Traitor and Patriots I - The New London Side LbNA #58515
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 14, 2011 |
| Location: | Fort Trumbull |
| City: | New London |
| County: | New London |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 5 |
| Planted by: | Frozen Crusader  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | quiltjoy |
| Last found: | Feb 12, 2022 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Jun 14, 2011 |
Traitor and Patriots I – The New London Side
This 2 part series was developed as a Boy Scout Eagle Project, to bring attention to the wonderful historic sites in the towns of Groton and New London, CT. This series can be done as a walking tour or you may drive. It is approximately 3 miles long.
As he sailed east on Long Island Sound toward New London Harbor with 32 ships and 1600 soldiers, he knew this would be a defining moment. His superiors knew it too. He was the best one for the job. He knew the area well, having been born and raised upriver from his destination on the Thames River. He knew the signal for friendly ships arriving and would be able to eliminate the risk of reinforcements arriving before he completed his mission. He also knew this would seal his fate in the eyes of those who used to speak his name with awe; forever his name would be synonymous with TRAITOR.
Benedict Arnold peered over the bow and signaled for the cannon to prepare to fire. The American patriots of New London and Groton, Connecticut would soon spy his ships sailing into the Thames River and shoot off two cannon fire, signaling enemy ships approaching, in an attempt to alert the inhabitants and farmers in surrounding towns to gather at Fort Griswold in Groton. The cannon could be heard as far north as his hometown of Norwich and Preston. Suddenly, two cannon shots pierced the silence……followed closely by his own cannon shot from the ship, a third shot, giving the false signal of a total of three shots, friendly ships approaching.
Half the ships sailed to the eastern shore of the Thames to attack the town of Groton and Fort Griswold. Arnold and the other half of the ships embarked to the left toward the western shore of the Thames, with New London as their destination. American Privateers had antagonized the British Navy long enough and it was his job to put a stop to them. He could see upriver that although the outlying towns were tricked into false sense of security, the two towns on the river could see the obvious threat and were spreading word of the invasion. Eight hundred soldiers strong, on each shore began to march on the two towns. Fort Trumbull, on the western shore was incomplete and not manned sufficiently to hold off the advancing soldiers, but Fort Griswold was better manned and armed than Arnold and the British had been led to believe. Gen. Arnold led the advance on New London while Colonel Eyre and Major Montgomery landed on the shores of the eastern side of the Thames River in Groton, where they would split the men into two companies of 400 each and march on Fort Griswold and the town.
Box #1: 2 + 1=Ultimate Betrayal, Treason -
As you enter the gates of Fort Trumbull, completed before the War of 1812, park your car and walk north along the walkway , then east past the entrance to the fort. (There is a fee if you wish to tour the fort, Memorial thru Labor Day). This fort has been used by the US Coast Guard for many years and frequently is the docking place for The USS EAGLE, training ship of Coast Guard cadets. Continue east and down the steps and south, passing along the fishing pier and Magnetic Sonar building, still in use by the US Navy. Stay on the outer perimeter and around the field, keeping the rock retaining wall and river to your left. Turn west and walk until the path stops. At the end of the wall, note the elongated slab with rebar sticking out of the bottom. Behind this slab lies your prize. The only log book in this series is located in this box. Please log in and rehide well.
Box# 2: Burn and Flight -
Leave the fort and turn RIGHT out the gate and take the first LEFT onto Walback St. Follow to the end and turn RIGHT on Howard ST and follow and turn RIGHT on Bank St. Go through one light and take the first RIGHT on S. Water St. Cross the railroad tracks to the piers and walkway.
Arnold and his men continue north, upriver toward the town of New London, burning homes as they go and causing families to flee to neighbors in surrounding towns. Ships have been alerted to the attack and those that have been able to secure their crew, head upriver to escape. Warehouses along the waterfront are full of plundered items the Privateers had taken from British vessels and all are burned to the ground. Arnold stops to eat at one of the homes, owned by an acquaintance he knows from several years before and burns it as he leaves. Townspeople were fleeing desperately and British soldiers were drunk and running amok.
