March through Connecticut  

Latest changes: 2009-07-16 - re-organize by state / 2009-11-15: rearrange text for better flow / 2013-04-23: remove pre-march items /

The eastern Connecticut portion of the W3R^® campsite map.
NOTE: These W3R^® campsite-and-trail maps were developed
during the 2000-2005 National Park Service study of significance,
feasibility, and environmental impact.
The orientation is tilted; north is about 45-degrees left of straight up.

A Note about "Official" W3R^® Routes

===== CONNECTICUT =====  NOTE: The dates below overlap because they encompass the arrival of the first unit and the departure of the last unit. The Revolutionary Road [Connecticut Society SAR], by Hans DePold, is an extensive discussion of the multiple routes and events along the way. Rochambeau's army stopped at 47 campsites in CT as it proceeded to Yorktown VA in 1781 and back again in 1782.* Jun 19-22 -- The route passed through Sterling and the camp was in Plainfield CT.* On this westward march the camp was opposite the present-day cemetery. Jun 20-23 -- From Plainfield, the troops passed through Canterbury and Scotland and camped in Windham.* (16 miles) The camp in Windham was about a mile west of the village. A Note about "Official" W3R® Routes

The central Connecticut portion of the W3R^® campsite map

Jun 21-24 -- Passing through Columbia (then part of Lebanon)*, the troops camped in Bolton (16 miles) on the east of the church. Jun 22-28 -- Then it was on to East Hartford, (12 miles) where the troops rested for several days. The first Roman Catholic Mass in CT may have been said by a French army chaplain in East Hartford on Sunday, 24 Jun 1781.* The camp was north of Nathaniel Warren's on Silver Lane -- so named because the French opened kegs of silver coin here to pay their men. Private and public houses on Main Street entertained the officers. It is said that they had an army hospital in the second meeting house. Lauzun's detachments likely followed the dotted lines on Rochambeau's map #65. These begin at Middletown -- 25 miles west of their winter quarters in Lebanon -- and show that       #1 went north to Hartford to join Rochambeau       #2 moved parallel to the French foot soldiers and about ten miles to the south so as to screen them from possible British attacks from naval transport ships, going 50 miles southwest to Ridgefield and on to New York state       #3 went 20 miles southeast to Saybrook and then across to New Haven       #4 went 20 miles directly to New Haven where it joined #3 and went 35 miles west along the coast to Stamford. The Historic Route through CT after Hartford: Jun 25-28 -- The four French regiments encamped four successive days toward the south end of Farmington (10 miles via Rt 4), near the place where there is now a vacation home called "The Lodge." There is a tradition that Rochambeau and his officers stayed at the Elm Tree Inn. Jun 26-29 -- Some divisions encamped in that part of Southington (10 miles via Rt 10) now called Marion, on what was later named French Hill on the right of the Meridan road, going west. The officers were entertained at Barnes' Tavern, which was kept by Asa Barns (or Barnes), who gave a ball for them.

The western Connecticut portion of the W3R^® campsite map.