Page "Battle of Groton Heights" Paragraph 12

At sunrise on September 6, the British landed on both sides of the mouth of the Thames River.

The people of the town could do nothing but evacuate, and several ships in the harbor escaped upstream.

The 800-man detachment that Arnold led in New London met with no resistance.

The defenders of Fort Trumbull, 23 men led by Captain Shapley, following orders left by Colonel Ledyard, fired a single volley, spiked the guns, and boarded boats to cross the river to Fort Griswold.

Seven of Shapley's men were wounded, and one of the boats was captured ; the detachment Arnold sent to take Fort Trumbull lost, according to Arnold's account, four or five killed or wounded.

Arnold's troops continued into the town, where they set about destroying stockpiles of goods and naval stores.

Under the orders given, much of the town was supposed to be spared ; but unknown to Arnold, at least one of the storehouses burned contained a large quantity of gunpowder.

When it ignited, the resulting explosion set fire to the surrounding buildings.

The fire was soon uncontrollable and 143 buildings were consumed by flames.

Several ships in the harbor were able to escape upriver when the wind changed.