Few places in Connecticut experienced the Revolutionary War as directly as Ridgefield, where a pivotal battle unfolded between 2,000 British troops under General William Tryon and American defenders led by Generals Benedict Arnold, David Wooster, and Gold Selleck Silliman. As Connecticut’s only inland battle of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Ridgefield is a major part of the history of Connecticut and that of New England. Taking place on April 27, 1777, the Battle of Ridgefield was part of a larger British expedition to destroy Continental supplies in Danbury. Although Tryon’s invasion of western Connecticut achieved the goal of destroying the Continental stores at Danbury it failed to arouse Loyalist sentiment and demonstrated that Connecticut forces could quickly rally and nearly defeat an 1,800-man force. The British won the battle, but it was the last time the British army attempted an inland invasion in Connecticut. The dramatic encounter left a lasting imprint on the town’s landscape and collective memory. Efforts are currently underway to commemorate the event in time for the 250th anniversary through new research and archaeology.
Dr. David Naumec is a Historian, Archaeologist, and Museum Consultant who is collaborating with several Connecticut institutions to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution while also serving as an Adjunct History Professor and working in the field of Cultural Resource Management. Dr. Naumec is a graduate of UConn Storrs, holds a Master’s Degree in History & Museum Studies from Tufts University, and completed his doctorate in Early American History at Clark University. His professional and personal research interests include Native American history, colonial North America, the History of Connecticut, and Conflict Archaeology.