A Night Visitor

First lasting snow arrived on Veterans Day November 11, 2019, and

next day we wondered what was making those footprints in the snow

So, our night-vision Wildlife camera was put out...

seems we have our own Pepé Le Pew.

Back and sides almost solid white, a sub-species

not native to Central New York State.

This old fellow sports no small backside white strip.   

More Information On The Connecticut Line Revolutionary War Hero Captain Amos Stanton

New Image Of The Revolutionary War Connecticut Line Hero Captain Amos Stanton's Gravesite. Photo by DJ Paul dated 20 Sep 2019 (not copyrighted) depicts his badly damaged monument.

As a volunteer Revolutionary War Connecticut Line Soldier, Captain Amos Stanton answered a September 6, 1781 alarm issued by local militia commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel William Ledyard, the military commander at Fort Griswold, Groton, Connecticut. Captain Stanton was released from line officer active duty during General Washington's 1780 military reorganization and was then home spending time at his Groton “Highlands” family lands (now renamed the Town of Ledyard). A vastly superior force of 800 British Regular Soldiers, loyalists, et al. attacked the fort this fateful September day in an armed action now named The Battle of Groton Heights. Variously reported among the 165 Fort Griswold Patriot defenders, eighty-eight Patriots are Killed-In-Action (KIA) in less than an hour, thirty-five Patriots are wounded-in-action (some with ghastly wounds died later), twenty-eight Patriots were carried-off as Prisoners-Of-War (some POWs may also be listed among the wounded), thirteen men escaped the fort carnage and presumed unhurt, and William Latham - an aged 12-years boy was captured and outright released by British officers. Our heroic distant cousin Captain Amos Stanton and many other Patriots were Killed-In-Action some minutes after British Forces breached the fort walls in continued severe fighting and following the formal fort surrender by commander Lieutenant Colonel Ledyard.  From his written first-hand after-action-report, POW and Battle of Groton Heights survivor Sergeant Rufus Avery states in footnote 1 (at the bottom of page 32 in reference 1) “...Captain Stanton, a man of almost gigantic stature and herculean strength, on seeing the slaughter continued after the surrender, is said to have seized a heavy musket by the muzzle, and exclaiming, 'My God, must we die so!' sprang upon the platform on the west side of the fort, and nearly cleared it of the enemy before he was brought down by a musket shot." A rarely published fact is the British battle force engaged were not all from England or the UK as some writers may suggest. The 3^rd Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers (mainly colonial-born British loyalists) was engaged as an artillery unit, their several cannon deployed to the eastern side of Fort Griswold at Avery's Hill (see reference 3).  

Captain Amos Stanton's significant early Southeastern Connecticut ancestry is cited as follows [hereafter reported as “Amos”]:

Amos is a 2^nd Great Grandson of original Stonington, Connecticut founder Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677) and Ms. Ann Lord-Stanton. His Stanton lineage is cited: 04 - Captain John Stanton Sr. (d.1762) and Ms. Prudence Chesebrough; 03 - Joseph Stanton (d.1751) and Ms. Margaret Chesebrough; 02 – Captain John Stanton Sr. (d. 1713) and Ms. Anna “Hannah” Thompson; 01 - Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677) and Ms. Ann Lord.

And secondly--

Amos is also a 2^nd Great Grandson of the famous Mystic, Connecticut original settler Captain George Denison (d.1694) and his first love Ms. Bridget Thompson. His Denison lineage is cited: 04 - Captain John Stanton Sr. (d.1762) and Ms. Prudence Chesebrough; 03 - Joseph Stanton (d.1751) and Ms. Margaret Chesebrough; 02 – Ms. Hannah Denison (d.1715) and Mr. Nathaniel Chesebrough; 01 – Captain George Denison (d.1694) and Ms. Bridget Thompson.

