X X^a-vxA. V\^tu^V\^-e:'^5 THE LIFE," ANECDOTES AND HEROIC EXPLOITS OP SIIAEL PUTNA MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. IcDclani: cS^' M. C. YOUNGLOVE & CO., 46 SUPERIOR ST. yi:\V YORK : H. LONG & BROTHER. BOSTON: REDDING & CO. BALTIMORE: W, TAVLOR k CO NEW ORLEANS : .T. C MORGAN, ST. LOUIS: \V. D. SKILLMAN. 1849. MEMOIRS MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. IsRAEf. Putnam, who, through a regu-S'"^' letters, though deficient in scho- lar gradation of promotion, became tlie lastic accuracy always display the sftnior Major-General in the army of the, goodness of his heart, and irequenlly United States, and nexl in rank to Gen- J the strength of his native o-eniu.s. He '•ral Washington, was born at Salem, had a certain laconic mode of expression, Massachusetts, on the 7'th day of Janua- and an unaffected epigrammatic turn, cy, 1718. His father. Captain Joseph which characterized most of his writin^rs. Putnam, was the son of Mr. John Putnam, To compensate partially for the deficien- vvho, with two brothers, came from the cy of education, thouo-h nothing can rc- south of England, and were among the moveorcounterbalancetheinconveniences first settlers of Salem. -experienced from it in public life, he de- When we thus behold a person, from rived from his parents the source of innu- the humble walks of life, starting unno- merable advantages in the stamina of a ticed in the career of fame, and, by an an- vigorous constitution. Nature, liberal in deviating progress through a life of honor, , bestowing on him bodily strength, hardi- arriving at the highest dignity in the state, ness, and activity, was by no means par- curiosity is str.:ngly excited, and philoso- simonious in mental endowments. While phy lov.;s to trace the path of glory from we leave the qualitigs os the understanding the cradle of obscurity to the summit of to be developeJ in the process of life, it elevation. may not be imp'oper, in this place, to Although our ancestors, the first set- designate some of the circumstances tiers of this land, amidst the extreme; which were calculated to distinguish him pressure of poverty and danger, early in- afterwards as a partisan officer, stituted schools for the education of youth ; Courage, enterprise, activity, and per- by a boy of twice his size and age ; after Connecticut, forty niiles east of Hartford ; bearing the sarviasms until his patience shaving here purchased a considerable tract was worn out, he challenged, engaged, ,; of land, he applied himself successfully and vanquished his unmannerly antago-^ to agriculture. ni3t. to the great diversion of a crowd of < The first years on a new farm, are not apectalors. While a^tripling, his ambi- (however exempt from disasters and disap- tion was to perforin the labor of a man, )pointments, which can only be remedied HTid to excel in athletic diversions. In that by stubborn and patient industry. Our rnde, but masculine age, whenever the farmer, sntficiently oiccupied in budding a vdlage youth assembled on their usual ho. ise and b;irn, felling woods, making occasions of festivity, pitching the l)ar, run- fences, sowing grain, planting (orchards, iiiiig, leaping, and wrestling, were favorite and taking care of his stock, had to en- .unusements. At such gymnastic exerci-; counter, in turn, the calamities o(?casion- ses, in which, during the heroic times of-ed by drought in suni'iner, blast in har- ancient Greece and Rome, conquest was vest, loss of cattle in winter, and the des- con^idered as the promise of future niilita-olation of bis sheep fold by wolves. Ir» ry fame, he bore the palm from almost one night he had seventy fine sheep anrl every ring. ; goats killed, besides many lambs and kid.-t Before the refinements of luxury, and 'wounded. This havoc was committed by the consequent increase of expenses, had| a she wolf, which, with her annual whelps, rendered the maintenance of a family in- hid for several years infested the vicinity, convenient or burdensome in America, Th ^ young were commonly destroyed by the ssxes entered into matrimony at an the vigilance of the hunters, but the old early age. Competence, attainable by all, one was too sagacious to come within the was the limit of pursuit. After the hard- reach of gun-shot : on being closely pur- ships of making a new settlement 'were sued she would generally fly to the west- OF major-g.<:neral PUTNAM. 5 frn woods, and return the next winter;'ened round his legs, by which he miunted on his hands and knees until he fruitless a'tempts, which had brouglit the discovered the glaring eye-balls of the time to ten o'clock at night, Mr. Putnam ;wo!f who was sitting at the extremity of tried once more to make his dog enter, 'the cavern. Started at th3 sight of fire, but in vain; he proposed to his negro she gnashed her teeth, and gave a sullen man to go down into the CTv^rn and shoot ,'growl. As soon as he had made the ne- the wolf: the negro declined the haz ir- ' cessary discovery, he kicked the r.ipc as a «lous service. Then it w is that the m >s-\signal for pulling him out. 