The Connecticut town of Groton sits on the Thames River and is home to Fort Griswold, the site of Connecticut's major battle during the Revolutionary War. The fort has been designated as one of Connecticut's state parks. The Groton Monument, over 130 feet high, memorializes the defenders of the fort who lost their lives to the British Army. The monument was constructed in 1830 and extended in height in 1881 on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Groton Heights. A plaque at the monument lists the names of the men who gave their lives in the battle.
As the capital of the state, Hartford has many monuments located around the city dedicated to the revolutionary period. A statue of Israel "Wolf" Putnam stands in Bushnell Park. Putnam gained his nickname because of the story that he killed the last wolf in Connecticut while he was still a boy. The famous saying, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" is attributed to Putnam.
A statue of the famous French hero of the American Revolution, Marquis de Lafayette stands in Lafayette Circle on Washington Street. This statue is a copy of the original that was donated to France and is on display in the Louvre. Lafayette is known for coming to the aid of the colonists during the war with the British.
A statue of Nathan Hale, the Connecticut-born hero of the Revolution who entered American history for his stirring words upon his execution by the British, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," is on display at the Wadsworth Atheneum in the downtown area. The statue of Thomas Knowlton, a hero of the American Revolution who was fatally wounded during the Battle of Harlem, sits on the grounds of the State Capitol Building. His statue was designed as a companion to the statue of Nathan Hale.
New Britain is the home of several statues commemorating the lives and contributions of two Polish heroes of the American Revolution. General Tadeusz Kosciuszko's statue is located at Kosciuszko Park. Kosciuszko was a Polish-born hero known for his engineering work in Saratoga, Charleston and Yorktown. He also built fortifications at West Point. Kosciuszko was also an adjutant to George Washington. Another Polish hero of the American Revolution was General Casimir Pulaski, known for his work in developing a cavalry legion for the colonists. This legion, known as the Pulaski Legion, played a key role in defending Charleston and capturing Savannah.
