We King's Rangers were invited by the 2nd Coy. Governor's Footguard (CT) to attend a celebration July 19, 2001, to honor a "gallant and compassionate officer": Adj. William Campbell, a British soldier during the War of Independence. We were represented by Capt. Asariah Pritchard (Mike Fitzgerald), Sgt. Paul Stevens, and Pvts. Dave Shaw, Dave Granton, and myself. Americans honoring a British soldier is highly unusual, as you can image. Here is the story from 1779 as well as a description of our participation.

Many thanks to Dallas McCord of the 2nd CT Coy. Governor's Foot (who organized this event) for doing the research on Adj. Campbell and providing this background material.

William Campbell served as Adjutant, British Detachment of Guards, and as such was a participant in the invasion of New Haven on July 5, 1779. In the early hours, forty-eight British ships, including men-of-war, tenders and transports under Sir George Collier, dropped anchor off the eastern and western shores. The fleet carried 3,000 infantrymen under Major Gen. Tryon, with 1,500 of those soldiers landing at Old Field Shore (Savin Rock, West Haven) under Brigadier General Garth. They were elements of the 54th regiment of foot, the Welch fusiliers, a detachment of Jaegers (Hessians) and a combined brigade of Guards (Grenadier, Coldstream and Scots), the cream of the invasion force.

Garth's troops formed a line of march in three columns through the small village, moving up what is now Campbell Avenue with flanking parties on the present Savin Avenue and Washington Street, often plundering and looting as they proceeded. Two Tories, William and Thomas Chandler, sons of prominent New Haven attorney Thomas Chandler, acted as scouts and guides for the invaders. The invasion force first encountered patriot resistance on Savin Avenue., near present day Leete Street. They were fired upon by a contingent of the 2nd Co. Governor's Footguard under Cpt. James Hillhouse. When the British forces reached West Haven Green, they halted for rest and refreshment. The Reverend Mr. Williston of the local parish gathered the church papers, the town records (including the names of local patriots and supporters) and attempted to flee the British troops by running into the woods. He jumped over a wall or stone fence but fell and broke his leg. He was about to be bayonetted by two Hessians when Adj. William Campbell intervened. Saying, "we make war on soldiers, not civilians", he sent the Hessians back to their unit and ordered his regimental surgeon to set the minister's broken leg. He was carried to the parsonage and treated with great humanity. From that time, until the time of his death in 1811, Rev. Williston celebrated the anniversary of this event, ever teaching the precept of "Blessed are the Merciful."

Campbell crossed the Green to a private home where he saw British troopers looting property and destroying the house. He had them arrested. The lady of the house served him breakfast. After halting for two hours, the invasion force resumed it's march north.

A few hours after the Williston incident, the invading force continued to march northward towards New Haven. Local militiamen created some distraction by sporadic skirmishing, but they were no match for the well-trained and better-prepared enemy. The British were organised in three sections, ten companies each, the commanding officer in the middle and flanking parties extending out "50 rods on either side". The next contact between the patriots and the advance guard took place at Allingtown. Cpt. Hillhouse commanding the 2nd Co. Governor's Footguard along with volunteers and some Yale students, chased the enemy back to their main body. When the British brought up reinforcements, the patriots crossed west bridge and fired again on the advancing British troops. Being sufficiently outnumbered the defenders blew the west bridge preventing the enemy from entering New Haven by that route. Cpt. Hillhouse did leave a force of sharpshooters on the west side of the bridge to further harass the King's troops. one of these snipers was Reverend Naphtali Daggett, the aged President Emeritus of Yale college. He had ridden an old black mare to the battle and was shooting an antique fowling piece at the Redcoats. An English officer led a squad of men to remove the 72yr old Reverend. "What are you doing there, you damned old rebel, firing on his Majesty's troops?" "Exercising the rights of war", said Daggett. "If we should let you go, would you continue this sort of thing?" "Nothing more likely", snapped Daggett. They gave the old gentleman a beating and marched him barefooted along with them.

Another of the sharpshooters was named Johnson. He was wounded. Adj. Campbell went to see if he could help the man. Johnson, mistaking Campbell's action as an attack, shot Campbell in the chest. Both men were removed from the field, Johnson back to the patriot lines and Campbell to a nearby house. The British troops, repulsed by the West Haven defenders, continued up Forest Road and entered New Haven from Westville. That evening with the invaders in possession of the town of New Haven, Johnson went back to his own home in Allingtown. There he found his wife tending a dying British officer: Adjutant William Campbell.

Campbell died the evening of July 5, 1779. As he was dying, he won the hearts of that family, just as he had the appreciation of the townspeople for his earlier act of mercy.

A grave was dug across the road in a hollow by the edge of the woods, in property owned by Mary E. Alling, and the body was laid to rest there. An adjacent strip of land was given by John Prudden. A simple stone marked his grave. In October, 1831, historian John W. Barber erected a permanent stone, which was removed by vandals forty-one years later.

A more enduring monument was erected July 4, 1891 by the New Haven Colony Historical Society during a most impressive ceremony. Planning and preparation for that event involved much correspondence concerning Campbell's personal and military history which attracted the interest of Queen Victoria, and we believe, the support of Robert Todd Lincoln, American representative to the British government.

The deed to the 75'x235' property was presented to the West Haven Historical Society at the time of America's Bicentennial Celebration. During the ceremonies in West Haven, a contingent of American and British delegates placed a stone near the site at the church where Campbell saved Williston's life.

On August 19, 2001, we King's Rangers were in West Haven representing the Crown Forces as the city of West Haven remembered Adjutant William Campbell by dedicating a small park around the stone and a rededication of the gravesite in his honor. Except for three others, we were the only members of the British forces. The entire event consisted of a parade about .5 miles from Savin Rock up Campbell Avenue to the church where Williston was saved, a small reenactment of that incident, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the stone memorial. The King's Rangers fired a volley in salute. That ceremony was followed by a half-hour refreshment break, for which we were invited to a local bar being used as temporary Headquarters for the 2nd Coy. Governor's Foodguards. After the break, the parade continued on Campbell Avenue about two miles to the gravesite monument, and the rededication of that site. In the parade, besides, us were the 2nd Co. Governor's Foot Guard and Field Music (CT), the First Regiment of Foot (CT), various dignitaries including the Mayor of West Haven and the Deputy British Consul. One of the speakers at the ceremony noted how very rare it is for people to honor one of their enemies. At the end of the ceremony, the King's Rangers fired three perfect company volleys in honor of Adj. Campbell.

And then we private soldiers had sandwiches and beer under a tent while Mike and Paul went indoors for finger food and pink wine with the dignitaries.

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