Stonington in Southeastern Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

The Defenders of the Fort

Photographed by Michael Herrick, August 27, 2013

1. The Defenders Of The Fort Monument

Inscription. The
defenders of
the fort
Aug. 10, 1814.
Geo. Howe Fellowes.
who nailed the flag to the mast.
Amos Denison, Jr.
Jere. Haley.
Simeon Haley.
Jere. Holmes.
Seth C. Leonard.
Asa Lee.
Thos. Wilcox.
William Potter.
Hotatio G. Lewis
In Perpetuam Memoriam
These two guns
of eighteen
pounds caliber
were heroically
used in repelling
the attack on
Stonington
of the English
Naval vessels
Ramilles 74 Guns
Pactolus 44
Nimrod 20
and the
bomb ship Terror
Aug. 10, 1814

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. A significant historical date for this entry is August 10, 1814.

Location. 41° 19.887′ N, 71° 54.376′ W. Memorial is in Stonington in Southeastern Region, Connecticut. It is at the intersection of Water Street and Cannon Square, on the right when traveling south on Water Street. Located in Cannon Square Park. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Stonington CT 06378, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is on the Connecticut Shoreline,

in Greater New London, in Mystic and the Eastern Shore,

and in the Thames River Valley.

It is also

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New London County

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Thomas Howe House (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Railroad Operated in Connecticut (approx. ¼ mile away); Dr. Silas Holmes House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Battle of Stonington Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Stonington Land Battery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Stonington Community Garden (approx. 0.6 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stonington.

Regarding The Defenders of the Fort. During the War of 1812, between August 9 and 12, 1814, four British vessels, HMS Ramillies, HMS Pactolus, HMS Dispatch, and HMS Terror, under the command of Sir Thomas Hardy, appeared off Stonington harbor. The British demanded immediate surrender, but Stonington's

Photographed by Michael Herrick, August 27, 2013

2. The Defenders Of The Fort Monument

( north face )

citizens replied with a note that stated, "We shall defend the place to the last extremity; should it be destroyed, we shall perish in its ruins." The women and children fled inland, but the men stayed to defend their town.
For three days the Royal Navy pounded the town, but the only fatality was that of an elderly woman who was mortally ill. While many fires were started by shells and rockets, they were quickly put out and no buildings were destroyed. The townsmen located a supply of powder and shot, and using two cannons left from the Revolutionary War, fired back at the British ships. The British, after suffering significant damage with many dead and wounded, sailed off on 12 August.

Also see . . . The Defence of Stonington, by J. Hammond Trumbull, 1864 at Project Gutenberg. (Submitted on September 5, 2013, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

The Cannons From 1814 Face The Harbor image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, August 27, 2013

3. The Cannons From 1814 Face The Harbor

The Cannons From 1814 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, August 27, 2013

4. The Cannons From 1814

Photographed by Michael Herrick, August 27, 2013

5. The Defenders Of The Fort Monument

The Defenders Of The Fort Marker (South Face) image. Click for full size.

September 15, 2018

6. The Defenders Of The Fort Marker (South Face)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2013, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 1,232 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 5, 2013, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 6. submitted on September 27, 2018.