " 9 " 27 +Peleg Hancox, " 22 " 27 +Gurdon Trumbull, " 9 " 27 + _Corporals:_ +Azariah Stanton jr., " 16 " 27 +Junia Cheesebrough, " 9 " 27 +Joshua Swan jr., " 22 " 27 + _Privates:_ + {detached for service +Phineas Wilcox, " 9 " 23 { and ordered to N. + { London, Aug. 23. +Hamilton White, " 9 " 27 + {detached for service +Henry Wilcox, " 9 " 23 { and ordered to N. + { London, Aug. 23. +Nathan Wilcox, " 9 " 27 +Samuel Burtch, " 9 " 27 +Jonathan Palmer, " 9 " 27 +Andrew P. Stanton, " 9 " 27 +James Stanton, Aug. 9 Aug. 27 +Thomas Breed, " 9 " {Volunteer exempt, + {discharg., Aug. 17. +Amos Loper, " 9 " {Volunteer exempt, + {discharg., Aug. 20. +Samuel Bottum, Jr., " 9 " 27 + {Produced certificate +Benj. Merritt, " 9 " {of parole on 15th + {Aug. & discharged. +Elisha Cheesebrough Jr., " 9 " 27 + {detached for service +Christopr. Wheeler, " 9 " 23 { & ordered to New + { London, Aug. 23. +Amos Hancox, " 9 " 27 +Zebadiah Palmer, " 15 " 27 +Nathl. Waldron, " 15 " 27 +Thomas Spencer, " 19 " 27 +Nathl. M. Pendleton, " 20 " 27 +Simon Carew, " 22 " 27 +Elisha Faxon Jun., " 22 " 27 + {detached for service +Ebenezer Halpin, " 22 " 23 { & ordered to New + { London, Aug. 23. + {detached for service +Asa Wilcox Jun., " 22 " 23 { & ordered to New + { London, 23 Aug. +Warren Palmer, " 22 " 27 + {Waiter to Capt. +Joseph Bailey Jun. } " 9 " 27 {Wm. Potter. + }_Waiters_, " " 23 {Waiter to Lieut. +Nathl. Lewis, } {G. Lewis + + +I certify, upon honor, that this Muster Roll exhibits a true statement +of the 8th Company; and that the remarks set opposite the men's names +are accurate and just. + + WILLIAM POTTER, _Capt._ + +We certify upon honor, that the foregoing Muster Roll exhibits a true +statement of Captain William Potter's Company; and that the remarks set +opposite the men's names are accurate and just. + + JOHN JAMIESON JR., _Asst. Adjt. Genl. & + Mustering Officer, per order_. + + WM LORD, _Regimental Surgeon_. + + +ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK, FURNISHED FOR PUBLICATION, BY THE MAGISTRATES, +WARDEN AND BURGESSES.[14] + +[From the Conn. Gazette, Sept. 7th,] + + _Stonington Borough, Aug. 29, 1814._ + +_Mr._ Green--In relation to the extraordinary attack of the enemy, of +the 9th inst., on this village, the public have been furnished with +various accounts; and though the circumstantial and generally correct +account given in your paper [of the 7th of August,] precludes the +necessity of a recapitulation of the whole transaction, yet this village +having been the object of the attack and resentment of Sir Thomas, the +Magistrates, Warden and Burgesses residing therein, feeling deeply +interested that some official document comprehending a supply of some +facts not given, and alteration of others, and a general statement +relative to the whole, should be published,--offer the public the +following statement: + + +On Tuesday afternoon of the 9th inst. anchored off our harbor, the +frigate _Pactolus_, the _Terror_, a bomb ship, and the brig _Dispatch_ +of 20 guns. From the difficulty of the navigation in Fisher's Island +Sound, we have been generally impressed that such ships of war dare not +approach us; but the presumption of the enemy has created new fears, and +we think it our duty to say, that further means of defence and +protection ought to be afforded us; this we have often requested. +Various were the opinions respecting the object of the enemy, but soon +all was settled. A flag was discovered to leave the frigate and row +towards the town. The impropriety of suffering them to come on more was +suggested; and a boat was immediately obtained, Capt. Amos Palmer, +William Lord Esq., and Lieut. Hough of the detachment here, selected, +and the flag of the enemy met by ours, when we received the following +unexpected and short notice--(This not having been furnished the public +correctly we give it at length:) + + + _His Britannic Majesty's ship_ PACTOLUS, + _9th of August, 1814, halfpast 5 o'clock, P. M._ + +Not wishing to destroy the unoffending inhabitants residing in the town +of Stonington, one hour is given them from the receipt of this, to +remove out of the town. + + T. M. HARDY, _Capt. of H. B. M. + Ship_ RAMILIES. + +_To the Inhabitants of the Town of Stonington._ + + +From the date of this communication it will appear that Commander Hardy +was himself on board the Pactolus to direct the attack; the _Ramilies_ +then laying at anchor at the west end of Fisher's Island. The people +assembled in great numbers to hear what was the word from the enemy; +when the above was read aloud. The enemy in the barge lay upon their +oars a few moments, probably to see the crowd and if some consternation +might not prevail. Whatever effect was produced, this we know, that Sir +Thomas's "unoffending inhabitants" did not agree to give up the ship, +though threatened by a force competent, in a human view, to destroy +them, when compared with the present means of defence in their power. It +was exclaimed, from old and young, _We will defend_. The male citizens, +though duly appreciating the humanity of Sir Thomas, in not wishing to +destroy them, thought proper to defend their wives and their children, +and, in many instances, all their property; and we feel a pleasure in +saying that a united spirit of defence prevailed, and, during the short +hour granted us, expresses were sent to Gen. Cushing at New London, and +to Col. Randall,[15] whose regiment resided nearest to the scene of +danger. The detachment stationed here under Lieut. Hough was embodied; +Capt. Potter, residing within the Borough, gave orders to assemble all +the officers and