'J he peop'e Kt tcr, angry at the disappointment, and de : th Mnouth of the den, who had listened daring that he was ashamed to have a 'with painful anxiety, hearing the growl- ooward in his Tunily, resolved to destroy iiigofth^ wolf and su iposing their friend the ferocious beast, lest she should escape ,to be in the most i.mminent danger, drew through so!ne unknown fissure of the rock. J; him forth with such celerity that his shlri. Jlis neighbors strongly remonstrated was stripped over his head and his skti against th:i perilous enterprize : but he,)severe!y hicerated After he had adjust- knowing thar wild animals were intimida-!ed his clothes, and lo.ideJ his gun wi'.h it^d by fire, and having provided several nne buck-shot, hold ng a torch in ont- >trips of birch bark, the only combustible hind and the muskef in the other, he de- inateria! which he cou'd obtain, that w )uld scende I the second time. When he drew cuibrd light in th s deep and darksome • nearer thin before, the wolf assuming a cive, prepared for his descent. Having, 'still more fierce and terrible a[>peiran:*c, accordingly, divested himse'fof his coatj howling, rolling her eyes, smpping her and wiistcoa*, and having a long rope fast- ) teeth, and dropping her he id between her L1FI-, ani:jdoti:s, and heroic exploits legs, was fviden'Iy in the attitude mid on beniitiful landscapes, there is likewis*" the point of sprinfjing at him. At the something elevating to the soul, in the critical instant he levelled and fired at her consciousness of being lord of the soil, head. Stunned with the shock, and snf- and having the power of creating them, focated with the smoke, he immediately 'I'he man can scarcely be guilty of a sor- found himself drawn out of the cave, did action, or even to descend to an un- lUit having refreshed himselt', and ])ermit- generous thought, who, removed from the ted the smoke to dissii)ale, he wont down ap[)r< hension of want, sees his farm daily the third time. Once more he came with- melior.iting and assuming whatever ap- iii siglil of the wolf, who appearing very peirance he pleases to prescribe. This passive, he ;i^plied the torch to her nose, situation converts the farmer into a spe- and perceiving her dead, he took hold of cies of rural philoso])hpr, by inspiring an her ears, and then kicking the rope, the honest pride in his rank as a freeman, people al)()vp, with no small exultation iktiering the natural propensity i"or per- draggcd them both out together. s^nal independence, and nourishing an 1 have offered these facts in greater de- unlimited hospitality and philanthropy in tail, beciuse they contain a display of his soci'd character. character; and because they have been But the time had now arrived which erroneously related in several European was to turn the instruments of husbandry publications, a!id very much mutilated in into weaponsof hostility, and to exchange the history of Connecticut, a work as re- the hunting of wolves, who had ravaged ))lete with" falsehood as destitute of genius, 'tiie sheep folds, for the pursuit after sava- printed in London. g^"^' "'''^^ ^''^ desolated the frontiers. Mr. Prosperity, at length, begun to attend the I'utuam was about thirty- seven years old, agricultural affairs of Mr! Putnam. He when the war between England an I was acknowledged to be a skillful and in-, France, which preceded the last, broke defatigable manager. His fields vverejout in America. His reputation must mostly enclosed with stone walls. Ui.s have been favorably known to the gov- crops commonly succeeded, bcjcause the ernment, since among the first troops that luid was well tilled and mannred. His) were levied by Connecticut, in 1755, he pastures and meadows became luxuriant. 'was apjininled to the command of a com- His cattle were of the best breed, and in pany in Lyman's regiment of Provincials, good order. His garden and fruit-trees I have meniioned his age at this period, prolific. With the avails of the surplus- expressly to obviate a prevalent opinion, age of his produce, foreign articles were; thai he was far advanced in life when he purchased. Within doors he found the^ commenced his military service, compensation of his labors, in the plenty I Ashe was extremely popular, he found of excellent provisions, as well as in th'eino difficidty in enlisti:;g his complement happiness of domestic society. of recruits from the most hardy, enterpri- A more particular description of his /sing, and respectable young men of hisi transition from narrow to easy circum- 'neighborhood. The regiment joined th'». -stances might be given; but the mind army, at iheopening of the campaign, not that shall have accpiired an idea of the 'far distant from Crown Point. Soon af- habits of labor and simplicity, to which ter his arrival at can)p, he became inti- the industrious colonists were accustomed, mately acquainted with the famous parti- will readily supply the omission. The san Captain, afterwards Major Rogers, effect of this gradual acquisiti)n of prop- with whom he was frequently associated erty, generally f ivorable to individual vir- in traversing the wilderness, reconnoiter- tue and public felicity, should not, tiowev-ing the enemy's lines, gaining intelligence, or, be passed over in silence. If there island taking slrraggling prisoners, as well .