Battle of Groton Heights

The Battle of Groton Heights is one of the most controversial and disturbing episodes of the Revolutionary War, involving Benedict Arnold — now a British general — leading a raid on his home state of Connecticut the day before Cornwallis began his final retreat toward Yorktown. Arnold landed 1,700 British troops at New London and Groton across the Thames River on September 6, 1781.

New London, an important privateering base, was sacked and burned. Across the river, Fort Griswold on Groton Heights was defended by about 165 militia under Colonel William Ledyard. The fort was assaulted by a British column under Major Eyre, who was killed in the attack. The defenders fought fiercely, inflicting 51 British casualties, before running short of ammunition and being overwhelmed.

What happened next became one of the most debated atrocities of the war. After Ledyard surrendered his sword to a British officer, he was reportedly killed with his own sword. Then a general massacre of the garrison occurred — many Americans who had surrendered were stabbed, bayoneted, and shot. Eighty-eight men were killed after the surrender. British officers claimed the killing was retaliation for their heavy casualties. American accounts describe deliberate massacre.

Arnold's role in leading the overall raid — attacking his home state and destroying the town where he had grown up — added enormously to his infamy as the most reviled traitor in American history. The burning of New London and the massacre at Groton Heights became the defining images of his treason.