men under his command that could be immediately +collected. They cheerfully and quickly assembled, animated with the true +spirit of patriotism. The ammunition for our two 18-pounders and +4-pounder was collected at the little breast-work erected by ourselves. +The citizens of the Borough, assisted by two strangers from +Massachusetts, manned the 18-pounders at the breast-work, and also the +4-pounder. One cause of discouragement, only, seemed to prevail, which +was the deficiency of ammunition for the cannon. This circumstance, +however, together with the superior force arrayed against us, did not +abate the zeal for resistance. Such guards of musketry as were in our +power to place, were stationed at different points on the shores. In +this state of preparation we waited the attack of the enemy. About 8 +o'clock in the evening they commenced by the fire of a shell from the +bomb-ship, which was immediately returned by a shot from our 18-pounder. +This attack of the enemy was immediately succeeded by one from three +launches and four barges, surrounding the point, throwing rockets and +shot into the village. This also was returned as often as, by the light +of the rockets streaming from the barges, we could discover them. +Assisted by the above military force, the inhabitants alone, some +seventy years old, defended the town until about 11 o'clock; and had it +not been for the spirited resistance manifested, a landing no doubt, +would have been effected. At this time Col. Randall had arrived, and +having issued orders to the militia under his command, they began to +assemble, and from the short notice given them were truly prompt and +active in appearing at the post of danger: some volunteers had also +arrived. From this additional strength, the apprehensions of the enemy's +landing, in a measure vanished. Their shells, rockets and carcasses, +having been prevented from spreading the destruction intended, they +ceased firing them about 12 o'clock. All was still from this time until +day-light. A fire of rockets and shot from the launches and barges again +commenced, which was spiritedly returned from our artillery taken from +the breast-work, in open view of the enemy and exposed to their shot, on +the end of the point, and they [were] compelled to recede. This truly +hazardous service was nobly performed. Col. Randall having been prompt +in his appearance, as were all the officers and soldiers of his +regiment, they were now organized, ready and eager to receive our +invaders. From the spirit manifested among the citizens, volunteers and +soldiers, and the judicious arrangements made of the troops assembled, +had a landing been attempted a good account would no doubt have been +given of them. We were now also assisted by numbers of volunteers. The +barges having receded from the fire of our four and eighteen-pounder on +the Point, they were taken back to the breast-work. + +About 8 o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, the Brig [_Dispatch_] +hauled within half a mile of our breast-work, and opened a well directed +and animated fire. Our few guns being now well manned by citizens and +volunteers, from Stonington, New London, Mistick and Groton, they were +ready to receive her. Her fire was returned with a spirit and courage +rarely to be equalled,--and of those gallant souls who stood this +conflict, we can only say, they gloriously did their duty. Heroes having +so nobly acted, with ours, will receive the plaudit of their country. +What effect such bravery had on the enemy, will appear from the fact, +that the brig was compelled to cut her cable and retire out of reach of +our shot. Her anchor has since been taken up, with a number of fathoms +of cable. No attack was afterwards made by the brig. This contest with +the brig (called the _Dispatch_), continued on our part from the +breast-work until the ammunition was expended. To this circumstance, +unfortunately for the village and mortifying to those so gallantly +engaged in the defence, may be attributed the principal injury sustained +by the buildings. For two hours or more, she kept up a constant fire +without having it in our power to return a shot: during which time, we +are confident, had there been a supply of ammunition, she would have +been taught the use and meaning of her name. + +The further particulars which transpired on Wednesday and Thursday, +having been noticed by you, in the publication above referred to, very +correctly, the public must be satisfied without any comments from us. In +the publication of the transactions of Friday, we have discovered one +error. Amidst the combined fire of the Ramilies, frigate and bomb-ship, +Lieut. Lathrop and volunteers from the Norwich Artillery, in fact did +proceed, to undertake in assisting to get off the cannon from the +breast-work, but they met other brave lads who had accomplished this +hazardous duty. The praise therefore of this performance, however they +may have distinguished themselves in other duties, is not correctly +bestowed. + +In passing the proceedings of Thursday and Friday, we would not overlook +the singular communication received from Commodore Hardy, which preceded +the fire on Thursday. Two subjects esteemed very important by Sir Thomas +seem connected, Torpedoes and Mrs. Stewart,--a lady we presume worthy of +the notice even of Commodore Hardy. But a demand made on those with +whom, it was well known, no power existed to comply, is not a little +extraordinary: besides, this communication is totally different from and +unconnected with the one it was sent as an answer to. It would appear +from reading the documents, that assurances were given that no torpedoes +ever did, or ever should, go from this place. This was not the fact; no +promises or confessions of any kind were ever made. To this singular +letter no general reply was given; that part, only, [was] noticed, +relative to Mrs. Stewart. + +The enemy left us on Friday, without having accomplished that +destruction which they told us was to be effected. The damage done the +buildings is estimated at about four thousand dollars. This would +undoubtedly have been much greater, had not the volunteer vigilant +firemen[16] from Capt. Potter's company before mentioned, and others, +continued firm at their posts, determined that not a flame kindled by +those fiery engines of the enemy but should be extinguished,--and it was +done. This duty, perhaps, was as important and useful for the salvation +of the village, as any performed during the conflict. + +The list of individuals given to the public as distinguishing themselves +during the contest, we esteem very imperfect. To give a correct list of +all those who did distinguish themselves in the various duties that were +performed, is not easy to do; we shall therefore forbear. Having thought +proper to bestow a just tribute of praise on the officers and soldiers +of the 30th Regiment, who first arrived at the scene of action, it +becomes us to express, also, the high sense which we entertain of the +services and judicious and soldier-like conduct of Brigadier-General +Isham, and the officers and soldiers of the 8th and 20th Regiments, +assembled under his command. + +During this protracted bombardment, nothing more excites our +astonishment and gratitude than this, that not a man was killed on our +part. We understand from good authority, the enemy had a number killed +and several badly wounded,[17] in this unprovoked attack upon us. + +We have made some estimate of the number of shells and fire carcasses +thrown into the village, and we find there has been about three hundred. +The amount of metal fired by the enemy will exceed, we think, fifty +tons. About three or four tons of bombs, carcasses and shot have been +collected.[A] + +WILLIAM LORD, }_Magistrates._ +ALEX. G. SMITH, } +JOSEPH SMITH, _Warden._ +AMOS PALMER, } +AMOS DENISON, } +GEO. HUBBARD, } _Burgesses._ +THOMAS ASH, } +REUBEN CHESEBROUGH, } + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote A: "Some respectable citizens from motives of curiosity +weighed several shells &c., and found their weight to be as follows. + +One of the largest carcasses, partly full of the combustible, 216 lb. +One of the smallest sort do. 103 +One of the largest kind empty, 189 +One of the largest bomb shells, 189 +One of the smallest do. 90 +One, marked on it (fire 16 lb) 16 + +One of the largest carcasses partly full, was set on fire, which burnt +half an hour, emitting a horrid stench; in a calm the flame would rise +ten feet. Some of the rockets were sharp pointed, others not, made of +sheet iron very thick, containing at the lower end some of them a fusee +of grenade, calculated to burst, and if they were taken hold of before +the explosion, might prove dangerous; one or two persons received injury +in this way. They appear to contain a greater variety of combustibles +than the fire carcasses.] + + +LETTER FROM CAPT. AMOS PALMER, TO THE SECRETARY +OF WAR. + +[From Niles's Weekly Register, Oct. 21, 1815.] + +DEFENCE OF STONINGTON. + +The defence of Stonington by a handful of brave citizens was more like +an effusion of feeling, warm from the heart, than a concerted military +movement. The result of it, we all know, and it afforded sincere delight +to every patriot. But the particulars we have never seen so accurately +described as in the following concise narrative from the chairman of the +committee of defence, to the Secretary of War, of which we have been +provided with a copy for publication.--_Nat. Intelligencer._ + + + "Stonington Borough, Aug. 21, 1815. +To the Hon. Wm. H. Crawford, +Secretary of War. + +SIR: + +The former Secretary of War put into my hands, as chairman of the +committee of defence, the two 18-pounders and all the munitions of war +that were here, belonging to the general government, to be used for the +defence of the town,--and I gave my receipt for the same. + +As there is no military officer here, it becomes my duty to inform you +[of] the use we have made of it. That on the 9th of August last [year], +the _Ramilies_ 74, the _Pactolus_ 44, the _Terror_ bomb-ship, and the +_Despatch_ gun brig, anchored off the harbor. Commodore Hardy sent off a +boat, with a flag; we met him with another from the shore, when the +officer of the flag handed me a note from Commodore Hardy, informing +that one hour was given the unoffending inhabitants, before the town +would be destroyed. + +We returned to the shore, where all the male inhabitants were collected, +when I read the note aloud; they all exclaimed, they would defend the +place to the last extremity, and if it was destroyed, they would be +buried in the ruins. + +We repaired to a small battery that we had hove up--nailed our colors to +the flag staff--others lined the shore with their muskets. + +At about seven in the evening, they put off five barges and a large +launch, carrying from 32 to 9 lb. carronades in their bows, and opened +their fire from their shipping, with bombs, carcasses, rockets, round, +grape and cannister shot, and sent their boats to land under cover of +their fire. We let them come within small grape distance, when we opened +our fire upon them, from our two 18-pounders, with round and