Archaeologists Dig Into Ridgefield’s Revolutionary Past With Battle Site Discoveries Across Town

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Archaeologists working under the direction of the Ridgefield Historical Society are unearthing long-buried stories of Connecticut’s Revolutionary War history, right beneath the sidewalks, lawns, and storefronts of Ridgefield’s Main Street. With the help of a federal grant from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program, a team led by battlefield archaeology specialists Heritage Consultants has launched a second phase of an initiative aimed at mapping and understanding key moments in the 1777 Battle of Ridgefield.

The latest finds—made using a combination of metal detectors, ground penetrating radar, historical records, and shovel test pits—have already confirmed the precise location of what’s known as the Second Engagement of the battle. It was there that Patriot General David Wooster was mortally wounded as he led colonial forces in a series of attacks against retreating British troops.

"This is a battle that happened not out in some field or hill away from town, but right through the center of town," said James Segelstein, chairman of the Battle of Ridgefield Advisory Committee. "Some of the artifacts we're finding are just feet away from where pedestrians and cars are going by on Main Street."

See Also: Man The Barricades! Actors To Reenact The Battle Of Ridgefield

The Battle of Ridgefield took place on April 27, 1777, as part of a British expedition under General William Tryon to destroy Patriot military supplies in Danbury. After burning the town, British forces headed south toward Long Island Sound, only to be met with resistance from Connecticut militia and Continental Army soldiers in Ridgefield. Despite being outnumbered, Patriot fighters attempted to slow the British at several points, including a makeshift barricade on the north end of Main Street.

Segelstein said the ongoing archaeological work is designed to answer lingering questions about the flow of the battle and the locations of lesser-known skirmishes. “There’s always been uncertainty about the post-barricade fighting,” Segelstein told Patch. “Did the Patriots offer any organized resistance once the British broke through? Where exactly was General Wooster’s first and second attack? Where did the British stop for lunch before the action even began?”

One of the most intriguing aspects of the project involves an effort to locate the British encampment established south of Main Street the night after the fighting. Archaeologists believe they know where it was but are still working to obtain property access for further investigation.

Because the battle played out across what are now private yards, roads, and buildings, homeowner cooperation has been key to the project’s progress, if not a speed bump. A large part of the project has been "just knocking on doors," Segelstein said.

Residents can give the Ridgefield Historical Society crews permission for non-invasive surveys on their properties by printing and filling out this form and returning it to RHS.

Dr. David Leslie, Principal Investigator for Heritage Consultants, emphasized the challenges of surveying in a suburban environment. "It’s not Gettysburg," he said. "This battle took place in a living, working town."

Despite the hurdles, recent progress encourages the team. "We might not have found as much as some of us hoped for," Leslie said, "but we found a lot of evidence."

Among the goals of the project is to determine what happened to the roughly 300 men under Wooster’s command after he was wounded. “It’s a mystery,” Segelstein noted. “They scattered, and no one really knows where they went or whether they reengaged. We’re trying to piece together that part of the story.”

The renewed interest in Ridgefield’s Revolutionary War history was sparked in part by a grisly discovery in 2019: human remains found in the basement of a Main Street home. The remains are believed to be from individuals involved in the battle, but ongoing forensic analysis at four universities—including Quinnipiac and Yale—has yet to determine whether they were British, American, or even civilian.

Related: Field Work Is Complete; Scientific Studies Of Ridgefield Skeletons Underway

The project also includes public education efforts. The Ridgefield Historical Society has hosted lectures on the battle and the role of Loyalists in Ridgefield — where neighbor loyalties were sharply at odds.

“People tend to forget that there were real divisions here,” said Segelstein. “These weren’t just Patriots fighting redcoats. Some residents were loyal to the Crown, and their stories are just as compelling.”

All artifacts uncovered will be preserved in the Ridgefield Historical Society’s climate-controlled vault at the Scott House and may become part of future exhibits and educational programming.

As Ridgefield approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Segelstein believes the timing couldn’t be more powerful. “It’s not just history. It’s our town’s history. And it’s all coming back to life—right under our feet.”