Nathaniel Saltonstall was in command of the "old fort" (better known as Fort Trumbull) at New London, Connecticut at the start of the war,[4] and subsequently served as a naval commander in service of Nathaniel Shaw of New London.

[1] Saltonstall served as first lieutenant on the first voyage of the 24-gun ship General Putnam; he was commissioned as captain for the second voyage of the Putnam: You are to go on board our ship Putnam armed and fitted in a warlike manner for a cruise against the enemies of the Independent States of America as per your commission and instructions from the President of Congress and whose instructions you are to strictly obey.

Later in the war, Captain Saltonstall led volunteer soldiers during the Battle of Groton Heights.

[6] Later in life, Nathaniel Saltonstall moved to Marietta, Ohio, where he died on August 1, 1807.

[6] He is buried at Mound Cemetery in Marietta,[7] along with Commodore Abraham Whipple of the Continental Navy and many other American Revolutionary War soldiers and pioneers.