grape shot. +They soon retreated out of grape distance, and attempted a landing on +the east side of the village; we dragged a six-pounder that we had +mounted over, and met them with grape, and all our muskets opened fire +on them, so that they were willing to retreat the second time. They +continued their fire 'till 11 at night. + +The next morning at seven o'clock, the brig _Despatch_ anchored within +pistol shot of our battery, and they sent five barges and two large +launches to land under cover of their whole fire (being joined by the +_Nimrod_ 20 gun brig). When the boats approached within grape distance, +we opened our fire on them with round and grape shot. They retreated and +came round the east side of the town. We checked them with our six +pounder and muskets, 'till we dragged over one of our 18 pounders. We +put in it a round shot and about 40 or 50 lbs. of grape, and placed it +in the centre of their boats as they were rowing up in a line and firing +on us. We tore one of their barges all in pieces; so that two, one on +each side, had to lash her up, to keep her from sinking. They retreated +out of grape distance, and we turned our fire upon the brig, and +expended all our cartridges but five, which we reserved for the boats, +if they made another attempt to land. We then lay four hours without +being able to annoy the enemy in the least, except from muskets on the +brig, while the fire from the whole fleet was directed against our +buildings. After the third express to New London, some fixed ammunition +arrived. We then turned our cannon on the brig, and she soon cut her +cable and drifted out. + +The whole fleet then weighed, and anchored nearly out of reach of our +shot, and continued this and the next day to bombard the town. + +They set the buildings on fire in more than twenty places, and we as +often put them out. In the three days' bombardment they sent on shore 60 +tons of metal, and, strange to say, wounded only one man, since dead. We +have picked up 15 tons, including some that was taken up out of the +water, and the two anchors that we got.[18] We took up and buried four +poor fellows that were hove overboard out of the sinking barge. + +Since peace, the officers of the _Despatch_ brig have been on shore +here: they acknowledge they had 21 killed, and 50 badly wounded; and +further say, had we continued our fire any longer, they should have +struck, for they were in a sinking condition: for the wind then blew at +S. W. directly into the harbour. Before the ammunition arrived, it +shifted round to north, and blew out of the harbour. All the shot +suitable for the cannon we have reserved. We have now more 18 pound shot +than was sent us by government. We have put the two cannon in the +arsenal, and housed all the munitions of war." + + +EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF GEN. ERASTUS ROOT, OF NEW YORK, + +In the House of Representatives, on the Bill to provide for the payment +of Militia called out by State authority, and not placed under the +command of the United States. + +[After animadverting with great severity on the affair at Pettipaug +point,[19] and the course pursued by Governor Smith, of Connecticut, for +the defence of New London]-- + +"There was _one_ achievement, said Mr. R., which brightened the annals +of Connecticut and shed lustre on the American character. He alluded to +the _Defence of Stonington_. A more brilliant affair, said he, had not +taken place during the late war. It was not rivalled by the defence of +Sandusky, the glorious triumph on the Niagara, nor the naval victories +on Erie and Champlain. And yet that heroic exploit is claimed in favor +of Governor Smith's militia, and is to gild the pill which we are called +upon to swallow. The detached militia, said Mr. R., had nothing to do in +that affair. It was achieved by fourteen democrats, _volunteer_ +democrats, who were determined to defend the town or perish in its +ruins. Commodore Hardy, fearful that that democratic town would send +torpedoes among his squadron, demanded a pledge that no harm should be +done to his ships. No pledge being given, and after advising the +removal of women and children from the town, the enemy made a vigorous +attack, first in barges, and afterwards in a brig of war. This heroic +little band, with a single gun mounted on a small battery, drove off the +brig as they had before driven off the barges. They sent havoc and death +among the enemy,--saved the town,--and crowned themselves with never +fading laurels."--_The (Hartford) Times, March 18, 1817._ + + * * * * * + +THE BATTLE OF STONINGTON, ON THE SEABOARD OF CONNECTICUT. + +BY PHILIP FRENEAU. + +_In an attack upon the town and a small fort of two guns, by the +_RAMILLIES_, seventy-four gun ship, commanded by Sir Thomas Hardy; the +_PACTOLUS_, 38 gun ship; _DESPATCH_ brig, and a razee, or bomb +ship,--August, 1814._ + + Four gallant ships from England came + Freighted deep with fire and flame, + And other things we need not name, + To have a dash at Stonington. + + Now safely moor'd, their work begun, + They thought to make the Yankees run, + And have a mighty deal of fun + In stealing sheep at Stonington. + + A deacon then popp'd up his head, + And Parson Jones's sermon read, + In which the reverend doctor said + That they must fight for Stonington. + + A townsman bade them, next, attend + To sundry resolutions penn'd, + By which they promised to defend + With sword and gun old Stonington. + + The ships advancing different ways, + The Britons soon began to blaze, + And put th' old women in amaze, + Who feared the loss of