Hawley, Elisha, c.1759-1850
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-09-03
Elisha Hawley (c.1759-1850) discusses British General William Tryon’s raid on Danbury in April 1777. Tryon’s force landed at present-day Westport, Connecticut, on April 25, 1777. Hawley, who witnessed the landing, notes that it was raining. He participated in the Battle of Compo Hill on April 28, 1777, during which an American force under Benedict Arnold unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the British force from reaching its ships at Compo Beach.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 469 -
Septr. 3. Elisha Hawley, of Ridgefield: I belonged to the coast guard in April 1777, on the Norwalk side of Saugatuck river. It rained, I think, when the British landed there that night. Josiah Gregory of Poplar Plain, was my mess mate and knows more than I. We were stationed on the west side of Saugatuck river. British encamped half a mile from [Ridgefield] Village – Were much exhausted. At Compo our party marched two thirds of the way up the hill when the British charged down the hill. Arnold at this time was west of us trying to get a column in order to attack the British. He was encouraging and haranguing the militia and urging them on. (Thomas Wilson, aged 90, lives about three miles north of this, and, I think, can recollect
- Hufeland Index Page 470 -
a good deal.) Arnold began skirmishing with the British when they left [Ridgefield] about 10 or 11 o’clock.