Dedicated in the year of the country’s 200th birthday, the revolutionary monument stands on the Lisbon Town Hall Green as a testimony to all those who served in the War of Independence.

The placement of the tribute could not have been more appropriate. The same spot along with the church green to the south comprised what amounted to the nexus of life for the Newent society inhabitants or "farmers in ye crotch of ye rivers" as Lisbon was known before its establishment as a township in 1786.

It was called simply "the common" and served as a training ground for the Newent militia who would soon be joining the eighth regiment in Norwich in a concerted effort to repel the British.

Before the fighting began in earnest, however, several false alarms were endured.

In the brief narrative delivered at the monument’s dedication, the late Dorothy Fitch told of one such event.

"In the fall preceding that fateful April of 1775 rumors were continually flying that trouble was breaking out around Boston. On September 3, 1774 a tired horseback rider rode into Norwich bearing the news from Colonel Israel Putnam that Boston had been attacked the night before and six citizens killed. Although this was just another rumor, the citizens of Norwich assembled and dispatched a rider to Providence to learn the truth of the report. Meanwhile, the citizens were busy all night equipping themselves with muskets and supplies, she said.

"On the next morning were fine 464 men, well equipped, and mounted on good horses starting for Boston. They got as far as Captain Burnham’s Inn at 11 o’clock when the rider who had been sent to Providence, met them and reported that the message was not true."

It would not be long before the war was really began. And when it did, Newent’s sons were there. Enlisted men either used their own muskets or were given ones by the colony. The standard weapon included attached a bayonet of 14 inches in length and had to be equipped with iron ramrods and springs to secure them. The guns were mounted with brass and initialed by the gun’s maker.

Another point of interest: besides the usual rations of beef, bread flour, butter and the like, soldiers were given exactly three pints of beer per day. At the time according to author F. M. Caulkins, alcohol was viewed quite differently.

"Spirituous liquors were then regarded as absolutely necessary to the highest physical efficiency of soldiers and laboring men," she wrote in her History of Norwich.

As to particulars about the records of the 29 men from Newent who were enrolled in the colonial army, precious little is known beyond whether they died in the line of duty. In her research, Fitch came across this statement, however; "Lisbon is distinguished for her patriotism. Enrolled upon her records are some quite eminent officers and soldiers during the Revolution."

Thirteen men reportedly died, according to Norwich records. Nineteen Lisbon men served as seamen in the war, including Benedict Arnold’s brother, Captain Olive Arnold.

Of the men who served more is known of Dr. Luther Manning and John Kinsman that most of the others. An original member of the New London County Medical Association, Manning was an assistant surgeon in the Revolutionary Army station in New London when it was burned down in September 1781.

Kinsman, an ensign in the militia, was taken prisoner and confined in a prison ship where "his sufferings were very great and he was nearly starved," in Fitch’s words. After being discharged Kinsmen returned to Lisbon and began a hatting business that supplied the army.