Stonington. + + The Yankees to their fort repair'd, + And made as though they little cared + For all that came--though very hard + The cannon play'd on Stonington. + + The _Ramillies_ began the attack, + _Despatch_ came forward--bold and black-- + And none can tell what kept them back + From setting fire to Stonington. + + The bombardiers with bomb and ball + Soon made a farmer's barrack fall, + And did a cow-house sadly maul + That stood a mile from Stonington. + + They kill'd a goose, they kill'd a hen, + Three hogs they wounded in a pen-- + They dash'd away,--and pray what then? + _This_ was not taking Stonington. + + The shells were thrown, the rockets flew, + But not a shell, of all they threw, + Though every house was full in view, + Could burn a house at Stonington. + + To have _their_ turn, they thought but fair;-- + The Yankees brought two guns to bear, + And, sir, it would have made you stare, + This smoke of smokes at Stonington. + + They bor'd _Pactolus_ through and through, + And kill'd and wounded of her crew + So many, that she bade adieu + T' the gallant boys of Stonington. + + The brig _Despatch_ was hull'd and torn-- + So crippled, riddled, so forlorn-- + No more she cast an eye of scorn + On the little fort at Stonington. + + The _Ramillies_ gave up th' affray, + And, with her comrades sneaked away. + Such was the valor on that day, + Of British tars, near Stonington. + + But some assert, on certain grounds, + (Besides the damage and the wounds,) + It cost the King ten thousand pounds + To have a dash at Stonington. + +[Few of Freneau's earlier and _better_ poems were so popular as this of +"The Battle of Stonington," in its day. All Connecticut boys knew it by +heart, and it had an established place among the 'declamations' of +school exhibitions. Until within a few years it was to be found in the +assortment of every street vender of ballads and patriotic +poems,--sometimes in its original form, but more often, with +'emendations and corrections.' In the broad-side from which I first +learned it (bought at a stall in the neighborhood of Fulton market, some +thirty years ago,) for the twelfth and thirteenth verses was substituted +this:-- + + "They bored the _Despatch_ through and through, + And kill'd and wounded half her crew; + 'Till crippled, riddled, she withdrew,-- + And curs'd the boys of Stonington."] + + +CELEBRATIONS OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK. + +1815. + +Thursday, Aug. 10th, the first anniversary of the battle, was observed +as a day of thanksgiving and prayer. The old flag was again hoisted on +the flag-staff at the battery: and a procession, formed at that place, +marched to the Congregational meeting-house, to listen to a discourse by +the pastor, Rev. Ira Hart. On its conclusion, the procession returned to +the battery, where the exercises of the day were closed by prayer. "On +Friday evening a grand anniversary ball was given; the assembly being +both numerous and brilliant."--_Conn. Gazette, Aug. 23d._ + +1818. + +Celebration at the Borough, on Monday, Aug. 10th. "The company was very +numerous, and the business of the day went off with great eclat."--_Id. +Aug. 12th, 1818._ + +1824. + +An Oration was delivered at the Congregational meeting-house, by Rev. +David Austin, "characteristic of his talents, patriotism, and +eloquence." The concourse of citizens from Stonington and the +neighboring towns was unusually large and respectable. An excellent +dinner was provided by Major Babcock, at the Borough Hotel, to which a +large number of citizens and invited guests did ample justice. The +following were among the volunteer toasts: + +By Capt. Edmund Fanning. _The Grasshopper Fort_[B]--may it never be +forgotten by those whom it defended. + +By Samuel Copp, Esq. _American Eighteen-pounders_--as handled in the +Grasshopper Fort. + +By Gen. J. Isham. _August 10th, 1814_--May no vile calumniator hereafter +attempt to tarnish the hard earned fame of the heroes of that day. + +By Gurdon Trumbull, Esq. _John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson_--Their +elevation to the first offices of our government, will demonstrate that +sovereignty is yet with the _people_, and guarantee the defence of our +national rights, whether assailed by the _pen_ or the _sword_. + +By Dr. Swift. _Capt. Amos Palmer_--His memory; his energy and +perseverance. + +By W. Storer Jun. _Gen. La Fayette_[C]--Whom God doth bless, we will +honor. + +By Jesse Dean, esq. _Major Simeon Smith_--Who made cartridges of his +stockings, for our defence, on the day we celebrate.--_New London +Gazette, Aug. 18th._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote B: "Alluding to a term used by the Rev. Orator of the day."] + +[Footnote C: Gen. La Fayette's arrival at New York was daily expected. +He landed at Castle Garden, Aug. 16th.] + + +1826. + +The installation of Benevolent Chapter of Royal Arch Masons took place +at Stonington, on the anniversary of the attack. The revenue cutters +Eagle, from New Haven, the Newport cutter, and the steamboat +Long-branch (Capt. Mather), from New London, brought numerous masonic +and other guests,--military companies,--and a band of music. A +procession of some three hundred brethren and companions was formed, by +order of Doct. Thomas Hubbard, M. E. G. H. P., under the direction of +Companions Gen. W. Williams, Samuel F. Denison, and others, as marshals. +The procession marched to the site of the battery, where a spacious tent +had been erected, with seats for 2500 persons,--and listened to a prayer +from the Gr. Chaplain, Rev. Seth B. Paddock, and an Oration by Asa +Child, Esq.; after which the new chapter was dedicated in ample form, +and the several officers duly installed. A grand dinner closed the +exercises of the day.