How Connecticut Boldly Resisted British Rule in Early America

CONNECTICUT was one of the first among the American colonies to protest against the Stamp Act, and to insist on the rights of trial by jury, and of the people to represent and tax themselves, and the Assembly early adopted an address to the English parliament on the subject. After the passage of the act, its execution in the colony was firmly and successfully resisted by the people. The non-importation agreement was faithfully carried out by the people of Connecticut, and, after the passage of the Boston Port Bill and the rumor of an attack on Boston, 20,000, it was estimated, of the citizens of the colony armed themselves and started, or were ready to start, for that city.

Connecticut in the Revolution

The news of the battle of Lexington was received in Hartford while the Assembly was in session, and with the tacit consent of the members the expedition against Ticonderoga was planned, and it was paid for from the treasury of the colony.

Following these first aggressive acts by armed American forces came the rapid preparations for the hostilities that were to follow. In these Connecticut was among the foremost. She was hampered by no royal governor, and the spirit of liberty, which had been nourished and invigorated by more than a century of self-government, prompted her sons to the active and energetic resistance to the acts of Great Britain which, from first to last, characterized them. At the battle of Bunker Hill, Connecticut men, under Putnam and other officers from this State, rendered effective service, as they did on every battle-field where they fought during the protracted contest.

It will be remembered that after the battle of Long Island, in 1776, the enemy held possession of that island till the close of the war, and that the shore of Connecticut was subject to hostile incursions from the British, while Long Island was often raided by parties of patriots from Connecticut. In addition to these minor operations the State was several times invaded, and its towns were burned and pillaged. The last invasion of this kind was under the infamous traitor, Arnold, who was born in Connecticut, and who, after having basely attempted to betray his country, filled the measure of his infamy by bringing fire and sword into the state of his nativity.

Connecticut in the War of 1812

In the last war with Great Britain, commonly known as the War of 1812, it is notable that in the first conflict on the ocean the first flag was struck to a native of Connecticut. On the land, the first flag that was taken was also surrendered to one of her sons.

In 1813 a blockade of the principal ports on the Sound was established, and this blockade was more rigidly enforced after a torpedo vessel had been sent into the Sound with the design of destroying a portion of the blockading squadron. During this blockade, several spirited affairs of minor importance occurred on the coast. In August 1814, Stonington was bombarded, the bombardment continuing during four days. The attack was resisted as vigorously as could be done with the feeble force available, and the vigilance of its defenders thwarted the designs of the enemy to burn the town. Several buildings were badly shattered, and some were wholly destroyed; but no one in the town was killed.

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Source

Whittemore, Henry, History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, New York : J. B. Beers & Co., 1884.