For over a century, the Minute Man has stood as Westport’s most beloved symbol. Harry Daniel Webster’s statue was dedicated in June 1910.
But this will make you feel really old: The skirmish it commemorates — the Battle of Compo Hill — took place 133 years before that.
The Minute Man monument in 1912 — 2 years after its dedication.
If you’ve lived in Westport a while, you know at least some of the story behind the monument.
But many new residents may pass by, on the way to the beach, and not give it a second thought.
Or they may think it’s a typical New England nod to some generic Revolutionary War soldier.
There’s much more to our Minute Man than that. On the 248th anniversary of Westport’s most famous battle, here’s the back story.
Twenty-six ships carrying 1,850 British troops under the direction of General William Tryon — a force larger than at Lexington or Concord — landed at Compo Beach at dusk on April 25, 1777. Tory loyalists planned to guide them up Compo Road to Cross Highway, across to Redding Road, then north through Redding and Bethel to Danbury, where they would burn a major supply depot. It contained much-needed tents, clothing, bedding — things necessary for a long military campaign.
Patriots fired a few shots at the corner of the Post Road and Compo, but the British marched on. In Danbury they destroyed the Continental Army’s munitions, then headed back toward their waiting ships at Compo.
Hastily assembled patriot forces fought them in the fierce Battle of Ridgefield. Led by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold — not yet a traitor — and outnumbered 3 to 1, the patriots deployed a strategy of selective engagement.
British forces landed at Compo Beach, marched to Danbury, returned south and — after the Battle of Compo Hill — retreated to Long Island.
The next day — April 28, 1777 — patriots tried to capture the Redcoats at a bridge across the Saugatuck River. That forced the soldiers to march 2 miles north, and swim across.
Meanwhile, marksmen waited on Compo Hill (the current site of Minuteman Hill road).
Twenty colonials were killed, and between 40 and 80 wounded when the British made a shoulder to shoulder charge with fixed bayonets — but, wearing everyday work clothes and using hunting guns or pistols, they gave them a fight.
It was reported that resistance here was more severe than at Lexington and Concord.
Graves of some of the patriots who fell that day lie along Compo Beach Road, just past the Minuteman statue. British soldiers are buried across Gray’s Creek, by the Longshore golf course.
Though Tryon returned to burn Norwalk and Fairfield, never again during the American Revolution did British troops venture inland in Connecticut.
Document from the past.
The next time you pass the Minute Man, think about the Battle of Compo Hill. That’s the reason our Minuteman stands guard, facing Compo Road.
Like his fellow patriots 248 years ago, he’s ready to give the Brits his best shot.
The Minuteman statue today.
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There are a number of good historical sources about the Battle of Compo Hill.
One of the most fun, colorful — and detailed — was unearthed by alert reader Deborah Johnson.
She discovered “The Battle of Compo Beach,” a 9-page booklet, written and illustrated by C.M. Owens.
Hand-written, with meticulous lettering, it was published by the Hillspoint PTA. Built as an elementary school in 1960 to educate Westport’s booming school-age population, and open for just over 2 decades, today it’s the Hillspoint Road childcare facility with the domed roof.
The booklet shows the British coming ashore …
The booklet has lasted longer than the school.
Now it’s up to all of us — old-timers and newcomers alike — to keep the memory of the Battle of Compo Hill alive.
… and a description of the march to Danbury. (Courtesy of Deborah Johnson)
(“06880” covers Westport’s present, and past. Please support our work. Click here to contribute — and thank you!)
A great read, Dan, thanks.
A very different population back then vs today. “wearing everyday work clothes and using hunting guns or pistols, they gave them a fight.” The Second Amendment was written exactly to enable ordinary citizen’s the ability to resist overbearing governments. And yet, here we are today… >> sigh <<
Except the 2A says exactly nothing about “citizens”, ordinary or otherwise, nor does say anything about resisting “overbearing governments”. You also failed to mention its opening words which do in fact state, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state…”
In conclusion, you omitted what it does say and falsely asserted it says something it doesn’t say.
That’s strike two. Care to take another swing at it?
Actually Russell it is explicitly about average people being able to have weapons that could directly challenge their own country. Never lose sight of the fact that the 2nd Amendment was created specifically to keep government in check. Any attempts to limit should be taken as a direct threat to your liberty, because it is.
That’s strike three. You’re out!
The 2A says literally nothing, explicitly or otherwise, about “average people having weapons” to “directly challenge their own government” or to “keep government in check”.
The 2A is only 27 words long, yet so many of its proponents feel compelled to add words to it or to disregard its actual words. You know what a “militia” is, don’t you? You know what “well regulated” means don’t you? They’re all in it.
You know what’s an actual threat to my liberty? The 400 million firearms currently in circulation.
Strike three? Sure buddy…
The 2nd Amendment’s 27 words were intentionally crafted broadly, precisely to avoid the government limiting the right to arms to an exclusive group.
Let’s break it down: “The right of the people” – Whenever the Constitution uses “the people” (like in the First and Fourth Amendments), it means individual citizens, not the government, and not state-run organizations. “Well regulated” – In 18th-century English, “well regulated” simply meant “well-functioning” or “properly operating,” not government-controlled. It referred to readiness and discipline, not bureaucracy. “Militia” – At the time, the militia was the average citizenry. George Mason, a Founding Father, said, “The militia is the whole people, except for a few public officials.” Not a standing army, not a federal agency.
The Founders had just fought off a monarchy. They absolutely intended armed citizens to be a safeguard against tyranny. Read the Federalist Papers or look at the historical context; the belief that government can become oppressive was central to their philosophy.
