Editing New London, Connecticut (section)

===American Revolution===

The harbor was considered to be the best deep water harbor on [[Long Island Sound]],<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=New London |volume=19 |pages=515–516}}</ref> and consequently New London became a base of [[U.S. Navy|American naval operations]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]] and privateers where it has been said no port took more prizes than New London with between 400–800 being credited to New London privateers including the 1781 taking of supply ship Hannah, the largest prize taken during the war. Famous New Londoners during the American Revolution include [[Nathan Hale]], William Coit, Richard Douglass, Thomas and [[Nathaniel Shaw]], [[Samuel Holden Parsons|Gen. Samuel Parsons]], printer Timothy Green, and Bishop [[Samuel Seabury (bishop)|Samuel Seabury]].{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

New London was raided and much of it burned to the ground on September 6, 1781, in the [[Battle of Groton Heights]] by [[Norwich, Connecticut|Norwich]] native [[Benedict Arnold]] in an attempt to destroy the Patriot [[privateer]] fleet and supplies of goods and naval stores within the city. It is often noted that this raid on New London and Groton was intended to divert General [[George Washington]] and the French Army under [[Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien|Rochambeau]] from their march on [[Yorktown, Virginia]]. The main defensive fort for New London was [[Fort Griswold]], located across the Thames River in [[Groton, Connecticut|Groton]]. It was well known to Arnold, who had already informed the British of this so that they could avoid its [[artillery]] fire. British and Hessian troops subsequently attacked and captured New London's [[Fort Trumbull]], while other forces moved in to attack Fort Griswold across the river, then held by Lieutenant-Colonel [[William Ledyard]]. The British suffered great casualties at Fort Griswold before the Americans were finally forced to surrender—whereupon Arnold's men stormed into the fort and slaughtered most of the American troops who defended it, including Ledyard. All told, more than 52 British and 83 American soldiers were killed, and more than 142 British and 39 Americans were wounded, many mortally. New London suffered over 6 defenders killed and 24 wounded, while Arnold's men suffered an equal amount.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.battleofgrotonheights.com |title=The Battle of Groton Heights & Burning of New London |publisher=Battleofgrotonheights.com |date=August 31, 2006 |access-date=October 28, 2011}}</ref>

Connecticut's independent legislature made New London one of five cities simultaneously brought from ''de facto'' to formalized incorporations in its January session of 1784.<ref name="Caulkins" />{{Pg|page=619}}