The Battle of Ridgefield, which occurred on April 27, 1777, is not considered to be a major battle of the Revolutionary War by normally accepted standards.
There were relatively few casualties on either side. It involved
neither large armies nor the two commanders-in-chief.
It had no major strategic objective and did not re-sult
in a decisive defeat for either side. At first glance it
would appear to be one of many little skirmishes in a
larger war that would take six and a half years in which
to decide a winner.
Significant
Ridgefield, however, is a significant battle for three reasons.
First, it revealed to Washington that isolated and unsupported American supply depots, such as Danbury, were vulnerable to enemy attack. In fact, when supplies were stored at Danbury after Tryon’s raid, Washington posted a sizable force nearby under General Israel Putnam. He did not fail to provide proper support the second time.
Second, it made an important and lasting impression on the British that even in an isolated area like Danbury, the Americans could, and often did, offer a military response to a British attack that was effective and decisive. In other words, the Americans were not afraid to fight British regulars in the backcountry where there were no British ships to afford protection. One commentator has concluded that “while the British raided the coast of Connecticut and other northern maritime states throughout the war, they never attempted to penetrate inland again, but contented themselves with the destruction of coastal facilities.”
Finally, and most importantly, the Battle of Ridgefield helped to reinforce the up and down reputation and career of then Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. By any reasonable measure, Arnold was the most effective fighting General on the American side. A fact that was, at the time, recognized more clearly by the British than by many of Arnold’s contemporaries--both military and civilian.
Because the Continental Congress in its promotions to Major General slighted him in February of 1777, he was contemplating resigning from the army, and had so intimated to Washington, prior to the Battle of Ridgefield. Arnold’s actions at Ridgefield were so outstanding that the Congress was pressured to promote him to Major General, although they did not give him back his seniority.
Ridgefield is significant because it delayed Arnold’s resignation until Burgoyne had begun his thrust from Canada. Arnold did submit his resignation to the Continental Congress on July 10. At Washington’s request, Congress responded on July 12th by ordering Arnold to report to Washington to assist in the defense of the Burgoyne invasion. Arnold reluctantly agreed and offered his services to Washington. It was largely due to Arnold that the Burgoyne advance was stopped at the Battles of Saratoga. Without Ridgefield, it is doubtful that Arnold would have been available to participate in that battle.
More Battle of Ridgefield
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© Copyright 2001 by David W. Tschanz.
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