Sites

Fairfield - Fairfield County
The Powder House in Fairfield was built by the Town to store gunpowder and ammunition in 1814. Its purpose was to prepare for the defense of Fairfield from a possible British attack during the War of 1812.

Clinton - Middlesex County
Clinton has taken its full share in all wars from 1688 during the Indian Wars, down to the World War. During the War of 1812, it is said that the British made ten attacks on the harbor of antient Killingworth, known today as Clinton. In November, 1814, Capt. Amaziah Bray, who was in charge of Clinton harbor and Saybrook fort, and the men in his command drove off a British sloop of war that had forced a coasting schooner into the harbor. In 1813, Clinton was unguarded, but after frequent alarm bell rings, the inhabitants feared being attacked and secured bay.

Derby - New Haven County
Commodore Isaac Hull, after becoming first lieutenant, took command of the Constitution. On August 19th, 1812, Hull made his brilliant capture of the Guerriere, bringing glory and honor to his name and country. A bronze tablet was placed in 1931 on the mizzenmast of the United States Frigate Constitution, and on it the following tribute is paid:

'Capt. Isaac Hull, U. S. N., born in Derby, Conn., March 9, 1773 died in Philadelpiha, PA., February 13, 1843. As lieutenant upon the U. S. frigate Constitution in the Frech Naval War of 1798-1801 and as captain of the Constitution at the beginning of the conflict with Great Britian in 1812, he brought glory to his name and honor to his country. The victory of the Constitution, under Hull's command over the Guerriere, at a most critical peridod in the nation’s history, cheered and strenthened the hearts of the American people and made possible the Constitution of the second war for independence.'

Haddam - Middlesex County
From 1720 to about 1840, ship building was a leading industry of Essex. The shipyards were at Potopauge Point. In 1775 the ship Oliver Cromwell with twenty-four guns was built by Uriah Hayden in Essex, then a part of Old Saybrook. During the War of 1812, vessels from the British fleet that were blockading New London came up the river on April 7, 1814, in the night. Early the following morning they reached Potopauge Point and set fire to the anchored vessels and those in the stocks along the North and South Coves on the north side of Main Street. The total loss was $160,000. Through the next day, the inhabitants collected forces and finally drove the British from their grounded schooner to barges. That night the enemy rejoined their vessels down the river.

Old Saybrook - Middlesex County
During the War of 1812 the British blockaded New London Harbor. In April, 1814, two or three vessels from the British squadron anchored off Saybrook bar. The soldiers entered the fort, then unmanned, but did less damage there than at Essex.

Hamden - New Haven County
During the War of 1812, at least fourty men were drafted from Hamden. One hundred men from there assisted in building earthworks on Beacon Hill, now called Fort Wooster in New Haven.

New Haven - New Haven County
At the time of the British invasion, in 1779, Black Rock Fort of New Haven was under the command of Lieutenant Bishop. His nineteen men kept firing on General Tryon's troops during their landing, but finally the patriots had to retreat. During the War of 1812, the fort was rebuilt and, in naming it after Nathan Hale, the young martyr, the State gave the first public recognition of his services. At the time of the Civil War, a new fort was built there, with a moat around it. Not much remains of Fort Hale, now in Fort Hale Park, which is located below Townsend Avenue and near Morris Cove.

Ledyard - New London County
Fort Decatur was erected during the War of 1812 to protect Commodore Decatur's fleet from the British during 1813 - 1814. It was situated on Allyn's mountain in Gales Ferry and "the old fortification is still extant."

New London - New London County
New London was not concerned with the War of 1812 until December 4, when Commodore Decatur arrived in the frigate, the United States, followed by his prize, the Macedonian. In April, 1813, a large British fleet appeared in the Sound. On June 1 an American squadron was chased back into New London harbor by two British boats. The enemy anchored at Gull Island to control the mouth of the river and to begin a blockade of twenty-one months on the port. New London was apprehensive lest the enemy enter the river. The militia was called to the coast, and women, children, and valuables were removed. Finally, the British fleet anchored about five miles from the city. Commodore Decatur and his American ships went up the river and erected a slight defense on Allyn's Mountain, called Dragon Hill by his men. The last of June, 1813, Major General Henry Burbeck arrived from Newport and as commander represented the general government. The militia of one thousand men was under the governor. By order of the Secretary of War, Major General Burbeck dismissed the militia and left the town undefended, at the same time the British fleet was augmented. He appealed to the governor for temporary reinforcement and the governor authorized Brigadier General Williams to raise militia for defense of the town. The blockade became severe. Anxious to get his ships out to sea, Commodore Decatur came gradually down the river to Market wharf. Circumvented by traitors using blue light signals on both shores on December 12, 1813, the commodore was indignant over being betrayed, but made no further attempt to escape. The blue lights were variously excused but the explanations were not believed by him. Early the next spring the American squadron again went up the Thames. Upon the announcement of peace on February 21, 1815, the city was illuminated. The British came on shore and their officers were invited to a peace ball given at the courthouse.