-something fascinating in the charms of a^,as in bL^ating up the qu irters and surpri- couniry life, from the contemplation of'singthe advanced pickets of their army- OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. For these operations a corps of rangers^ Baroa Dieskau. The briiliancy of thivS were formed from the irregulars. The (success, was necessary to console the first time Rogers and Putnam were de-? Americans for the disgrace of that disas- tached with a party of these light troops, ,ter. The time for which the colonial it was the fortune of the latter to preserve, troops engaged to serve terminated with with his own hand, the life of the former, the'campaign. Putnam was re-appointed, and to cement their friendsliip with the i and again took the field in 1756. t)lood of one of their enemies. ) Few are so ignorant of war as not to The object of this expedition was to ^ know, that military adventures, in the obtain an accurate knowledge of the po-( night, are always extremely liab'e to acci- sition and state of the works at Crown -dents. Captain Putnam, having been Point. It was impracticable to approach /commanded to reconnoitre the enemy's with their party near enough for this pur- !camp at the Oocns near Ticotideroga, pose, without being discovered. Alone, took the brave Lieutenant Robert Durkee the undertaking was sufficiently hazard-^ as his companion. Li attempting to exe- ous, on account of the swarms o'' hostile ')Cute these orders, he narrowly missed be- Indians who infested the woods. Our two ^ ing taken himself in the first instance, partisans, however, left all their men at ai^and killing his friend in the second. It convenient distance, with strict orders to / was customary for the British and Pro- continue concealed until their return, vincial troops to place their fires round Having thus cautiously taken their ar- their camp, which frequently exposed thern rangements, they advanced with the pro- to the enemy's scouts and patroles. A foundest silence in the evening; and lay, contrary practice, then unknown in the during the night, contiguous to the for- English army, prevailed amongthe French tre^s. Early in the morning they ap- and Indians. The plan was much more proached so close as to be able to give sat- ^rational ; they kept their fires in the cen- isfactory information to the General who,' tre, lodged their men circularly at a dis- had sent them, on the several points to tance, and posted their sentinels in the wliich their attention had been directed : surrounding darkness. Our partisans ap- but Captain Rogers, being at a little dis- proached the camp, and supposing the taiice from Captain Putnam, fortuitously , sentries were within the circles of fires, met a stout Frenchman, who instantly crept upon their hands and knees with the- seized his fusee with one hand, and with greatest possible caution, until, to their the other attempted to stab him, while he utter astonishment, they fornd themselves called to an adjacent guard for assistance, iu the thickest of the enemy. The senti- The guard answered. Putnam, perceiv- nels, discovering them, fired, and slightly ing the imminent danger of his friend, wounded Durkee in the thigh. He and and that no time was to be lost, or farther ; Putnam had no alternative. They fled, alarm given by firing, ran rapidly to them. The latter, being foremost, and scarcely while they were yet struggling, and with ; able to see his hand before him, soon the but-end of his piece laid the French- plunged into a clay-pit. Durkee, almost man dead at his feet. The partisans, to , at the identical moment, came tumbling elude pursuit, precipitated their flight, < after. Putnam, by no means pleased af joined the party, and returned without loss finding a companion, and believing him to to the encampment. Not many occasions be one of the enemy, lifted his tomahawk occurred for the partisans to display their to give the deadly blow, when Durkee, talents in the course of this summer. The' who had followed so closely as to know war was checkered with various fortune him, inquired whether he had escaped un- in different quarters — such as the total de-Uiurt. Captain Putnam instantly recogni- feat of General Braddock, and the splen- zing his voice, dropped his weapon : and did victory of Sir William Johnson over ) both, springing from the pit, made good the French troops, commanded by the;, their retreat to the neighboring ledges, 8 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS amidst a shower of random sho(. There fCes, on their return to Fort Edward. Our ihcy betook themselves to a large log, by'partisans, sensible of the probability of the side of which they lodged the remain- such an attempt, and being full twenty dcr of the night. Before they lay down, (.miles from their boats, strained every Captain Putnam said he had a little rumnerveto reach them as soon as possible: in his canteen, which could never be more which they effected the same night. Next acceptable or necessary ; but on cxamin-'^day. when they had returned as far as ino- the canteen, which hung under his'Sabbath Day point, they discovered, on arm, he found the enemy had pierced it! shore, the before mentioned detachment w^ith their balls, and that there was not a [of three hundred