References:

1. “The Battle of Groton Heights.” by William Wallace Harris (1870), revisions by Charles Allyn (1882). New London, CT. For Internet archive version of the battle see -- https://archive.org/details/grotonhieghtscoll00harrrich


2.  Brass plaque casualty list at the main entrance of Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, Groton, CT.

3. Wikipedia on New Jersey Volunteers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_Volunteers

4. Find A Grave Internet web-site - https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1322042/stanton-cemetery

Brass Plaque "Veteran - 1776" means Revolutionary War Veteran; whereas, some have incorrectly written 1776 as Amos Stanton's year of death.  The "1776" obviously refers to the official year the Revolution began.  Photo by DJ Paul dated 20 Sep 2019 (now free use).

Gallantry Remembered By Stanton Family Revolutionary Soldiers

LT Enoch Stanton and SGT Daniel Stanton Monument
Enoch and Daniel Stanton are interred at Stanton-Hull Cemetery, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut (Cemetery ID = 2199057 at FindAGrave.com) 

Many thanks to distant cousin Rick Stanton for reminding us about this important Revolutionary War Battle. Remembering the sacrifice this late August day as the 238th Anniversary approaches of The Battle of Groton Heights, fought September 6, 1781. Distant Stanton Family cousins and patriot soldiers were killed and wounded defending Fort Griswold during this bloody Revolutionary War battle between American and British troops.

Among the known eighty-five men Killed-In-Action defending Fort Griswold and Groton is Captain Amos Stanton (of Groton, New London County, CT) and the brothers Lieutenant Enoch Stanton and Sergeant Daniel Stanton (both of Stonington, New London County, CT). Also, Sergeant Daniel Stanton Jr. and Edward Stanton were wounded and carried off as POWs, they likewise hailed from Stonington, New London County, CT.  Furthermore, an unknown number of soldiers were Mortally-Wounded-In-Action and died in the days and weeks that followed.   

The opposing British Force in New London and Groton Connecticut was commanded that day by the Norwich Connecticut native, and despicable American traitor Benedict Arnold.

Please take a look at this interesting six-minute video presentation by Connecticut Tourism: Click HERE

A more complete and better-written description of the battle is available by Wikipedia.  Click HERE

Sept 10, 2019 update:  Captain Amos Stanton was interred in what appears to be a family burial yard called "Stanton Cemetery" at Ledyard Center, New London County, CT -- aka "Stanton-Williams Cemetery," et al.  Amos Stanton's son John (d.1832), a granddaughter Prudence (d.1843), and other relatives are also interred in Stanton Cemetery.  According to Ledyard Township Police Chief John J. Rich, Stanton Cemetery is found as follows "...there’s an opening/drainage easement at the end of the cul-de-sac on Captain Amos Stanton Drive.  Walk into the woods about 25 yards downhill, and as soon as the terrain flattens, the cemetery is on your right."  Stanton Cemetery has been established at Find A Grave, where a free-use image dated 2014 by a contributor "WMitch6" is uploaded.  This image is copied here showing a badly damaged monument:

A presumed DAR Plaque is inscribed:

 "Capt. Amos Stanton

 Veteran - 1776"

Note:  The source of the monument image displayed at the top of this post is presently unknown, and is inserted here for non-profit, educational use only in accordance with educational free-use copyright doctrine. No alterations are authorized to subject image. 

Why We Support President Donald Trumpand Vice President Mike Pence

Speaking at the 149th NRA Annual Meetings, April 2019, Nashville, Tenn.

"I Promise To Defend The Second Amendment Rights Of Every American, And I Always Will."  -- President Donald J. Trump

Official White House Photo

"President Trump and I are with the NRA today, tomorrow and always, because the National Rifle Association stands for freedom."  -- Vice President Michael R. Pence

Official White House Photo

GO GET 'EM!

A Respectful Remembrance

We should each visit a fallen Military Veteran this
Memorial Day... TODAY.
Remember those deceased veterans who at several times in their military life signed up to give all or made that gallant supreme sacrifice for God, County, Family, Friends, Associates, and their many unknown past, present, and future fellow Americans.