Here along the“Bank”,the ships, warehouses and homes of New London burned. Head north, along the walkway, past the Amistead pier (Yes, THE Amistead was docked here when John Adams defended those who mutinied aboard that ship) until you find the Children’s pier. Out at the end of the Children’s pier between the “flounder” and “skate”, under the acid and base, awaits #2. Please use great discretion here, as it is a very public place. Stamp in and rehide well. (PS: this, or Ft Trumbull, is a great place to watch the awesome fireworks every July, the Saturday following the 4th, put on by the Mashantucket Pequot Indians).
Box #3: Survivors -
Go back across the tracks to Bank St the way you came in and turn RIGHT. Continue on Bank to the end and turn LEFT onto State St. (Across the street in the park is the Nathan Hale School House.) Follow State St. west, uphill to the end and spot the old court house. The original court house was burned in 1781 and rebuilt here on the outskirts of town in 1784. There is a plaque with details to the left of the building. To find the stamp, sit on the stone bench to the left when facing the gazebo. At 240 degrees sit on the low wall and reach up under “the black”, stamp in and rehide well. The vast majority of homes in New London burned. A few remained and still do, to this day. Leave the gazebo going south on Huntington St to the next intersection and turn RIGHT on Jay St. Follow Jay St downhill and left to the light. Here at this intersection are the two Hempstead homes. The original home was built circa 1678. (The homes are open for tours, info is available on the plaque). These two homes, along with another a few blocks away on Coit St survived the burnings.
Box #4:
Arnold’s Vantage Point - Continue RIGHT onto Hempstead St. Follow Hempstead St for a number of blocks, passing Home, Garvin, Franklin and Broad St’s to Bulkeley St. Note the statue of John Winthrop here. Continue past his statue on Hempstead to the Ye Anteintest Burial Grounds.
Arnold determined to view how the battle across the river was fairing, however his view was obstructed by the black smoke from the burning town. He ventured to this burial ground for a better observation point to look across the river. He had learned that Fort Griswold in Groton was better manned and fortified than he had previously been aware and was attempting to stop the attack of the fort. However he was too late as the battle was underway. He stood here on the site where many would be buried following the day’s events. Also buried here, in the SE section are graves of Native Americans and Slaves, along with the local townspeople, an indication of the high esteem in which they were held. To find your prize walk northeast 45 degrees from the “Giant” tree to a smaller cousin slightly downhill and look shoulder high.
Box#5: Grind Again -
Exit the cemetery where you came in and continue north on Hempstead St and turn LEFT onto Bristol St. Then turn RIGHT onto Williams St. Continue on Williams St under a few overpasses to State Pier Road on your RIGHT (the next intersection after the lights). Follow to a “jewel” on Mill St. at the next LEFT. Here lies one of the best kept secrets in New London, Ye Old Mill. The Mill was used by many of the surrounding towns to grind corn and wheat into flour. It too was burned by the British that infamous day in Sept 1781. It was rebuilt and was productive for many years after. Most people, even locals do not know this mill still exists. To find your stamp after exploring this wonderful site, return to the front of the mill and spy the stone steps leading to an upper level. Beyond the “stump”, at the northern end of the “chain” lies your prize. Stamp in under the tree and rehide well.
We hope you enjoyed the first part of this series. To fully understand the events of that infamous day and finish the story and series, see clues for “Traitor and Patriots II – The Groton Side”. Also, Benedict Arnold, originally from Norwich, worked as an apothecary. His store, birthplace and the burial site of his parents are all in a charming section of Norwich. Benedict Arnold died and was buried in England.
