Tryon's Raid against Connecticut Ports
July 5, 1779
Tryon's skirmish begins July 4, 1779. On this day, Commodor Sir. George Collier wrote to Major-General Tryon of Sir. Henry Clinton's intent to move on the Ports of Connecticut.
Sir. Henry Clinton hatched this plan to use the movement on the Ports as a way to engage Commander George Washington in terrain which better suited the British Army.
Commodor Collier wrote to General Tryon to deliver the proclamation that “Your Towns, your Property, yourselves, lie still within the grasp of that Power, whose Forbearance you have generously construed into Fear…” to the people of Connecticut. July 4, 1779
Upon this,Major-General Tryon moved instantly to execute the will of the King.
New Haven July 5, 1779
William Tryon's first moves went through New Haven. Moving South along the coast
Under the command of Commodor Collier, the British landed at New Haven on their first move against the colonist.
General Tryon (Red) with 2600 troops started the movements against the Connecticut Ports.
Americans (Blue) evading the fight and destruction of General Tryon.
Americans were stuck by the power of General Tryon's land brigade, and Commodor Collier's Navy Fleet.
Orders from General Tryon were to burn everything down. One of his Generals, General Garth, refused this order and left General Tryon to burn down the town himself. Which he had no problem doing after burning down Danbury on April 25, 1777.
Fairfield July 6, 1779
Continuing his way South along the coast, General Tryon raided Fairfield July 6, 1779 with the power of Commodor Collier behind him.
As Commodor Collier's fleet came into sight of Fairfield, the colonists began fleeing in hopes of not being caught in the devastation of General Tryon.
With the superior power of the British Navy, the people had very little hope. They could stay, or, they could almost certainly die.
"The Existance of a single Habitation on your defenceless coast, ought to be a constant Reproof to your Ingratitude." -- Commodor Collier
Norwalk, July 12, 1779
The last Port Town in which General Tryon moves in a effort to bring General George Washington to a military advantage in favor of the British.
This was the last push against the Ports of Connecticut. Tryon's raid lasting one week, taking out the three Port Cities.
President Washington recalls in his 1789 journal how “[t]he destructive evidence of British cruelty [is still] visible both in Norwalk and Fairfield, as [evidenced by the] chimney of many burnt houses standing in them yet.”
Moving down the Shore
Out Comes...
New Haven, Fairfield, and Norwalk.
As a result of wanting to capture General Washington in a disadvantage, General Tryon burned down all three Port towns.
America's economic support took a major hit. This hit took many years for the Colonists to recover.
Plan against General George Washington
General George Washington, not being caught, continued his fight against the British till the end of the war on September 3, 1783.
George Washington became the First President of America in 1789.
References
“Connecticut.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Nov. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut.
Mullen, Arthur. “Invasion of New Haven, July 5, 1779.” The Hyperion, 20 Oct. 2019, hyperionnewhaven.com/2019/06/04/invasion-of-new-haven-july-5-1779/.
“New Haven, Connecticut - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia.” Alchetron.com, 28 June 2018, alchetron.com/New-Haven,-Connecticut.
“Old Historical City, County and State Maps of Connecticut.” Mapgeeks, 10 Oct. 2019, mapgeeks.org/connecticut/.
Old Maps of Connecticut Reprints, www.old-maps.com/ct/ct-PaperStateMaps.htm.
