Battle of Groton Heights remembered on Sept. 3
The Friends of Fort Griswold will hold a ceremony commemorating the 1781 Battle of Groton Heights on Sept. 3 at Fort Griswold in Groton. The ceremony will be held inside the Fort at 6 p.m., following the ribbon cutting for the new barracks outline.
On September 6, 1781, 165 colonial defenders attempted to defend Fort Griswold against an attack from 800 British forces under the command of Benedict Arnold. More than half the defenders were killed, either during the battle or in the massacre of the American defenders after the surrender of the fort. Fort Griswold is the only officially designated battlefield in Connecticut. The battle fought there was the last major battle in the northern colonies before Yorktown, the last British victory in the American colonies and the only battle fought entirely by American Militia.
The ceremony is free of charge and open to the public. In the event of rain, the event will be cancelled. People attending should bring lawn chairs and a flash light.
This will be the 22nd Commemoration and Memorial Wreath Laying since the 19th century custom was revived by the Friends of Fort Griswold in 1995. The Friends will place 88 luminaries on the fort grounds, each representing a casualty from the battle of Groton Heights. As the name of the slain Defender is read, a candle is extinguished.