--_N. L. Gazette, Aug. 16th._ + +1827. + +A grand celebration, on the battle ground, where a large tent had been +erected. Among the guests were his Excellency Governor Tomlinson and his +staff. The procession formed early in the morning, and marched through +the principal streets, escorted by the Stonington artillery and Norwich +rifle companies, to the tent,--where an address was delivered by Gurdon +Trumbull, Esq.: after which, the procession re-formed, and proceeded to +the dinner table (spread in Mr. Faxon's rope walk, under the supervision +of Major Paul Babcock). Samuel F. Denison, Esq., presided at the table, +assisted by Major General Wm. Williams, George Hubbard and B. F. +Babcock, Esquires. A long account of the celebration, with the toasts +drank at the dinner, &c.--is given in the _New London Gazette_, of +August 15th. + + + + +NOTES. + + +NOTE 1, page 9. + +Stonington Borough, incorporated by the Legislature [of Connecticut,] in +1801, is situated on a narrow point of land about half a mile in length, +at the eastern extremity of Long Island sound. On its eastern side lies +Paucatuck bay, and on its west the harbour, terminating in Lambert's +Cove. It has four [two] principal streets running north and south, +intersected at right angles by nine cross streets, and contains about +one hundred and twenty dwelling houses and stores. It has also two +houses for public worship, an academy, where the languages are taught, +and two common schools; two rope-walks, commodious wharves, and ware +houses for storage.... In the census of 1810, the _town_ contained 3043 +inhabitants, and there are now [1819], 335 qualified electors.--_Pease & +Niles's Gazetteer of Connecticut._ + + +NOTE 2, page 9. + +Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Bart.--afterwards Vice-Admiral, and G. C. +B.,--was at this time not far from thirty-five years of age. He entered +the British navy, as a midshipman, at twelve; and was promoted to the +rank of commander in 1797, for distinguished gallantry in the capture of +a French brig, under the walls of Vera Cruz. He commanded the _Mutine_ +brig, in the battle of the Nile,--became the favorite of Nelson, and was +appointed to the command of his flag-ship, serving with him, +successively, in the _Vanguard_, the _Namur_, the _St. George_, (at the +battle of Copenhagen), the _Iris_ and _Amphitrion_, and the _Victory_, +on board which Nelson conquered and fell at Trafalgar. Capt. Hardy was +created a baronet, in February, 1806; from which period, until 1824, he +was almost constantly on active duty in the West Indies and on American +stations. He was made a knight commander of the Bath, Jan. 1815, and +knight grand cross, in 1831. In October, 1827, he retired from the +service; was appointed a lord of the admiralty in 1830; and governor of +Greenwich Hospital, in 1834, retaining that office until his death, +Sept. 20th, 1839.--_Annual Register_, vol. LXXXI, p. 363. _Dispatches & +Letters of Nelson._ + +[Col. Green gave the _substance_ of this note, from memory. A correct +copy of it was published with the official account, in the _Gazette_ of +Sept. 7th. Commodore Hardy wrote from on board the _Pactolus_,--his own +ship, the _Ramilies_, then lying at anchor off the west end of Fisher's +Island.] + + +NOTE 3, page 10. + +Capt. Amos Palmer, and Dr. Wm. Lord. The former was the senior warden of +the Borough, and chairman of the committee of citizens who had been +entrusted, some months previously, with the preparations for defence. +"He was distinguished for his integrity, his republican principles, and +his patriotism."--_Pease & Niles's Gazetteer, 1819._ Capt. Palmer's own +account of the attack (in a letter to the Secretary of War,) will be +found on pages 33-36. He died at Stonington, March 1, 1816, aet. 69. + + +NOTE 4, page 10. + +Brigadier-General Thomas H. Cushing, who commanded at New London. After +the ratification of peace, in 1815, General Cushing received the +appointment of collector of the port of New London, and retained the +office till his death, Oct. 19th, 1822, aet. 67.--_Hist. of New London_, +p. 649. + + +NOTE 5, page 12. + +An account of the "Bombardment of Stonington" [by the Rev. Frederick +Denison] printed in the _Mystic Pioneer_ of July 2d, 1859, contains many +interesting particulars, "gathered from the lips of prominent actors in +the battle." This account says, "The first men, so far as remembered, +that took stations in the battery, were four, William Lord, Asa Lee, +George Fellows, and Amos Denison. Just before six o'clock, six +volunteers from Mystic, Jeremiah Holmes, Jeremiah Haley, Ebenezer +Denison, Isaac Denison, and Nathaniel Clift, reached the place, on foot, +and ran immediately to help to operate the gun in the battery."