John Reznikoff, a historic document expert, has presented Wilton Historical with an extraordinary piece of Revolutionary War correspondence between Patriot General David Wooster and General Gold Selleck Silliman.
The communication between the two leaders was so imperative that the response was dashed out on the bottom of the letter and immediately returned, likely by an aide or messenger, to the sender. “I love that document, it speaks to me” commented Reznikoff, a long-time Wilton resident, founder and president of University Archives and Trustee of Wilton Historical.
The correspondence shows urgent preparations made in anticipation of the British troops’ march on Danbury. In his letter to General Wooster, Silliman informs him of the enemy movements and requests Wooster to gather reinforcements to intercept the British attack. In Wooster’s response, he orders all commanding Continental Army officers to march their troops to Stratford to “receive further orders.” He also orders the militia in nearby towns to stand ready to march. The rare April 26, 1777 letter, possibly the last one sent by General Wooster before he was mortally wounded the next day at the Battle of Ridgefield, has been added to Wilton Historical’s Permanent Collection.
Patriots' Day is an annual event commemorating the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy, some of the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. The holiday occurs on the third Monday of April each year, and has been celebrated by Connecticut since 2018.
Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Road, Wilton CT 06897 www.wiltonhistorical.org 203-762-7257