On April 25, 1777, Major General William Tryon led 2,000 British and Loyalist troops ashore at Compo Beach in pursuit of destroying the Continental Army stores in Danbury. Connecticut militia under Generals David Wooster, Gold S. Silliman, and Benedict Arnold fought valiantly against these troops, with many losing their lives in order to protect what they built.
Westport’s Minute Man statue marks the site of local fighting. Sculpted by Westport artist H. Daniel Webster and unveiled on June 17, 1910, it stands at Compo Road South and Compo Beach Road. The statue stands here as this area is traditionally cited for the raid’s fiercest skirmish and commemorates the town militia who rallied against Tryon’s force. Webster modeled the figure in Westport and today it remains a signature town landmark.
