Two against many Cannon Square is a small park in the middle of the small and very historical borough of Stonington, Ct. A small place with a long nautical history that was also the location of a famous battle in 1814 that had four large and powerful British gunships armed with a huge number of powerful guns against only two eighteen pound cannon of the Americans. The battle started wih Sir Thomas Hardy of the British demanding the immediately surrender of the town. The defiant Americans were not intimidated and replied to Sir Hardy this now famous quote, «We shall defend the place to the last extremity, should it be destroyed, we shall perish in it’s ruins.» Apparently Sir Thomas thought this was going to be a quick and easy victory and was shocked by the brash and recalcitrant civilians. As he unloaded with all the might of his four gunships the Americans responded with their two cannon. The battle and shelling raged back and forth from Aug 9 to Aug 12 with over 50 tons of shell expended by the British. Some of the shells hit the town but the fires were quickly extinguish by the people, but many other shells landed in the swamps. At one point the Brits even tried landing but were repelled by a hail of gunfire from the crack Americans gunners. Finally after taking damage to his ships and casualties to his men from the two American cannon Sir Hardy thought better of the invasion and turned his tail and fled the area. A bitter and humiliating defeat by a group of common folks that just wouldn’t give up their town. Fortunately the two cannon were saved and placed in a small square in the center of the borough. Throughout the town people still proudly display cannon balls and shot, some taken from their own houses, on pedestals on the streets. The two cannon were recently restored and now shine like new. The people in town even put Xmas light on them and hold various celebrations in their honor. The American poet, Philip Freneau, wrote a great poem about the battle. Some rather humorous prose making fun at the British and their crappy shooting.
Of course one account of the battle tries to glorify Hardy’s defeat by saying that he intentionally missed with most of his fire because he didn’t want to hurt the Innocent civilians. As with most history who knows what the real truth is. But the two guns that still stand defiantly in the square shows that on occasion, a few common people can stand against many, and that fortitude and bravery is more important than just power and might.
