COL. THOMAS KNOWLTON of Ashford, CT - True hero and Patriot of the American Revolution

COL. Thomas Knowlton Statue - Hartford, CT
A fine bold statue of COL. THOMAS KNOWLTON stands near the southeast corner of the majestic Connecticut State Capitol Building which in my humble opinion, is one of the most beautiful and awe inspiring State houses in the Country. Who was Thomas Knowlton? The inscription on the statue states that as a young boy he fought in the French and Indian Wars and then was in "immediate command" of Connecticut troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The 200 men he led in that battle were mostly farmers who were armed with shotguns who had had enough of the heavy handed treatment and outrages of the British Crown. It also states that his commands were close to the person of George Washington and that he was killed during the battle of Harlem Heights on Manhattan Island - September 16th, 1776. COL. Knowlton was 36 years old at the time of his death. I did a little bit more digging on Knowltons background and discovered that he is considered by many the father of military intelligence and was one of the first of America's "Special Operators". He raised a unit of special troops who were known as "Knowlton's Rangers". One of his men, SGT David Thorpe, described his leader in this way "He did not say Go boys.......but Come boys, and we were always ready and willing to follow him". The book "Special Operations in the American Revolution" by Robert L. Tonsetic was the source of the above quote and is worth a read if you are interested in such things.  I am always amazed when I learn of the bravery, selfless service and sacrifice of our founding fathers and the patriots who won our independence from the British Empire. COL Knowlton truly was a patriot who gave all so that people in the colonies could be free from oppression.            JD Jessop

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