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6

Sep

1830

Groton Monument Erected

Groton, CT· day date

The Story

The Groton Monument, a 134-foot granite obelisk, was dedicated on the site of Fort Griswold on September 6, 1830 — the forty-ninth anniversary of the battle. It was one of the first monuments in the United States dedicated to Revolutionary War dead and bore the names of the defenders killed in the battle and massacre.

The monument's construction reflected decades of community effort to memorialize the event. Its height and permanence were deliberate statements about the significance of the sacrifice. The monument remains a central feature of the Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park and continues to serve as a memorial for ceremonies honoring the fallen defenders.

Sources for Groton

Connecticut Gazette, September 14, 1781: Account of the Groton Massacre
Connecticut Gazette (New London)
Dear Liberty: Connecticut's Mobilization for the Revolutionary War
Wesleyan University Press (Joy Day Buel and Richard Buel Jr.)
Deposition of Ensign William Seymour Regarding the Fall of Fort Griswold
Connecticut Historical Society
Connecticut DEEP / National Register of Historic Places
Fort Griswold National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places
Connecticut History (Connecticut Humanities)
Connecticut in the American Revolution
Connecticut Historical Society (Glenn W. LaFantasie)
The Battle of Fort Griswold
New London County Historical Society (John Allyn)