Slightly Odd Road Trips - 4th of July Edition: Fort Griswold, CT
The musket fire echoes at dusk, and your compass spins. Park staff says it’s magnetic rock. Ghost hunters say it’s Arnold’s men still marching.
Ditch Mystic for 15 minutes. Groton has a Revolutionary War fort on the Thames River that’s been called “Connecticut’s most haunted battlefield,” according to Thames River Heritage Park and 240 years of local stories.
Documented History & Architecture
Fort Griswold was built between 1775 and 1778 to protect New London Harbor. On September 6, 1781, British forces under the command of Benedict Arnold attacked. After the Americans surrendered, 88 of 165 defenders were killed, and many were reportedly massacred after laying down arms. It’s considered to be one of the worst American battlefield atrocities of the Revolutionary War. The earthen fort, powder magazine, and shot furnace are still intact. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
The Legends: Documented as Reported
Legend #1: The Massacre Echoes
This is why Thames River Heritage Park runs “Revolutionary War Ghosts” water taxi tours. Guides and visitors report cannon fire with no reenactors present, musket volleys at night, and screams near the southwest bastion where Colonel William Ledyard was killed with his own sword after surrendering.
Legend #2: Benedict Arnold’s Route
The tour follows the path of Arnold’s Red Coats from the river landing. Reported phenomena include cold spots on warm days, shadow figures on the ramparts, and footsteps in the powder magazine. Names called out by guides include Nathan Hale, Stephen Hempstead, Lucretia Shaw, and Arnold himself.
Legend #3: The Groton Monument Shadow
The 135-ft granite obelisk honors the defenders. Visitors report seeing a full-body shadow moving across the fort grounds at sunset with no person casting it. Batteries drain near the monument. Photos taken at dusk show orbs and mist.
What the records say: The massacre is documented history. British and American accounts confirm the surrender and subsequent killings. The hauntings are an oral tradition that supports tourism. The “Revolutionary War Ghosts” tour runs annually around the Sept 6th the massacre anniversary.
Fort Griswold Tour Info:
📍 Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, 33 Fort St, Groton, CT 06340
🕐 Open: 8 AM - Sunset daily, year-round | Monument/museum 9 AM - 5 PM Memorial Day-Labor Day
💵 Admission: Free | Water taxi ghost tours around $25 Sept 6 - thamesriverheritagepark.org
📞 860-445-1729 | portal.ct.gov/DEEP
🅿 Free on-site parking | Picnic area with river views
⚠️ Note: The fort is open ground with steep drops. The museum is closed in the off-season. Bring flashlights if you visit near sunset.
It’s perfect for Revolutionary War buffs, paranormal investigators, and anyone Googling “most haunted battlefield Connecticut,” “Benedict Arnold ghost,” or “4th of July haunted places New England.”
⚠️ Warning: This is hallowed ground. 88 men died here. That means no metal detecting, no digging, and no climbing on earthworks. Climb the monument steps at your own risk. There are 166 steps and no elevator. Remember that real blood was spilled on the southwest bastion.
👻 Did Arnold’s men march past you? Did your compass fail at the monument? Drop your Fort Griswold story below and tag the friend who needs to take the water taxi tour on the massacre anniversary.
Slightly Odd Society
A very special thank you to the Slightly Odd Society Members on Patreon and Substack!
Ruth Dempsey
SpookyTooth
Mike Faria
JP
Corey
About the Author
Ed Sweeney documents folklore, odd history, hauntings, and cryptid cases at SlightlyOddAmerica.com. He wrote Slightly Odd Fitchburg: The Odd and Haunted History of Central Massachusetts, is a content creator, and founder of the Slightly Odd Society
Follow: Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
Support: Buy Me A Coffee | Merch
Comments
Post a Comment