... + +... "The battery being small, but few men could work in it, and at this +time [later in the morning of the 10th,] it was operated, as nearly as +remembered, by Jeremiah Holmes, Simeon Haley, Jeremiah Haley, Isaac +Denison, Isaac Miner, George Fellows, and Asa Lee." This list is not +_complete_, but is doubtless correct so far as it relates to the +_Mystic_ volunteers. + + +NOTE 6, page 12. + +The wound proved mortal. Mr. Denison died November 1st, 1814. He was the +fourth son of Isaac and Eunice [Williams] Denison, of Mystic, born Dec. +27th, 1795. On the morning of the attack, Frederick,--a youth not yet +nineteen years old,--hastened, on foot, to the Borough, to join the +little band of volunteers, with whom were already his two elder +brothers, Ebenezer and Isaac, and his brothers-in-law, Capt. Jer. Holmes +and Capt. Nath. Clift. He went immediately to the battery, where he +helped to work the guns, and during the heat of the action, when the +match-rope proved unserviceable, volunteered to go out to procure a new +supply. While on this dangerous errand, he was struck by a shot from the +brig, or, as other accounts say, by a fragment scaled from a rock by a +passing ball. The wound was not considered dangerous, and if surgical +aid could have been promptly obtained, Mr. Denison's life might have +been spared. + +In May, 1856, the Legislature of Connecticut made an appropriation for +a suitable monument to his memory, which was erected in Elm Grove +Cemetery, at Mystic.--F. D. [_Rev. Fred. Denison_,] in _Mystic Pioneer_, +Aug. 27th, 1859. + + +NOTE 7, page 13. + +"The colors on the flag staff were shot through nine times. A fence near +by was pierced by _sixty-three_ balls."--_Mystic Pioneer._ The flag has +been carefully preserved, and was in the keeping of Francis Amy, +Esq.,--orderly sergeant of Capt. Potter's Company, at the time of the +attack,--until his death in 1863. Its future preservation should be +insured by depositing it with the Connecticut History Society. + + +NOTE 8, page 13. + +Jirah Isham, Esq., commanding the 3d Brigade of the State Militia,--in +the 3d Division, (William Williams, Esq., Major General.) + + +NOTE 9, page 15. + +"On Sunday [Aug. 7] a flag came up [to New London] from the frigate +_Forth_, Com. Hotham. The object was to obtain permission for James +Stewart, Esq., formerly consul here, to take off his family. Mr. Stewart +was on board. General Cushing, we understand, replied that the request +would be forwarded to Washington."--_Conn. Gazette_, Aug. 10th. + + +NOTE 10, page 17. + +Mr. Gurdon Trumbull was the bearer of this flag, and was accompanied by +Dr. Wm. Lord. The boat was rowed to the _Ramillies_ by Noyes Brown and +Jabez Holmes. Gen. Isham's explanation of the firing on Lieut. Claxton, +under a flag of truce, had not been received by Com. Hardy when the boat +with this letter from the civil authority came along side. The bearer +of the letter was met, at the head of the gang-ladder by a lieutenant, +and informed that the Commodore was much incensed at the insult offered +to the flag, and would not receive any communication from the shore +until it should be explained. Mr. Trumbull replied that he came as a +messenger from the _civil_ and not the _military_ authorities, and was +not instructed to offer any explanation: but, as an eye-witness of the +transaction, he would state the circumstances, as they occurred. The +lieutenant reported these to the Commodore, and returned with a message +that the latter was "perfectly satisfied;" that the defenders of the +place were fully authorized to prevent the nearer approach of the +flag-boat; and that his officer [Lieut. Claxton] was in the wrong. Mr. +Trumbull was then conducted to the cabin, where he found the Commodore, +in consultation with all the other commanders of the squadron, and +delivered the letter from the Borough authorities. + + +NOTE 11, page 18. + +This is not exactly correct. He said nothing of Mrs. Stewart; but, after +reading the letter, remarked, "I learn from this, Sir, that I am under +the necessity of resuming hostilities,--which I shall do, at one +o'clock." + + +NOTE 12, page 18. + +Lieut. John Lathrop, of the Norwich Artillery or "Matross Company" +(Capt. Charles Thomas). It will be seen, by the narrative of the +magistrates, that Lieut. Lathrop was anticipated in the execution of +this service, by a party of volunteers. + + +NOTE 13, page 19. + +Lieut. Samuel L. Hough, of Canterbury, Lieutenant of the L. Infantry +Company (Capt. James Aspinwall), detached from the 21st regiment of +militia,--in the service of the U. States. Lieut. Hough's wound was not +serious. He is still living (June, 1864),--and in receipt of a pension +from the U. States. + + +NOTE 14, page 24. + +This account was written by Alex. G. Smith, Esq. + + +NOTE 15, page 26. + +Col. Wm. Randall, of Stonington, commanding the 30th Regiment of State +Militia. + + +NOTE 16, page 31. + +Too much praise can hardly be awarded to the volunteer firemen, who, +during the whole of the engagement, continued to patrol the streets, +watching the fall of every rocket and shell, and extinguishing fires as +soon as lighted. Two of this band may be named without injustice to +others, as having rendered efficient and constant service,--Capt. +CHARLES H. SMITH and FRANCIS AMY, Esq., both serjeants in Capt. Potter's +company. Capt. THOMAS SWAN was not less active or persevering. He +remained in the Borough, (except for an hour's visit to his family, +placed in safety at a farm house, a mile distant,) from the beginning of +the attack till the departure of the ships; serving, as necessity +required, with the volunteer firemen, and with the guard stationed on +the east side of the Point to prevent a landing of the enemy from their +boats. + + +NOTE 17, page 32. + +See Capt. Palmer's letter to the Secretary of War, next following. + + +NOTE 18, page 36. + +The anchor left by the _Dispatch_ brig, at Stonington, when she 'cut and +run,' has been got up and brought to New London. It weighs upwards of 20 +_cwt._--_Niles's Weekly Register, Sept. 10, 1814._ + +"Mr. Chalmers, late master of the _Terror_, bomb-vessel, employed in the +attack on Stonington, has been captured in a British barge and sent to +Providence. He says 170 bombs were discharged from that ship in the +attack on Stonington, which were found to weigh 80 lb. each; the charge +of powder for the mortar was 9 lbs.; adding to this the wadding, that +vessel must have disgorged eight tons weight."