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THBRevolutionary War-Period Documents Pertaining to Captain Adam Shapley, Who Fell in the Fort Griswold Massacre, 1781
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About Auction
LiveJul 21, 2014 - Jul 22, 2014
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Approx. 6 x 8 in. sheet addressed to John Lawrence, Treasurer ordering him to pay Capt. Adam Shapley £500 pounds legal money, Feb. 21st, 1780. Endorsed by Oliver Wolcott.
The second partially printed slip is approx. 5 x 6.25 in. and is an order to the Pay-Table Office, State of Connecticut, to pay Capt. Adam Shapley £11.6.2. Dated Feb. 5th, 1782. Endorsed by John Harris.
Adam Shapley received fatal wounds in the Battle of Groton Heights (Fort Griswold Massacre), Sept. 6, 1781, although he didn't die until Feb. 14, 1782. The small Connecticut militia was vastly outnumbered by the British forces under General Benedict Arnold. The town was to be spared, but a fire set to stores in a warehouse ignited gunpowder. The explosion set several houses on fire, and soon the inferno was out of control, eventually consuming 143 houses. Survivors were given Western Reserve lands.
When the British were spotted in the harbor, two cannon shots were fired, the alarm for enemy sighted. However, because Arnold knew of the alarm, he had one of his own cannon fire a third shot, which changed the signal to "all is well." It is thought that is why the defense of the pair of forts guarding the harbor was so disorganized.
Fort Trumbull was generally manned by only 15 - 20 men. They did what they could to disable the fort, then proceeded across the river to Fort Griswold to support those men. Shapley spiked the six guns in Trumbull, then got his men away safely in whaleboats. However, the British were too close, and Shapley and at least one other man was wounded, and one whaleboat was captured. Shapley did make it to the other fort, and set up a vigorous defense there, defending the northwest bastion.
The British overran the fort, killing all in their path. Even though the few men there surrendered, they were massacred anyway. As Ledyard surrendered his sword and saluted British Major Bromfield, Bromfield took the sword and ran Ledyard through with it. Those who tried to come to his aid were also slaughtered. In all, at least 85 Americans were killed, and many more wounded (some of whom, like Shapley, certainly died later). The British reported marching 30 "walking wounded" out to the landing as prisoners.
However, it was to be one of the last British victories before their surrender.Very small areas of light foxing. Overall excellent.Condition
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