144.New London_CL_c - WDS American Revolutionary War

Date: 6 September, 1781
Size: Company Level, Large
Location: New London ~120 miles ENE of New York City
Best as Head-to-Head, or Crown vs American AI (This features a large map, with many strategic and tactical options. AI has orders for both sides.)

Scenario Briefing: This scenario combines the attacks on Fort Griswold and New London into one long scenario. It covers the two divisions of Brigadier General Benedict Arnold s British invasion force and the Connecticut militia response.
This is a rare example of 18th century urban combat. Ad hoc militia units and sailors from patriot ships would attempt to slow the recently raised American Legion, backed by the 38th Foot and a detachment of jaegers under the Direct command of Arnold . The confused action would see the town set on fire, and the town sacked before Arnold would withdraw his forces. Militia units would straggle in all afternoon, but the defense was never well organized, let alone effective.
On the eastern side of the river, the 2nd British Division was let by Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Eyre, who would proceed north before making an assault on Fort Griswold. The Connecticut Militia would put up a spirited fight, but the surrender was confused, leading to unnecessary casualties, and characterized as a massacre.

Background: By late 1780, the focus of the war had shifted to the Southern Colonies, however, the Crown still maintained control of New York City and were concerned about a joint Franco-American force attacking the city, General Clinton advocated an attack on the French forces at Newport, Rhode Island but Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot did not support that point of view. When Lt. General Rochambeau s forces slipped out in mid-June and rendezvoused with General Washington in the Hudson Highlands, the British felt an attack on NYC was imminent. Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, a native of Connecticut, asked for 5,000 men to attack the combined force there. Instead, he was sent south to Virginia to relieve pressure on Major General Charles Cornwallis, where he operated with great success before being recalled in June of 1781. The ambitious Arnold, through his political game-playing, had fallen out of favor and he was once again denied his wish to attack the forces in the Highlands. Clinton remained worried about an attack and remained on the defensive. When Arbuthnot was temporarily replaced by Rear Admiral Thomas Graves, Clinton saw the opportunity to attack Newport once again. However, he was foiled by weather, politics and logistics and the French slipped out on the eve of the attack. The French departure left all of the Long Island Sound wide open to the British. Clinton needed only to find a suitable place to attack.

New London was an excellent deep water harbor, a base of operations for numerous successful American Privateers, a military supply depot, a hotbed of Patriot activity, and the surrounding area was full of bountiful farms. An attack there would cause immediate panic, diverting Connecticut troops from joining Washington and possibly forcing Washington to send troops to help defend the Connecticut coast. The aggressive Arnold was the perfect choice for the assignment. In addition to his tactical skills, raised in New London he was familiar with the area, and the propaganda value of the turncoat Arnold leading the attack would amplify the value of the raid. Arnold was given 1500 men for his assault on New London "to endeavor to bring off or destroy the prize vessels, traders, or privateers, together with naval and other stores, said to be collected... to a very large amount.' Arnold planned to clear the outer forts of Fort Folly and Fort Trumbull on the western shore of the Thames and Fort Griswold on the Eastern shore, before clearing New London and its smaller sister town Groton.

Further Reading: The Traitor's Homecoming by Matthew Reardon