men, who had passed drop of liquor left. The next day heUhem in the night, and who now, on per- found fourteen bullet holes in his blanket, ^ceiving our party, took to their boats with In the same summer, a body of the en- the greatest alacrity, and rowed out to rmy, consisting of six hundred men, al-^give battle. They advanced in line, main- tacked the baggage and provision wag- taining a good mien, and felicitating ons at a place called the half-way-brook; themselves upon the prospect of an easy it being equidistant from Fort Edward, conquest, from the great superiority of and the South end of Lake George. Hav-' their numbers. Flushed with these ex- irig killed the oxen, and plundered the pectations, they were permitted to come wagons, they retreated with their booty, (; within pistol-shot before a gun was fired. without having met with such resistance. At once, the wall-pieces and blunderbus- as might have been expected from the ^ses, which had been brought to rake them ^trength of the escort. General Webb, (in the most vulnerable point, were dis- on receiving intelligence of this disaster, charged. As no such reception had been ordered the Captains Putnam and Rogers) foreseen, the assailants were thrown into •' to take one hundred volunteers in boats, |the utmost disorder. Their terror and with two wall-pieces and two blunderbus-^cont^usion were greatly increased by a ses, and to proceed down Lake George to Kvell-directed and most destructive fire of a certain point; there to leave the batteaux! the small arms. The larger piecesbeing under a proper guard, and thence to cross -reloaded, without annoyance, continued by land, so as to harass, and, if practica-; alternately with the musketry to make ble, intercept the retreating enemy at theMreadful havoc, until the route was com- narrows." These orders were executed /pleted, and the enemy driven back to Ti- with so much punctuality, that the party ^conderoga. In this action, one of the arrived at the destined place half an hour(bark canoes contained twenty Indians, of before the hostile boats came in view, whom fifteen were killed. Great num- ITere they waited, under cover, until the bers, from other boats, both of French Chief of the British forces in America, relying on the fidelity of his men, sprang) The expedition against Crown Point, up, ran, and ordered them to follow. Af-^ which from the commencement of hoslili- ter running about thirty rods, he seized' ties had been in contemplation, seemed the Frenchman by the shoulders, and) to give place to a more important opera- Ibrced him to surrender : But his prison- >tion that was meditated against Louisburg. or, looking round, perceiving no other en-j, But the arrival of the Brest squadron at emy, and knowing the Indian would be that place prevented the attempt; and the ready in a moment to assist him, began to' loss of Fort William Henrj served to make an obstinate resistance. Putnam,) class with the two former unsuccessful finding himself betrayed by his men into^ campaigns. It was rumored, and partial- a perilous dilemma, let go his hold, step-, ly credited at the time, that General ped back, and snapped his piece, which' Webb, who commanded in the northern was levelled at the Frenchman's breast.) department, had early intimation of the It missed fire. On this he thought it most) movement of the French army, and might prudent to retreat. The Frenchman, in( have effectually succored the garrison, turn, chased him back to nis men, wno, at 'The subsequent facts wilrpjace the affair last, raised themselves from the gr.-^ss ;; in its proper light. which his pursuer espying in good time^ A few days before the siege, Major PtJt- for himself, made his escape. Putnam.) nam, with two hundred men. escorted mortified that these men had frustrated J General Webb from Fort Edward to Fort iiis success, dismissed them with disgrace ;) William Henry. The object was to ex- and not long after accomplished his ob-i amine the state of this fortification, which ject. Such little feats, as the capture ol) stood at the southern extremity of Lake a single prisoner, may be of infinite-) George. Several abortive attempts hav- ly more consequence than some, who ing been made by Major Rogers and olh- unacquainted with military affairs,* ers in the night season, Major Putnam would be apt to imagine. In a coun-) proposed to go down the lake in open day- try covered with woods, like that' light, land at Northwest Bay, and tarry on part of America, then the seat of war, the shore until he could make satisfactory difficulty of procuring, and the importance discovery of the enemy's actual situation of possessing good intelligence, can) at Ticonderoga and the adjacent poits. scarcely be coiiceive:^ even by European The plan which he suggested, of landng commanders. They, however, who know) with only five men, and sending back the its value, will not appreciate lightly the) boats, to prevent detection, was deemed services af an able partisan. ) too hazardous by the General. Atlength, Nothing worthy of remark happened however, he was permitted to proceed during this campaign, except the loss or with eighteen volunteers, in three whale 10 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS