The Westport Historical Society (WHS) again this year will mark Tryon’s Raid, the Revolutionary War engagement that began with 1,800 British troops landing at Compo Beach on April 25, 1777.
Damon Douglas: authored WHS book on Tryon Raid. Contributed photo
The raid will be the topic of a WHS lecture by history buff Ed Hynes on Thursday, April 28, at 7 p.m.
The lecture comes just three days after the 239th anniversary of the British landing for their march to Danbury where Colonists had stored munitions.
WHS officials noted that during the four-day raid, British troops led by Maj. Gen. William Tryon, royal governor of the New York province, burned Patriot supplies, meeting Colonial force resistance with two battles along the way.
Hynes is a Merrill Lynch financial advisor who says his interest in the American Revolution began growing up in Wilton next to a home that was partially burned by Tryon’s soldiers.
According to WHS officials, Hynes will discuss the raid in the overall context of the war, the commanders on both sides, and “things quite smart and not so smart” on both sides.
One example is how “the Brits outwitted” the Patriots on their return to Compo.
“This incident took place in our own back yard and highlights an interesting aspect of the war: the extent to which local Colonists were divided for and against the Revolution,” says Barbara Peck, WHS assistant director.
As Hynes tells it, Tryon got wind that Patriots under Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold were waiting for him at a bridge at Kings Highway where he had to cross the Saugatuck River.
Luckily for Tryon, he was accompanied by a unit of Loyalists, one who had lived in this area and was able to lead the British across the river at a ford upstream near present-day Red Coat Road, to the ambush, says Hynes.
According to WHS officials, this episode inspired the 2002 book “The Bridge Not Taken” by Wilton land surveyor Damon Greenleaf Douglas, copies of which are available in the WHS gift shop. Douglas died in an accident in Greenwich in 2003 while on a surveying job. (See WestportNow Sept. 6, 2003)
Concerning the division of opinion among Colonists, Hynes notes that Ridgefield’s Town Council actually voted not to support the Revolution, and that a Redding militia linked to that town’s Anglican Church was disbanded by Connecticut’s governor because it refused to support Gen. George Washington’s troops.
Hynes is expected to speak for about 50 minutes before taking questions, and copies of a map for the raid prepared by one of Tryon’s officers will be handed out to attendees.
WHS officials request a $5 donation per attendee and say that light refreshments will be provided. For more information, call (203) 222-1424 or visit westporthistory.org.
In September of 2002 the Staples graduating class of 1950 held their 50th reunion (2 years late) at the Red Barn. We spent the weekend enjoying what Westport was all about to us; youth, fun and remembrances of where we had been and where we were going.. That included the wonderful meals at the Arrow years before the Nistico’s moved to the Red Barn.
As a part of this reunion celebration we had a lobster fest at Sherwood Island and dinner and brunch at the Red Barn. One of the high points of our reunion was a bus trip that went from Compo Beach and covered the route taken by the British in 1777. to Danbury, returning through Ridgefield and back to Westport for their return to England.
The Westport Historical Society arranged the trip for us. Dave Rosenau was on our committee and, as a member of the society, he was instrumental in making the trip happen.
Our class started out with 123 members; we have dwindled to 68, but we continue to keep in touch and follow Westport as it moves forward to the future.
Karl Taylor, Southport, NC