Hebron - Tolland County
William B. Sumner, a son of Col. Benjamin Sumner, was born in Hebron in 1762. He was in command of a regiment at the battle of Plattsburg and served throughout the War of 1812.

Pomfret - Windham County
Amasa Trowbridge (1799—1859) was the son of William Trowbridge, and both were born in Pomfret. At the age of twenty, he received a diploma from the State medical society. In 1810 he went to Watertown, New York, where he became a pioneer surgeon, and his skilful operations became internationally known. A surgeon in the United States Army in the War of 1812, he was in nearly all the battles on the frontier. He died in Watertown.

Bridgeport - Fairfield County
In the war of 1812, Bridgeport was protected by a guard at Fort Union, on Grover’s Hill at Black Rock, and by a guard at the earthworks on the peninsula called the Tongue. In 1814 the inhabitants took refuge on Toilsome Hill in their alarm over two British ships which came to anchor in the Harbor; but these sailed during the night. After that, an embankment was built above the old battery site on Grover’s Hill, but abandoned with the declaration of peace.

Berlin - Hartford County
Simeon North (1765 - 1852), the first official pistol manufacturer of the United States Government, made arms for the government for over fifty years. After President Madison requested him to enlarge his output during the War of 1812, he built a factory at Staddle Hill about a mile and a half southwest of Middletown. He removed to Middletown and his son conducted the original plant at Spruce Brook. At the close of the War of 1812, the State ordered him to make two pairs of gold-mounted pistols: one for Capt. Isaac Hull of the frigate Constitution, and the other for Commodore Macdonough, the victor at Lake Champlain.

Stonington - New London County
A British Fleet commanded by Sir Thomas Hardy attacked Stonington, CT, from August 9 through August 12, 1814.  British vessels included HMS Dispatch, HMS Terror, HMS Nimrod, HMS Pactolus and HMS Ramillies.  On August 10, a pre dawn landing was attempted by British Marines.  The British Fleet sailed away after a bombardment that included Congreve Rockets on August 14.  The attack destroyed many structures but inflicted very few casualties.  Cannon Square in Stonington commemorates the British attack and the American Militia who defended the Town. A nearby plaque notes the location of the defender's battery.  For more information about the battle, please read The Battle of Stonington, Torpedoes, Submarines, and Rockets by James T. De Kay.

Haddam - New London County
In the war of 1812-14, this town took but little part, though its people were affected by the restrictions upon commerce, yet not to such an extent as some other towns were. A company of volunteers was raked in this town and commanded by Samuel Brooks and Deacon Nehemiah Brainerd. The following men were in the service dining that war, nearly or quite all of them belonging to the company mentioned above: Charles Arnold, Noah Clark, John Ventres, Samuel Church, Simon Knowles, Linus Parmelee, John Brainerd, George Kelsey, Samuel Kelsey H), Dudley Clark, George Clark, Arza Dickinson, John Northam, Eleazer Lewis, Elijah Williams, Timothy Tyler, Arnold II. Hayden, Stephen Brooks, James Brooks, Horace Smith, George S. Brainerd, Matthew Hubbard, Thomas Church, Captain Abraham Hubbard, Sergeant Selden Huntington, Orren Crook, Ezekiel Bailey, Warren Ely, Nathaniel Stocking, Joseph Stannard, Joseph Shailer, John Shailer, Simon Shailer, Hezekiah Brainerd, — House, Daniel Brainerd, David Church. and — Goff. This list has been kindly furnished by Mr. A. S. Clark, a native of this town, but now a resident of Chicago.