This Connecticut Battlefield Honors Soldiers Slain During a Revolutionary War Massacre by the Thames River

Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, Connecticut

Up on a hill in Groton, Fort Griswold keeps watch just like it did in 1781.

This is where Connecticut troops fought to their last breath against Benedict Arnold’s British raiders. The fort still guards the Thames River from its perch, telling tales of that brutal September day through its walls, weapons, and wounds.

Here’s your guide to exploring this sacred Revolutionary War site.

Benedict Arnold’s Bloody Massacre at Fort Griswold

On September 6, 1781, in one of the Revolutionary War’s most brutal episodes, America’s infamous traitor Benedict Arnold led 800 British troops in an assault on Fort Griswold in Groton, Connecticut.

The fort’s 165 American defenders, commanded by Colonel William Ledyard, were vastly outnumbered but refused to surrender.

After capturing the fort, British forces massacred 88 of the American patriots, including Ledyard himself.

Historical accounts report that Ledyard was killed with his own sword after surrendering it to British Major Bromfield.

The aftermath was equally horrific, as wounded Americans were loaded onto an ammunition cart that broke loose while being moved downhill, crashing into a tree and amplifying their suffering.

This bloody assault has been called the “Alamo of the Revolution,” marking one of the final British victories before their surrender at Yorktown just weeks later.

The 166-Step Granite Memorial

The Groton Monument stands out as the park’s most striking landmark. Built between 1826 and 1830, this 135-foot granite tower holds the honor of being the oldest monument of its kind in the country.

Local granite went into making this impressive structure with its 166 steps leading to the top.

A marble plaque on the monument honors the fallen defenders, listing the 88 American soldiers who died during the battle. From this height, you can enjoy amazing wide-open views of the Thames River and all the surrounding area.

See Colonel William Ledyard’s Historic Sword

Next to the Groton Monument stands the Monument House Museum, first built in 1830 as a home for the caretaker. Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution started meeting there in 1894 and began donating items to create a new museum.

In 1906, they added the Memorial Annex to make room for their growing collection of historical items.

Today, the museum holds many treasures related to the battle and other times in Groton’s history. Inside, you can see Colonel William Ledyard’s actual sword, the very weapon reportedly used to kill him when the British captured the fort.

The collection also includes a detailed model showing how the fort looked on September 6, 1781, helping you picture the battlefield as it existed during the Revolutionary War.

Check Out the Rare Brick Oven That Heated Cannonballs

Among the park’s special features sits a brick shot furnace built in 1843, one of the few such structures still around today. This uncommon military artifact shows you how coastal defenses worked in the 19th century.

This furnace served a vital purpose in warfare, designed to heat up cannonballs that soldiers then fired at enemy wooden ships with devastating results.

Hot shot could set wooden vessels on fire, making it especially feared by ships approaching the harbor.

After the American Civil War, workers redesigned the fort’s lower battery to hold heavier weapons, showing how the site remained militarily important into the late 1800s.

Drop by the Authentic Gunpowder Storage

Another important structure within the park is the powder magazine, also built in 1843. This special building was designed to safely store gunpowder and other explosives needed for the fort’s operation.

This structure, along with other preserved elements like the earthwork battery and cannons, gives you an authentic glimpse into military life and technology of the period.

Step Into a Relocated 1750s Home For Battlefield Wounded

The Ebenezer Avery House, built in 1750, stands as another important historical feature of the park.

This building gained significance as the place where wounded soldiers found shelter after the Battle of Groton Heights on September 6, 1781.

The house originally stood on Thames Street in Groton but moved to the park grounds in 1971 to save it from being torn down.

Ebenezer Avery himself fought in the battle and ended up among the wounded Americans who found shelter in the house afterward. According to historical accounts, Avery got shot in the neck during the fighting, which ‘cut the cords, and left him senseless as one of the dead,’ though he eventually recovered from his wounds.

Today, the house works as a historic house museum, open weekends from noon to 4:00 pm during summer from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend.

Try the Phone-Guided Tour With Six Information Stops

You can enjoy an easy self-guided experience through a six-stop recorded tour available on your cell phone.

By simply dialing (860) 424-4005 from anywhere with cell coverage, you access detailed historical information about the fort as you walk the grounds.

Signs posted throughout the park clearly mark each tour stop and tell you how to hear the recordings. This modern tool enhances your visit by providing rich historical background at key locations throughout the site.

Check out the Memorial Entrance Naming Each Defender

The Memorial Gate forms the main entrance to the fort and arrived during the park’s opening on September 6, 1911 – exactly 130 years after the battle.

A plaque on the gate details what happened to each of the 165 men who tried to defend the fort against around 800 British troops.

This impressive entryway sets the mood for your visit, immediately connecting you to the human stories behind what happened here. The detailed listing of defenders makes the battle personal, changing it from a distant historical event into a story about specific individuals from the local community.

Near the Memorial Gates stand two 32-pounder cannons, powerful weapons that show the type of artillery once used at the fort.

Walk Along the W-Shaped Lower Fort Facing The Harbor

The River Battery represents one of the oldest parts of Fort Griswold, originally shaped like the letter ‘W’ when built in 1775. Workers actually constructed this earthwork before any other part of what would become the park.

In the 1840s, the military completely rebuilt this defensive structure to fit more powerful weapons, specifically cannons capable of firing 24 and 32 pound cannonballs.

Designers created the River Battery as an underground bunker that protected soldiers while housing large cannons aimed at the river. Later changes allowed for even more powerful Rodman guns to be mounted here for improved harbor defense.

See Historic Artillery From Multiple Conflicts

Around the park stand several historic cannons that show different periods of American military history. Near the west face of the Groton Monument sits a large cannon captured from a Spanish warship during the Spanish-American War.

This Spanish-American War cannon came specifically from the Spanish flagship Marie-Teresa, which had fired upon American ships as it tried to escape from Cuba’s Santiago Harbor during the conflict.

Its presence connects this Revolutionary War site to later chapters in American military history. Park grounds also feature a Civil War Memorial erected by Civil War Sergeant Robert Gray, who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor while serving with the 21st Regiment, Connecticut volunteers.

Hop on a Water Taxi To Other Historic Sites

Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park serves as a key site within the larger Thames River Heritage Park, a collection of historic and cultural attractions in New London and Groton connected by water.

A seasonal water taxi service provides a unique way to experience Fort Griswold along with other historic sites along the Thames River. The water taxi makes three stops each hour in a continuous hop-on, hop-off loop, allowing you to easily explore multiple attractions without moving your car.

These Thames River Heritage Park water taxis run on weekends and holidays from 11:40 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. during summer (June through September). Your ticket allows unlimited rides all day, making it convenient to visit multiple historic sites on both sides of the river.

Stroll by Colonial Buildings In the Surrounding Area

The area around Fort Griswold, known as the Groton Bank, features numerous historic buildings and sites that add depth to your visit.

This historic district provides additional context for understanding the community that existed during the Revolutionary period.

You can explore sites within walking distance of Fort Griswold, including historic homes and other structures.

Notable spots nearby include the Avery-Copp House and the Bill Memorial Library. Architectural features throughout the area showcase building styles from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Visiting Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, Connecticut

Address: Park Ave & Monument St, Groton, CT 06340

The fort welcomes visitors daily from sunrise to sunset year-round with no admission charge.

The Monument House Museum and Groton Monument open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Ebenezer Avery House opens its doors Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4:00 PM during the same summer season.

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