Thank you for your MILITARY SERVICE!   

Dad, Stephen Paul, Jr., U.S. Army (WWII)

Granddad, Stephen Paul, Sr., U.S. Army Coast Artillery

Great-Great Granddad William Moegling, late of the 97th Infantry Regiment New York State Volunteers, American Civil War - Battle of Second Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, et al.

Great-Great Granddad Albert G. Odell, late of the 91st Infantry Regiment of New York State Volunteers, American Civil War - Petersburg Campaign, Appomattox Campaign, et al. (note: National Cemetery staff adds American Flags a few days before Memorial Day and typically removes flags on or about Flag Day in mid-June at Bath National Cemetery, Bath, Steuben County, NY). 

5th Great Granddad Fredrick Smith, Connecticut Continental Soldier, and Navy aboard the vessel  NEW BROOM, a brig commanded by Captain I. Bishop, the Revolutionary War

6th Great Granddad Captain James Smith, Connecticut Continental Company Commander, the Revolutionary War.

7th Great Granddad Captain Gideon Brainerd, Commanding 3rd Company, 7th Regiment of Connecticut Militia, 1745.

...and so many more ancestors back through history including, but not limited to, our 7th Great Grandfather Thomas Sheldon, Mortally Wounded-In-Action, French and Indian War, Battle of Carillion - (aka: 1758 Battle of  Ticonderoga); and, one of our favored distant ancestors the famous southeast Connecticut original settler, Connecticut Legislator, and 10th Great Grandfather Captain George Denison, Cavalry Commander, Oliver Cromwell's Army, British Civil War (1644/45).

[Reference: Click here to read of the incompetent British leadership under Major General James Abercromby at the Battle of Carillion] 

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
GALLANT MILITARY SERVICE


Note:  The "I thought the country was divided" cartoon at the top of this post was found by simple Google search and copied here unaltered for non-profit educational purposes only.   

Those Green, Green GrassesNow All White Again

My New Ford F150, XLT, Sport Model

April 5, 2019, 3 PM

OBTW, Those white specs are not dust, just some more frozen rain.  By 3:30 PM, our lands are all covered white once more. 

A couple of late afternoons past, about sixteen White Tail Deer showed-up on our front lawn for their evening feed... deer sure seem to like our grasses.  This is an old story in these parts, but this year we seem to have more of these semi-welcome dinner guests. 

 Northwest View

Northeast View 

That's Not My Corn Syrup!

A Kingly Question For Sure

These recent Bud-Light Commercials are sooooooooo very funny, where a Royal attempts to deliver a large vat of wrongly delivered corn syrup to his castle to the correct light beer brewers Coors and Miller.  Seems the corn industry really has a large knot in their panties and has joined this fight. 

The high-fructose-corn-syrup industry weighed in a couple days ago, whining about those highly funny Bud Light commercials that point out Miller Lite and Coors Light use corn syrup in their Coors and Miller lighter brews.  Syrup supporters argue that most of the syrup is disappears in the brewing process where yeast eats these sugars to produce alcohol.  The corn industry even hired some wacko Ph.D. from a prestigious New England university to make a paid statement certifying this fact behind sugars to alcohol conversion. Not necessary since most of us common folks know that yeast eats sugar and pees alcohol just before they die... this the very essence of the brewing process.

Of course, all of this is true... the fundamental question... why is it necessary to put corn syrup in the beers in the first place (or any processed food for that matter)?  Does cheaper ring anybody's chime?  I don't always drink beer, but when I do -- I drink Bud Light -- and this for over thirty years. I find it great that Bud Light brewmasters use no corn syrup to enhance their nectar-of-the-hop!     

A Very Simple Fact: Bud Light brewmasters do NOT use corn syrup or hop-extract in their brewing process and Coors and Miller do.  I guess the truth really does hurt in most cases.