boats; bul before he arrived at North- west Bay, he discovered a l)ody of men on an island. Immediately he left two boats to fish at a distance, that they might not occasion an alarm, and returned with the information. I'he General, seeing Inm rowing back with great velocity, in a single boat, concluded the others were captured, and sent a skiff, with orders for him alone to come on shore. After ad- vising the General of the circumstances, he urged the expediency of returning to make farther discoveries, and bring off the boats. Leave was reluctantly given. He found his people, and, passing still on- ward, discovered by the aid of a good per- spective glass, a large army in motion. By this time, several of the advanced ca- noes hnd nearly surrounded him, but by the swiftness of his whale-boats, he es- caped through the midst of them. On his return he informed the General mi- nutely of all he had seen, and intimated his conviction that the expedition mu-t obviously be destined against Fort Will- iam Henry, That commander, strictly enjoining silence on the subject, directed him to put his men under oath of secrecy, and to prepare, without loss of time, to return to the liead-quarters of the army. Major Putnam observed, he " hoped his excellency did not intend to neglect so fair an opportunity of giving battle, should the enemy presume to land." "What do you think we should do here?" replied the General. Accordingly, the next day he returned, and the day after Colonel Monro was ordered from Fort Edward, with his regiment, to re-enforce the gar- rison. That officer took with him all his rich baggage and camp equippage, not- withstanding Major I'utiiam's advice to tlie contrary. The day following his ar- rival, the enemy landed, and besieged the place. The iMarcpiis de Montcalm, Command- er-in-Chief for the French in Canada, in- tending to take advantage of the absence of a large proportion of the British force, which he understood to be employed un- der Lord Loudon against Louisbourg, had assembled whatever men could be spared from Ticonderoga, Crown-Poinl, and the other garrisons : with these he had com- bined a considerable corps of Canadians, and a larger body of Indians than had ever before been collected ; making in the whole an army of nearly eight tliousand men. Our garrison consisted of nearly tweniy-five hundred, and was commanded by Colonel Monro, a very gallant officer, who found the means of sending exprrss after express to General Webb, with an account of his situation, and the most pressing solicitation for succor. In the mean time, the army at Fort Edward, which originally amounted to about four thousand, had been considerably aug- mented by Johnson's troops and the mili- tia. On the eighth or ninth day after tho landing of the French, General Jolmson, in consequence of repeated applications, was suffered to march for the relief of the garrison, with all the provincials, militia, and Putnam's ranger? ; but before they had proceeded three miles, the order was countermanded, and they returned. M. de Montcalm informed Major Putnam, when a prisoner in Canada, that one ot his running Indians saw and reported this movement ; and, upon being ques- tioned relatively to the numbers, answered in their figurative style, " If you can roiint the leaves on the t'ecs. you can count them." In effect, the operations of the siege were suspended, and preparations made for re-enibarking, when another ol the runners reported that the detachment had gone back. The Marquis de Mont- calm, provided with a good train of ar- tillery, meeting with no annoyance from the British army, and but inconsiderable interruption from the garrison, accelera- ted his approaches so rapidly, as to obtain possession of the fort in a short time after completing the investiture. An inter- cepted letter*from General W\'bb, advi- sing the surrender, was sent into the fort to Colonel Monro by the French general. The garrison engaged not to serve for eighteen months, and were permitted lo inarch out with the honors of war. But the savages regarded not the capitulation, nor could they be restrained by the ut- OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. n most exertion of the crminanding officer, from committifiCT the most otitrageous acts <»i cruelty. They stripped and plundered al! the prisoners, and nniirdered great numbers in cold blood. Those wiio es- caped by llight, or the protection of the French, arrived in a torlorn condition at Fort Edward. Among these was the commandant of the garrison. The d;iy succeeding this deplorable scene of carnage and barbarity, Major Putnam having been despatched with his rangers, to watch the motions of the ene- ii5y. came to the shore, wlien their rear was scarcely beyond the reach of musket- shot. They had carried offr.U the cannon, stores, and water-craft. The fort was de- molished. The barracks, the out-bouse-, and sutllers' booths, were heaps of ruins. The fires, not yet extinct, and the smoke, otfensive from the mucilaginous nature of the fuel, but illy concealed innumerab.e I'ragments of human skulls and bones, and, in some instances, carcasses half consumed. Dead bodies, weltering in blood, were every where to be seen, viola- ted, with