| Connecticut earned the sobriquet, "The Provisions State," for being the principle source of food, clothing and munitions for Washington's Army. In addition to providing material support for the war effort, Connecticut contributed a substantial number of soldiers to fight for independence. Many of today's Connecticut Army National Guard units proudly display the red and white campaign streamers from this conflict on their current organizational colors. The colony had its mettle tested when enemy troops invaded. When General William Tryon marched on Danbury, Connecticut native Benedict Arnold led a small but determined force to drive him out. Four years later, a disgruntled Arnold was leading British and Loyalist troops in an attack on New London. Between these campaigns, Connecticut hosted General Israel Putnam's division as it wintered over in the hills around Redding, and that summer, New Haven, Fairfield and Norwalk were raided by the British.;While Connecticut was not the scene of a great or strategic battle during the war, it did not escape the attention of the British. The actions in and around the state played important roles in the overall strategies of both sides. |
