BRIGADIER GENERAL BENEDICT ARNOLD TO GENERAL HENRY CLINTON

Sound. - off Plumbisland. 8th Sep: 81.

Sir -

     I have the honor to inform your Excellency, that the transports with the
detachments of troops under my orders, anchored on the Long Island shore on the
5th Inst at 2 oClock P.M., about 10 leagues from New London, and having made
some necessary arrangements, weighed anchor at 7 o'Clock. P.M. and Stood for
New London witha fair wind. At 1 o'Clock the next Morning we arrived off the
Harbour, when the wind suddenly shifted to the Northward, and it was 9 o'Clock
before the transports could beat in. At 10 o'Clock the troops on two divisions,
and in four debarkation were landed; one on each side the harbor about
3 miles from New London.  That on the Groton side, consisting of the 40th and
54th Regiments, and the New Jersey Volunteers, with a Detachment of Jagers and
Artillery, was under the Command of Lieut Colonel Eyre. The Division on the
New London side, consisted of the 38th Regiment, the Loyal Americans, The
American Legion, Refugees and a Detachment of 60 Jagers; who were immediately
put in motion on their landing, and at 11 oClock being within half a mile of
Fort Trumbull, which Commands New London harbor, I detached Captain Millet
with 4 companies of the 38th Regiment to attack the Fort, who was joined on his
march by Capt Frink with one Company of the American Legion.  At the same time
I advanced with the rest of the division West of Fort Trumbull, on the road to
the town, to attack a Redoubt which had kept up a brisk fire upon us for some
time, but which the Enemy evacuated on our approach.  In this work we found 6
pieces of cannon mounted and 2 dismounted.  Soon after I had the pleasure to
see Capt Millet march into Fort Trumbull under a Shower of Grape shot, from a 
number of Cannon, which the [PAGE 623} Enemy had turned upon him; and I have
the pleasure to inform your Excellency, that by the sudden attack and determined
bravery of the troops the Fort was carried with the loss of only 4 or 5 men
killed and wounded.  Captain Millet had orders to leave one Company in Fort
Trumbull to detach one to the Fort we had taken, and to join me with the other
two Companies.  No time was lost on my part in gaining the town of New London
We were opposed by a small body of the Enemy with one field piece, who were so
hard pressed that they were obliged to leave the piece, which being Iron, was
spiked and left. 

     As soon as the Enemy were alarmed in the Morning, we could perceive they
were busily employed in bending sails, and endeavoring to get their Privateers
and other ships up Norwich River, out of our reach, but the wind being small,
and the tide against them, they were obliged to anchor again.

     From information I recieved before and after my landing, I had reason to
believe Fort Griswold, on the Groton side was very incomplete; and I was assured
(by friends to Goverment) after my landing that there were only 20, or 30 men
inside the Fort, the Inhabitants in general being on board their ships and busy in
saving their property.  On taking possession of Fort Trumbull, I found the
Enemy's ships would escape unless we could possess ourselves of Fort Griswold:
I therefore dispatched an Officer to Lieut Colo Eyre with the intelligence I 
had received, & requested him to make an attack on the Fort as soon as possible;
at which time I expected the Howitzer was up and would be made use of.  On my
gaining a height of ground in the rear of New London, from which I had a good
prospect of Fort Griswold, I found it much more formidable than I expected, or

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