Lecture: War on Long Island Sound During the Revolution

With the Connecticut and Long Island coasts less than 10 miles apart in many sections of the Sound, raiders crossed every fair night either to smuggle and/or steal goods; and kidnap or kill enemies. Spies, on both sides, rounded out this dangerous cast of characters.

The economic blockade between British occupied Long Island and Patriot led Connecticut was the foundation of this violent conflict. But bitterness and desire for vengeance was fueled by the fighters’ familiarity with one another. Families and communities were ripped apart as Patriots in Connecticut expelled Loyalists and Loyalists on Long Island banished Patriots. Many Connecticut Loyalists ended up on Long Island and many Long Island Patriots became refuges in Connecticut. Rabble-rousers on both coasts knew exactly where their enemies lived and it is not surprising that they started to violently attack each other.     

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