The Winter Encampment at Redding, CT 1778-1779

The Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution celebrates America 250! In anticipation of the July 4, 2026, 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the 13 Colonies, the DAR wishes to remind everyone of the sacrifices and heroism of everyday men and women who fought for our freedoms that we enjoy today.

Two hundred and forty-five years ago General Israel Putnam’s Division of the Continental Army encamped at Redding, Connecticut. Over 3000 troops endured the winter of 1778-1779 in huts and cabins with minimal provisions.

We’ve all heard of Valley Forge in the Winter of 1777-78. How many have heard of winter encampments in the Winter of 1778-79? Redding was chosen by General Washington as one of the Winter encampments because of its strategic location to New York City, the Connecticut sea coast, and to the rebuilt supply depot at Danbury, CT.

Putnam Memorial State Park in Redding is the oldest public park in Connecticut. The site commemorates the Revolutionary War encampment in the winter of 1778-1779. General Israel Putnam’s three Brigades encamped at Redding. In the first weeks of December 1778 three Brigades arrived to spend the winter months: General Enoch Poor’s Brigade on the eastern part of Redding, General Samuel Holden Parsons' Brigade in the center of the town, and on the western part of town was General Jedidiah Huntington’s Brigade.

The Revolutionary War Pension record (S14410) of Pvt James Sanford of Redding provides some details about the encampment. His father’s house was just 3 miles from General Poor’s Brigade.

At the age of 17 James Sanford enlisted, with his team, to bring provisions from Danbury to General Poor’s Brigade. A friend of James Sanford, John Hull of Redding, brought provisions from Danbury for General Parsons' Brigade.

John Hull said he and James “were frequently at Danbury after provisions … during the whole winter & spring and used to frequently return to the Brigades together….” James Sanford’s brother, John, deposed that “… the Commissary department was at Danbury… where each Brigade received their provisions and was carried to the Army by teamsters enlisted into service for that purpose….”

In April of 1779, when Poor’s Brigade was ordered to Fishkill, James Sanford went with them. He said they went to “New York at the Fishkills on the North River & pitched their tents at what was called Soldier’s Fortune a place about four miles South of Fishkill landing”. He volunteered and “went with my team … under the command of Capt. Simson who was then a conductor or superintendent of the teams or baggage waggons until the 5th of June 1779 when my time of service expired & was discharged….”

For more information on the Winter encampment visit https://www.putnampark.org/1778-79-encampment/

The DAR is a non-profit women's service organization dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. Any woman over 18 who can prove lineal descent to an ancestor who served in the American Revolution is a prospective member. For more information on the DAR visit http://sarahriggshumphreysdar.org/

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution asks everyone to celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States of America and the Patriots that achieved American Independence. For more information visit https://honoringourpatriots.dar.org/