Finally, if you think 400 million firearms are a threat to liberty, consider this, they exist because people value liberty. In most countries where guns were taken, authoritarianism followed close behind. It’s not the existence of firearms that’s a threat, it’s the willingness to surrender individual rights out of fear.
Rights are rarely lost all at once, they are chipped away, often under the guise of “safety.”
Yet in his first hundred days, the felon president, who encouraged other criminals to violently attack the Capitol police and to block the peaceful transfer of power (they threw in hanging mike pence as an extra, no charge) is busy defying court orders, including from the SC and arresting, off the streets, in broad daylight, without charge, men, women and babies, and deporting to foreign prisons with no hope of return. I guess it’s good night moon for the presumption of innocence in this country and for the rule of law, which the felon president ignores. The president isn’t just chipping, he’s coming at our country with a chainsaw. I guess that’s why his approval ratings are the lowest for any president since hoover. See you at the mid terms, unless the felon president suspends them.
Russell, it’s clear you couldn’t actually refute anything I said about the 2nd Amendment, so you changed the subject entirely. Ranting about political figures, court orders, and conspiracy theories has nothing to do with the historical meaning of “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.”
If you need to pivot to a different topic to feel better about losing the original argument, that’s your choice.
But if you want to get back to discussing the Constitution like an adult, let me know.
You suggested that when “firearms” (being an “originalist”, you must mean a musket, not an AR) are taken away, “authoritarianism followed close behind”. But 400 million of them in existence didn’t prevent an authoritarian from being elected, did it? So much for that theory.
Every time I see Russell referencing a baseball term, especially, ‘strike three you’re out. I immediately think of Aaron Judge and the Yankees every October.
That’s because it’s more than likely that the NYY will actually be IN the World Series, as opposed to, oh, I don’t know, the Boston Red Sox who seem strangely attracted to finishing in last place or playing .500 ball. Just bob, bob, bobbing along. Neither here nor there. Yes, good times never looked so good.
My mother (Sally Thorp Jacob Kellogg Deegan) and my uncle participated in the unveiling ceremony of the little cemetary off Compo Beach Rd across from Quentin Rd. as children. As kids we played back there … it was all very mysterious.
I used to bowl with Bill Deegan. Are you related to him? Jack Backiel
A few clarifications:
The British troop figure was actually around 1,850: 1,500 Regulars, 300 Provincials (Loyalists), 35 – 40 artillery men and 10 Dragoons. The incorrect 2,000 figure has persisted since the New London Gazette account of the Raid on Danbury which it published on May 9, 1777.
The original plan was to capture the magazine at Danbury, not destroy it. The British, like us, were absolutely desperate for food and other supplies in the winter of 1776. But the plan was modified after Tryon had trouble securing wagons in Danbury – and also became aware of Continental and militia forces quickly closing in on his position. Although his intelligence people greatly overestimated to numbers on the American side – just one name was enough to cause real fear on the British side: Benedict Arnold. Arnold – who had nearly quit in bitter frustration before the Raid – received a promotion from Congress for his bravery and leadership at Ridgefield and Compo. He would go into win the day at Saratoga – an astonishing victory which proved to be the turning point in the war for our freedom.
Great info. Thank you, Morley!
You’re welcome, Dan.
As an aside, the British landing at Compo was ALSO not part of the plan.
Norwalk was their intended debarkation spot. But you know what is often said about plans. Fearing a British landing, Norwalk had constructed a fearsome battery. Oops.
So had Stamford, Greenwich, Black Rock (its ruins can still be seen at low tide) and Stratford. Even Darien had armored up – and boldly opened fire on the enormous British warship Halifax which was escorting the British invasion force up from New York. The Halifax could have instantly vaporized the Darien defense if it had wished – but it only replied with a small gesture from a few of its guns and then moved out of range.
So what to do? Realistically, the British force was left with just one place that was suitable for landing and convienent to Danbury. And it was completely undefended. That place was Compo. So much of history turns out to be accidental.
Where did the British ships launch for Compo and where did they return?
From the log of the British warship Senegal: “At half past 5 pm anchored in four fathoms with a spring (I think that may be a reference to the manner in which the ship was moored) in Satocket [sic] River, Cedar Point N NW 1/2 mile.” So basically, the fleet was anchored off Compo Beach. The transports remained on station guarded by two of the three warships, Swan and Senegal. The third, the Halifax, sailed over to Black Rock – likely out of concern about a notorious privateer which hailed from same. Indeed, the Halifax found the privateer laying at anchor and made the decision to keep her pinned down until Tryon had safely returned from Danbury to Compo. This was no easy task as the Black Rock battery was outfitted with massive 12 and 18 pound cannons. And it was also equipped with a “hot shot” furnace. So it had the capability to fire molten hot cannonballs which could (and did) incinerate wooden ships. The Black Rock battery crew certainly let the Halifax know they were paying attention and fired upon it repeatedly. The Halifax was careful to stay just out of range. Had that American privateer arrived at Compo while Tryon was in Danbury, there’s no telling what might have happened.
We are going to celebrate by setting the Tar Rock on fire! (just kidding of course).
Thank you for the detailed information. I never knew the extent of the battles here.
I grew up not far from Lexington and Concord where there are many monuments, museums, historic sites and Minute Man Historical Park. When we moved here in 1980 I was disappointed that the only representation of the history of the Revolutionary war was the one Statue.
I wish there was more interest in preserving that history here. I think it’s very important, especially now that we remember not to take freedom & liberty for granted. It was something that many lives were lost fighting for.