--_Ibid._ + + * * * * * + +"The following appears in a New York paper, in the shape of an +advertisement: + +_English Manufacture, and Memento of the "Magnanimity" of Commodore +Hardy._ + +Just received, and offered for sale, about + +THREE TONS OF ROUND SHOT, + +consisting of 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 32 lbs., very handsome, being a +_small_ proportion of those which were fired from his Britannic +Majesty's ships, on the unoffending inhabitants of Stonington, in the +recent _brilliant_ attack on that place. + +LIKEWISE, a few _Carcasses_, in good order, weighing about 200 lbs. +each. + + Apply to S. TRUMBULL, 41 _Peck-slip_. + +N. B. The purchaser of the above can be supplied with about _two tons +more_, if required. + +New York, November 19th, [1814.]" + _Niles's Weekly Register, Dec. 3d, 1815._ + + * * * * * + +INDUSTRY.--Many of our readers will recollect the anecdote of the +thrifty American who asked Commodore _Hardy_, when he would attack +_Stonington_ again? so that he might have his cart ready to carry off +the shot; and also the accounts we have had of the mighty mass of metal +collected there and sold at New York, &c. It seems, however, that the +_iron mine_ is not yet exhausted, for certain persons with a diving +machine have raised no less than 11,209 lbs. of shot, which was thrown +overboard from the _Pactolus_, when she was in such a hurry to get away +from the two guns of Stonington! They have also picked up a quantity of +copper.--Niles's _Weekly Register, June 3, 1815._ + + +NOTE 19, page 38. + +Capt. Coote, of H. B. M. brig _Borer_, landed two hundred men at +Pettipaug, (Saybrook,) in barges and launches, on the 8th of April, +1814, and destroyed upwards of twenty sail of vessels, without meeting +any opposition (until after they had re-embarked,) and without the loss +of a man.--_Conn. Gazette, April 13, 1814._ + + + + +LETTERS OF COMMODORE HARDY. + + +Since the foregoing pages were printed, my friend Professor D. C. +Gilman, has brought to my notice the original letters of Commodore +Hardy, to the inhabitants of Stonington and to General Isham, which are +now in the Library of Yale College. The first (of August 9th) was copied +with sufficient accuracy in the account published by the magistrates, +warden and burgesses (page 25), I reprint it here, but with a facsimile +of the signature. + + + _His Britannic Majesty's Ship_, + PACTOLUS, _9th August, 1814. + 1/2 past 5 o'clock, P. M._ + +Not wishing to destroy the unoffending Inhabitants residing in the Town +of Stonington, one hour is granted them from the receipt of this to +remove out of the town. + +[Illustration: (Hardy Signature)] + +_To the Inhabitants of the Town of Stonington._ + + +The second, is in reply to the letter from the magistrates which was +sent on board the _Ramillies_, by Col. Isaac Williams and Dr. William +Lord, on Wednesday, the 10th. As "official etiquette" did net permit +Col. Green to obtain "an exact copy," he could only print its substance +"as far as memory served" (see page 14). The magistrates allude to it, +in their published account (p. 30), as "the singular communication +received from Commodore Hardy, which preceded the fire on Thursday." It +is evident that the British commander was strangely in error as to the +assurances and engagements which he professed to have received, or that +the gentlemen entrusted with the delivery of the letter from the +magistrates must, in their conference with the Commodore, have exceeded +their instructions. + + + _Ramillies, off Stonington, + 10th August, 1814._ +GENTN + +I have received your letter and representation of the State of your +Town, and as you have declared that Torpedoes, never have been harbored +by the Inhabitants or ever will be, as far as lies in their power to +prevent--and as you have engaged that Mrs. Stewart the wife of the +British vice consul late resident at New London, with her family, shall +be permitted to embark on board this Ship to-morrow morning, I am +induced to wave the attempt of the total destruction of your Town, which +I feel confident can be effected by the Squadron under my Orders. + +I am + Gentn + Your most obedient servant, + T. M. HARDY, Captain. + +_To Doctor_ LAW [_Lord_] _and Colonel_ Williams, +_Stonington_. + + +In reprinting the response of the civil authorities of Stonington, to +the foregoing letter, on page 17, _ante_, an error in the date should +have been corrected. It was written and despatched on the _eleventh_ of +August. + +The following note acknowledges the explanation sent by General Isham, +of the circumstances under which a flag of truce from the _Ramillies_, +was fired upon by a sentinel at the Battery, on the morning of the 11th +(see pages 16, 17, and note 10). + + + _Ramillies, off Stonington_, + _11th August, 1814._ + +Sir, + +I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, apologizing +for the Flag of Truce I sent on shore this morning, having been fired +at; and I beg to assure you that under the Circumstances you have +stated, the apology is perfectly satisfactory. + + I have the honor to be, Sir, + Your most obedient + humble Servant, + T. M. HARDY, Captain. + +_To Brigadier_ ISHAM--_Commanding at Stonington_. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Defence of Stonington +(Connecticut) Against a British Squadron, August 9th to 12th, 1814, by J. 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