Alamo of the Revolution: Benedict Arnold and the Massacre at Fort Griswold

Before the British surrendered at Yorktown, Benedict Arnold led 1,800 British troops on a punitive expedition to destroy the American privateer base in New London. The result was a bloody assault by the British on Fort Griswold and the near massacre of its defenders.

In July of 1781, an American privateer sailing out of New London, Connecticut captured the British merchantman the Hanna, loaded with a bounty of luxury goods destined for British officers based in New York City. That action ind...