I would like to thank the numerous volunteers who donated their time and plastic boxes, paper for logbooks, carved stamps, and planted the letterboxes, as well as the City of Groton, City of New London, and State of Connecticut, Dept of Environmental Protection who oversee the State Parks of Fort Griswold and Fort Trumbull for their cooperation in assisting me in completing my Eagle Scout Project.
This 2 part series was developed as a Boy Scout Eagle Project, to bring attention to the wonderful historic sites in the towns of Groton and New London, CT. This series can be done as a walking tour or you may drive. It is approximately 3 miles long.
As he sailed east on Long Island Sound toward New London Harbor with 32 ships and 1600 soldiers, he knew this would be a defining moment. His superiors knew it too. He was the best one for the job. He knew the area well, having been born and raised upriver from his destination on the Thames River. He knew the signal for friendly ships arriving and would be able to eliminate the risk of reinforcements arriving before he completed his mission. He also knew this would seal his fate in the eyes of those who used to speak his name with awe; forever his name would be synonymous with TRAITOR.
Benedict Arnold peered over the bow and signaled for the cannon to prepare to fire. The American patriots of New London and Groton, Connecticut would soon spy his ships sailing into the Thames River and shoot off two cannon fire, signaling enemy ships approaching, in an attempt to alert the inhabitants and farmers in surrounding towns to gather at Fort Griswold in Groton. The cannon could be heard as far north as his hometown of Norwich and Preston. Suddenly, two cannon shots pierced the silence……followed closely by his own cannon shot from the ship, a third shot, giving the false signal of a total of three shots, friendly ships approaching.
Half the ships sailed to the eastern shore of the Thames to attack the town of Groton and Fort Griswold. Arnold and the other half of the ships embarked to the left toward the western shore of the Thames, with New London as their destination. American Privateers had antagonized the British Navy long enough and it was his job to put a stop to them. He could see upriver that although the outlying towns were tricked into false sense of security, the two towns on the river could see the obvious threat and were spreading word of the invasion. Eight hundred soldiers strong, on each shore began to march on the two towns. Fort Trumbull, on the western shore was incomplete and not manned sufficiently to hold off the advancing soldiers, but Fort Griswold was better manned and armed than Arnold and the British had been led to believe. Gen. Arnold led the advance on New London while Colonel Eyre and Major Montgomery landed on the shores of the eastern side of the Thames River in Groton, where they would split the men into two companies of 400 each and march on Fort Griswold and the town.
Box #1: 2 + 1=Ultimate Betrayal, Treason -
As you enter the gates of Fort Trumbull, completed before the War of 1812, park your car and walk north along the walkway , then east past the entrance to the fort. (There is a fee if you wish to tour the fort, Memorial thru Labor Day). This fort has been used by the US Coast Guard for many years and frequently is the docking place for The USS EAGLE, training ship of Coast Guard cadets. Continue east and down the steps and south, passing along the fishing pier and Magnetic Sonar building, still in use by the US Navy. Stay on the outer perimeter and around the field, keeping the rock retaining wall and river to your left. Turn west and walk until the path stops. At the end of the wall, note the elongated slab with rebar sticking out of the bottom. Behind this slab lies your prize. The only log book in this series is located in this box. Please log in and rehide well.
Box# 2: Burn and Flight -
Leave the fort and turn RIGHT out the gate and take the first LEFT onto Walback St. Follow to the end and turn RIGHT on Howard ST and follow and turn RIGHT on Bank St. Go through one light and take the first RIGHT on S. Water St. Cross the railroad tracks to the piers and walkway.
Arnold and his men continue north, upriver toward the town of New London, burning homes as they go and causing families to flee to neighbors in surrounding towns. Ships have been alerted to the attack and those that have been able to secure their crew, head upriver to escape. Warehouses along the waterfront are full of plundered items the Privateers had taken from British vessels and all are burned to the ground. Arnold stops to eat at one of the homes, owned by an acquaintance he knows from several years before and burns it as he leaves. Townspeople were fleeing desperately and British soldiers were drunk and running amok.
