213. When the Continental Army Camped in Connecticut

Jul 15, 2025

Ellery Leary, the official park historian of Putnam Memorial State Park and a member of its Friends and Neighbors, discusses the often-overlooked Redding Encampment of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. They explore the brutal winter conditions faced by soldiers and the diverse contributions of women, Native Americans, and people of color. Ellery also highlights innovative projects that preserve these stories, including a National Park Service grant and a QR code app designed for the sight-impaired, making history accessible to all.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Rarity of Redding Encampment Site

Winter encampments were designed to be temporary, so few physical remnants remain.
The Redding encampment is rare because its above-ground chimney remains and poor soil preserved the site extensively.

INSIGHT

Women's Crucial Roles in Army

Camp followers, mostly women, were vital for army support tasks such as nursing and munitions.
Their presence was officially tolerated due to necessity despite Washington's disapproval.

INSIGHT

Diversity in Connecticut's Army

Connecticut's Continental Army was racially integrated, including indigenous and black soldiers.
Many black soldiers enlisted hoping for freedom and contributed in key roles including medicine and combat.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

The Redding Encampment, Connecticut’s first State Archaeological Preserve, is located in Putnam Memorial State Park. Understanding of the Revolutionary War has emphasized the battles, maneuvers, and war meetings; but far more time was expended during the long periods of winter encampment. The winter months were a brutal test of individual fortitude, unifying command, and local support. In the journal Joseph Plumb Martin kept at the time, he wrote, “We arrived at Redding about Christmas or a little before and prepared to build huts for our winter quarters. And now came on the time again between grass and hay, that is, the winter campaign of starving.” Compared to Valley Forge or Morristown, the archaeological evidence supports the poor conditions described by Martin. The site remains intact and is a relatively unknown archaeological gem, administered by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Our publisher Dr. Kathy Hermes chats with Ellery Leary, the official park historian of Putnam Memorial State Park and a member of the Friends & Neighbors of Putnam Memorial State Park in Redding, Connecticut. They studied history and art history, and they hold an MA in archaeology. They also served as a consultant on a National Park Service Battlefield Interpretation Grant obtained by Cris Radio to create an app with a downloadable audio tour for Putnam Park and a website that tells the stories of people of color at the Redding Encampment. We discuss the importance of Putnam Park as a historical site, the experiences of the soldiers and camp followers, and the efforts at historic preservation of the site.

Visit the websites, Dr. Kathy Hermes, et al, Forgotten Voices of the Revolutionary War: People of Color and the Redding Encampment, 1778-1779 at https://forgottenvoicesrevwar.org/ and Cris Radio, Forgotten Voices of the Revolutionary War, which offers audio recordings of narratives and documents. https://crisradio.org/voice/forgotten-voices-of-the-revolutionary-war/

For more about Abimelech Uncus, see:

www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/abimeleck-uncus

----------------------------------------------

Like Grating the Nutmeg? Want to support it? Make a donation! 100% of the funds from your donation go directly to the production and promotion of the show. Go to ctexplored.org to send your donation now.

This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Kathy Hermes and engineered by Patrick O’Sullivan at highwattagemedia.com. Follow GTN on our socials-Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky.

Join us in two weeks for our next episode of Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history. Thank you for listening!