Notes - In Connecticut (Battle of Ridgefield Discussions Summary)
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-09-03
John Macdonald summarizes some of the information that he has learned about the Battle of Ridgefield, Connecticut, while interviewing residents of the area. This information includes the activity of American General Benedict Arnold during the battle, the mortal wounding of American General David Wooster, and the size of the American force.
Manuscript page facsimiles
High-resolution images served from the Westchester County Historical Society's IIIF endpoint. Click any page to view full size.
Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 476 -
Sept. 3 James A. Holley will communicate with me. I have conversed with many old men who remembered the Danbury Expedition and received permission to use the facts &c. Arnold, after killing the soldier walked deliberately off. Wooster at the time he fell was organizing his men to capture a field piece on the west side of the road which was planted on the ridge where he was shot by a musket ball fired from a barn on the east side of the road. Wooster’s force not more than 200 – Arnold’s about 500. – Sentinels so sound asleep that one prisoner walked out of the camp unmolested and challenged but once, when he gave some answer satisfactory to the guard.