all the wanton mutilations of savage ingenuity. More than one hun- dred women, some with their brains ooz- ing from the battered heads, others with their whole hair wrenclied collectively with the skin from th.e bloody skulls, and many, with their ihroats cut, most inhu- manly stabbed and butchered, lay stripped entirely naked, with their bowels torn out, and afforded a spectacle too horrible for description. Not long after this misfortune, General Lyman succeeded to the command of Fort Edward. He resolved to strengthen i'. For this purpose, one hundred and fifty men were employed in cutting timber. To cover them, Captain Little was posted witli fifty Briiish regulars, at the head of a thick swamp, about one hundred rods eastward of the fi>rt, to which his com- munication lay over a tongue of land, formed on the one side by the swamp, and by a creek on the other. One morning, at day-break, a sentinel saw indistinctly several birds, as he con- ceived, come from the swamp, and fly over him with incredible swiftness. While he was ruminating on these wonderful birds, and endeavoring to form some idea of their color, shape, and size, an arrow buried itself in a limb of a tree just above his head. He now discovered the quali- ty and design of these winged messengers of fate, and gave the alarm Jnstantlv the working party began to retreat along the defile. A large body of savages had concealed themselves in the morass be- fore the guard was posted, and were at- tempting in this way to kill the sentinel without noise, with design to surprise the whole party. Finding the alarm given, they rushed from the covert, shot and tomahawked those who were nearest at hand, and pressed hard on the remainder of the unarmed fugitives. Captain Lit- tle marched to their relief, and, by pour- ing on the Indians a well limed fire, checked the pursuit, and enabled such of the fatigue-men as did not fall on the first onset, to retire to the fort. Thither he sent for assistance, his little party being almost overpowered by numbers. Hut the commandant, imaginingthat the main body of the enemy were approaching for a general assault, called in his outposts, and shut the gates. Major Putnam lay, with his rangers, on an island adjacent to the fort. Having heard the musketry, and learned that his friend Captain Little was in the utmost peril, he plunged into the river atthe head of his corps, and waded through the wa- ter towards the place of engagement. This brought him so near to the fort, that General Lyman, apprized of his de- sign, and unwilling that the lives of a few more brave men should be exposed to what he deemed inevitable destruction, mounted the parapet, and ordered him to proceed no farther. The major only took time to make the best short apology he could, and marched onward. This is the only instance, in the course of his milita- ry service, wherein he did not pay the strictest obedience to orders ; and in thi.s instance his motive was highly commen- dable. But when such conduct, even if sanctified by success, is passed over with 13 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS impunity, it demonstrates that all is not right in the milit iry system, in adisciplin- cd army, such as that of the United States became under General VVashinsrton, an officer guilty of a sliorhter violation of orders, however elevated in rank or meri- torioui? in service, would have been brought before the bar of a court martial. Were it not for the seductive tendency of a brave man's example, I miajht have been spared the mortification of making these remarks on the conduct of an officer, whose distinguishing characteristics were promptitude for duty and love of subordi- nation, as well as cheerfulness to encoun- ter every species of difficulty anddanger. The rangers of Putnam soon opened their way for a junction with the little iiandful of regular^, who still obstinately maintained their ground. By his advice, the whole rushed impetuously with shouts and huzzas into the swamp. The sava- ges fled on every side, and were chnsed, with no inconsiderable loss on their part, so long as the day-light lasted. On ours, only one man was killed in the pursuit. His death was immediately avenged by that of the Indian who shot him. This Indian was one of the runners, a chosen body of acti"e young men, who are used not only to procure intelligence and con- vey tidings, but. also to guard the rear on a retreat. Here it will not be unseasonable to men- tion some of the customs in war peculiar to the aborigines, which on the present as well as other occasions, they put in practice. Whenever a retreating, espe- cially a flying party, had gained the sum- mit of a rising ground, they secreted one or two runners behind trees, copses, or i)ushes, to fire at the enemy on their as- cending the hill. This commonly occa- sioned the enemy to halt and form for battle. In the interim the runners used such dexterity as to be rarely discovered, or if discovered, they vanished behind the height, and rejoined their brother warriors, who, having thus stolen a dis- tance. Were oftentimes seen by their pur- suers no more. Or if the pursuers were too eager, they seldom faded to atone for their rashness by fallinsr