Here along the“Bank”,the ships, warehouses and homes of New London burned. Head north, along the walkway, past the Amistead pier (Yes, THE Amistead was docked here when John Adams defended those who mutinied aboard that ship) until you find the Children’s pier. Out at the end of the Children’s pier between the “flounder” and “skate”, under the acid and base, awaits #2. Please use great discretion here, as it is a very public place. Stamp in and rehide well. (PS: this, or Ft Trumbull, is a great place to watch the awesome fireworks every July, the Saturday following the 4th, put on by the Mashantucket Pequot Indians).
Box #3: Survivors -
Go back across the tracks to Bank St the way you came in and turn RIGHT. Continue on Bank to the end and turn LEFT onto State St. (Across the street in the park is the Nathan Hale School House.) Follow State St. west, uphill to the end and spot the old court house. The original court house was burned in 1781 and rebuilt here on the outskirts of town in 1784. There is a plaque with details to the left of the building. To find the stamp, sit on the stone bench to the left when facing the gazebo. At 240 degrees sit on the low wall and reach up under “the black”, stamp in and rehide well. The vast majority of homes in New London burned. A few remained and still do, to this day. Leave the gazebo going south on Huntington St to the next intersection and turn RIGHT on Jay St. Follow Jay St downhill and left to the light. Here at this intersection are the two Hempstead homes. The original home was built circa 1678. (The homes are open for tours, info is available on the plaque). These two homes, along with another a few blocks away on Coit St survived the burnings.
Box #4:
Arnold’s Vantage Point - Continue RIGHT onto Hempstead St. Follow Hempstead St for a number of blocks, passing Home, Garvin, Franklin and Broad St’s to Bulkeley St. Note the statue of John Winthrop here. Continue past his statue on Hempstead to the Ye Anteintest Burial Grounds.
Arnold determined to view how the battle across the river was fairing, however his view was obstructed by the black smoke from the burning town. He ventured to this burial ground for a better observation point to look across the river. He had learned that Fort Griswold in Groton was better manned and fortified than he had previously been aware and was attempting to stop the attack of the fort. However he was too late as the battle was underway. He stood here on the site where many would be buried following the day’s events. Also buried here, in the SE section are graves of Native Americans and Slaves, along with the local townspeople, an indication of the high esteem in which they were held. To find your prize walk northeast 45 degrees from the “Giant” tree to a smaller cousin slightly downhill and look shoulder high.
Box#5: Grind Again -
Exit the cemetery where you came in and continue north on Hempstead St and turn LEFT onto Bristol St. Then turn RIGHT onto Williams St. Continue on Williams St under a few overpasses to State Pier Road on your RIGHT (the next intersection after the lights). Follow to a “jewel” on Mill St. at the next LEFT. Here lies one of the best kept secrets in New London, Ye Old Mill. The Mill was used by many of the surrounding towns to grind corn and wheat into flour. It too was burned by the British that infamous day in Sept 1781. It was rebuilt and was productive for many years after. Most people, even locals do not know this mill still exists. To find your stamp after exploring this wonderful site, return to the front of the mill and spy the stone steps leading to an upper level. Beyond the “stump”, at the northern end of the “chain” lies your prize. Stamp in under the tree and rehide well.
We hope you enjoyed the first part of this series. To fully understand the events of that infamous day and finish the story and series, see clues for “Traitor and Patriots II – The Groton Side”. Also, Benedict Arnold, originally from Norwich, worked as an apothecary. His store, birthplace and the burial site of his parents are all in a charming section of Norwich. Benedict Arnold died and was buried in England.
I would like to thank the numerous volunteers who donated their time and plastic boxes, paper for logbooks, carved stamps, and planted the letterboxes, as well as the City of Groton, City of New London, and State of Connecticut, Dept of Environmental Protection who oversee the State Parks of Fort Griswold and Fort Trumbull for their cooperation in assisting me in completing my Eagle Scout Project.