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way off topic, but I just finished reading the (older) book "Voices of 1776" by Richard Wheeler. Its mainly reprinting letters and news articles from the time of the war with a few paragraphs here and their to fill in the details and chronology. Very good book and gave me a better idea of what was going on compared to my elementary school education.

A report from American Colonel Samuel Webb, July 11, 1779 discusses some recent British attacks in Connecticut:

"On Tuesday ..they went over to East Haven and burnt all the buildings next the shore..." the British then went to Fairfield and "sent a flag to the inhabitants" that if they swear their allegiance to the King they would be spared. They said no. "The British went immediately to plundering, and at seven o'clock set fire to the town, which now remains a heap of rubbish. This village was large and as beautiful as any in this state..."

"...A child of three years old was taken from the arms of its mother and thrown into the flames, and the mother, to stop her shrieks, knocked down with a musket. A man who was an old countryman, was rolled in a sheet, bound fast, soaked with rum and set fire to....this...excursion.. has been marked with more savage cruelty than before known."

I believe that some Americans returned the favor in a latter battle, but that another battle ended with "honor" after the Americans had promised to kill all the Brits in the fort. Instead the Americans after taking the fort gave the Brits "quarter". Often after a battle the opposing commanders had dinner together after the "laying down of arms". In general it was a much more "gentlemanly" war than what I think of war as being. Citizens taking picnics on the hills so they could watch the battle. Not wanting to shoot at a British officer's funeral (even though all the other officers were present, etc.).