i ito an am- buscade. The Monawks, who were at- terwards much employed in scouts under the orders of Major Putnam, and who were perfectly versed in all the wiles and stratagems of their countrymen, showed him the mode of avoidin<; the evils of ei- ther alternative. In suspicious thickets, and at the borders of every considerable eminence, a momentary pause was made, while they, in dilferent parts, penetrated or ascended with a cautiousness that can- not be easily described. They seemed all eye and ear. VVhen they found nu lurk- ing mischief they would beckon with the hand, and pionounce tho word " Owish," with a long labial hissing, the O being al- most quiescent. This was ever '.he watchword foe the main body to advance. Indians uho went to war together, and who, for any reason, found it necessarv to sepaiate into diflfarent routes, always left two or dire3 runners at the place of sep iration, to give timely notice to eiiher party in case of pursuit. If a warrior chanced to straggle and loose himself in the woods, or be retarded by accident t)r wound, the party missing him wojld frequently, on their march, braok down a bush ora shrub, and leavethe top pointing in the direction they had gone, that the straggler, when he slioulJ behold it, might shape his course accordingly. We come to the campaign when Gen- eral Abercrombie took the comniand at Fort Edward. Thai general ordered Ma- jor Putnam, with sixty men,io proceed by land to South l>ay, on Lake George, for the purpose of making discoveries, and iu- tercep:ing the enemy's parties. The lat- ter, in compliance with these orders, post- ed himself at Wood Creek, near its en- trance into South B ly. On this bank, which forms a juiting precipica ten or twelve (eeel above the water, he erecie 1 a stone para[)et thirtyfeet in length, and masked it with young pine-trees, cut at a distance, and so artfully |)lanted as to imi- tate the natural growth. Hence he sent back fifteen of his men, who had fallen sick. Distress for want of provisions, u.'- casioned by thelengthof mfrch, and time OF MAJOINGENERAL PUTINa: IJJ "(pcnl on this temporary fortification, com- - mean time, Major Putnam kept up, through pelled him to deviate from a rule he liad '; the whole niglit, an incessant and deadij established, never to p»rmit a gun to be ! fire on the main body of the enemy, with- lired but at an enemy while on a scout. ' out receiving any thing but shot void oi lie was now obliged to shoot a buck, ' elfect^ accompanied wiih dolorous groans, wliich had jumped into the creek, in ordiu- ) miserable shrieks, and dismal savage yells. ;,.to eke out their scanty subsistence until J> After daybreak, he was advised that one ''*the fourth day after tiie completion of the ( part of the enismy had etlected a landing •works. About ten o'clock that evening, one of the men on duty at the margin of the bay, informed him that a fleet of bark canoes, filled with men, was steering tow- ards the moulh of the creek. He immedi- ately called in all iiissentinels,and ordered 5 every man to his post. A profound still- ness reigned in the atmosphere, and the full moon shone with uncommon bright- ness. The creek, which the enemy en^ tered, is about six rods wide, and the bank C'liisiderabJy below, and were rapidly ad' vancing to cut off his retreat, Apprised of the great superiority still opposed U) him, as well as of the situationof his own soldiers, some of whom were entirely dee - filute of ammuaition, and the rest reduced to or.e or two rounds each, he commanded them to swing iheir packs. By hastening ilie retreat, in good order, they had just, time to retire far enough up the creek to prevent being enclosed. During this long opposite to the parapet above twenty feet ( continued action, in vj'hich the Americans high. It was intended to permit the canoes !> had slain at least five times their own in front to pass — -they had accordingly ;, number, only one Provincial and one In- just passed, when a soldier accidentally dian were wounded on their bide. These struck his firelock against a stone. The ) unfortunate men had been sent off for commanding officer in the van canoe i camp, in the night, with two men to assist heard the noise, and repeated several times { and directions to proceed by Wood-Creek the savage watch-word,— Owish ! In- ■ as the safest, though not the shortest route. stantly the canoes huddled together, with their centre precisely in front of the works, covering the creek for a considerable dis- tance above and below. The ofBcers ap- peared to be in deep consultation, and the fleet on the point of returning, when Ma* But having taken a nearer way,.they were pursued and overtaken by the Indians, who, from the blood on the leaves and bushes, believed that they were on the trail of our whole party. The wounded, despairing of mercy, and unable to fly. jor Putnam, who had ordered his men in > insisted that the well soldiers should make the most peremptory manner not to fire \Mitil he should set the example, gave tlie signal, by discharging his piece. They fired. Nothing could exceed the inextri- cable confusion and apparent consterna- tion occas.oned by this well-concerted at- tack. But, at last, the enemy finding, their