On Sept. 3, the Friends of Fort Griswold in Groton will hold its annual ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Groton Heights, which occurred on Sept. 6, 1781. Although there are many who recognize the significance of this battle, not only to Groton but also to our country, there are unfortunately far too many who know very little, or sadly nothing at all, about the sacrifices made by those who fought there.

As a historian, I have read numerous articles written by several survivors of the battle, detailing their personal recollections of the engagement from beginning to end. These accounts not only detail some the heroic actions performed by so many of the defenders of the fort, but also describe the horrifying carnage inflicted by the British soldiers upon the defenders of the fort, even after their surrender.

I hope by relaying a few facts that readers would be encouraged to learn more about this battle, which is an intimate part of Groton’s history.

Upon observing a fleet of about 32 British enemy ships in the New London harbor, the order was given by the commander of the fort to give the specified “larum” (warning) signal to advise the volunteers and soldiers of Groton to respond to the fort. The specific larum in this case was to fire two consecutive cannon shots.

The British forces, being knowledgeable of this particular signal, subsequently fired a third cannon shot. This third shot was misinterpreted by a large number of volunteers, who were expected to respond to the fort, as being a false alarm, or one of the usual multiple cannon shots used by pirates when they returned to port with their plunders.

This third cannon shot contributed to the lack of reinforcement by an additional 200 or so volunteers to the 160 defenders.

Approximately 800 British soldiers landed at Eastern Point, in the area close to where the UConn Avery Point campus is currently located. It was here that they began their long journey to Fort Griswold. At the time, the terrain between the landing and the fort was thick with rocks, trees, brush and swamps.

A “lame boy named Bill Herrin” was compelled by the British troops to act as their guide. He led the way and brought them safely, and in a timely manner, to the area in the back of “Packers Rock” – where the Colonial Ledyard Cemetery is located today. Without this guide, I am sure there would have been considerably more time for the defenders at the fort to obtain additional reinforcements.

Three persons of color – two African-Americans (Jordan Freeman and Lambo Latham) and one Pequot Indian (Tom Wansuc), participated in defending the fort.

Although accounts vary, Jordan Freeman is credited with killing Major William Montgomery, the British commander leading the charge on the fort. He reportedly did so with a 10-foot spike.

Lambo Latham is reported to have killed a British captain, who killed the fort’s commander, Col. William Ledyard, with his own sword, while surrendering the fort.

By all accounts there were no eye-witnesses as to who killed Col. Ledyard; however, two names have been mentioned — Captain George Beckwith or Captain Stephen Bromfield. After killing the captain, British forces turned upon Latham, who died after suffering 33 bayonet punctures.

Little is mentioned about Tom Wansuc, except the fact that he was said to have been from Groton and that he had received a bayonet stab wound to the neck.

There are conflicting accounts as to the number of soldiers, both American and British, who were killed or wounded during the actual battle. The best estimates place the numbers at 88 Americans and 15 British killed; 60 Americans and 142 British wounded. These numbers are chilling when you take into consideration that it has been estimated that the actual battle at the fort lasted 40 minutes.

After the battle, the British buried their dead, including their commander, Major Montgomery, near the entrance to the fort. Some years later one of the most bizarre (and considered by some to be repulsive) incidents occurred at that location.

During a business trip to New London, an Irish gentleman, who had indicated he was from the same town from which the Major had come, asked to be taken to the burial site. He stated he had been charged by the sisters of the Major to locate the grave of their brother, if possible, and procure the Major’s skull to bring it “home: to be buried in the family plot.”

The visitor was successful in recovering the sought-after relic, and it was returned to the family members.

The anecdotes relayed in this article are but just a few of the many conveyed in the articles written about the battle. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the readers took a few minutes from their busy days, or the time spent browsing through their social media computer programs, to read one or more of various accounts about the Battle of Groton Heights. I think they would find it interesting and educational to learn about this significant piece of Groton’s history.

Jim Streeter is the Groton Town Historian.