escape, which, on a moment's delib- oration, they effected. The Provincial, whose thigh was broken by a l>all, on the approach of the savages, fired his piece, at;d killed three of themjafter which he was quickly hacked in piece?. The Indian, how-« ever, was saved alive. This man Major iVom the unfrequency in the firing, thai S Putnam saw alterwards in C'anada, where the number of our men must be small, re- solved to land below and surround them. I'utnam, apprehensive of this, from the movement, sent Lieutenant Rcbert Dur-« kee, w ith twelve men, about thirty rods down tne creek, who arrived m tmne to repulse the party which attempted to land. Another small detachment, under Lieu- tenant Parsons, was ordered up the creek to prevent any similar attempt. In the he likewise learned that his enemy, in the rencounter at Wood-Creek, consisted of five hundred French and Indians, under the command of the celebrated partisan Mo - lang, and that no party, since the war, had suffered so severely, as more than one half ot those who went out never returned. Our brave little company, reduced to forty in number, had proceeded along the bank of the creek about an hour's 14 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEUOIC EXPLOITS march, when Major Putnam, being in mittens were barntentirely from his IianQ>;; front, was liredon by a party just at hand, he was supplied with another pair dippeo He, rightly appreciating the advantage . in water. Colonel Haviland, tearing thai often obtained by assuming a bold coun tenance on a critical occasion, in a stento he would perish in the Hames, calleu him to come down. But lie entreated that lit struclion must inevitably ensue if ihe;r exertions should be remitted. The gal- lant commandant, not less astonished luaii rophonic tone, ordered his men to rush on ' might be sutirtred to remain, since oe- tne enemy, and promised that they should " ' soon give a good account of them. It prov- ed to be a scout of Provincials, who conceiv- ed they were tiring upon the French ; but \ charmed at the boldness of his c Jiiduct, the commanding oOicer, knowing Pat- ^ forbade any more effects to be carried oui nam's voice, cried out, that they were all ,' of the I'ort, animated the n-:en to redoubled friends. Upon this the Mijorlold him ab- diligence, and exclaimed, *-if wemuit ne ruplly, that, " friends or enemies, they ' blown up, we will go altogether." A: all deserved to be hanged fjr not killing (J more when they had so fair a shot." In / fact, but one man was mortally wounded. ■ While these things were transacted, a ' faithful soldier, whose ammunition had last, when the barracks were seen to be tumbling, Putnam descended, placed him- self at the interval, and continued from an incessant rotation of replenisheo buck- ets to pour water on the magazine. Tne been nearly exhausted, made his way to ) outside planks were already consumed by rhe fort, and gave such information, that ^ the proximity of the fire, and as only one General Lvman was detached with five (■ thickness of timber intervened, the trejii- Imndred men to cover the retreat. Major Putnam met them at only twelve miles distance from the fort, to which they re- turned the next day. In the winter of 1757, when Colonel \ until the fire subsided, and the danger was Haviland was commandant at Fort Ed- ; wholly over. Ha had contended lor one ward, the barracks adjoining to the north- west bastion took fire. Thev extended dation now became general and extreme. Putnam, still undaunted, covered with a cloud of cinders, and scorched with the intensity of heat, maintained his position hour and a half wiih that terrible element. His legs,his thighs, his arms, and his face within twelve feet of the magazine, which ? were blistered ; and when he pjUed of fionlained three hundred barrels of pow- - der. On its first discovery, the fire raged v with great violence. The comi.iandant > endeavored, in vain, by discharging sev- ) eral pieces of heavy artillery against the i deared him, could not stiJie :he emotions supporters of this flight of'barracks, to : of gratitude, duo to the man who had been his second pair of mil tens, the skin i'roni his hands and fingers followed them. It was a month before he recovered. The commandant, to whom his merits had en- level them with the gromid. Putnam ar rived from the island where he was sta- tioned at the moment when the blaz3 ap- proached that end which was contiguous to the magazine. Instantly a vigorous attempt was made to extinguish the con- flagration. A way was 0[)ened by a postern gate to the river, and the soldiers were employed in bringing water ; which he, having mounted on a ladder to the eaves of the building, received and threw so instrumental in preserving the maga- zine, the f)rl, and the garrij^on. The repulse before Ticoiideroga took place in 175S General Abercromoie, the British commander in r.'hieC in America, conducted the expedition. His army, which amounted to nearly sixteen thou- sand regulars and provincials, was amply supplied with artillery and military stores. This well-appointed corps passed over Lake George, and landed, without opposi- on the flame. It continued, notwithstand- ) tion, at the point of destination. Tne ing their utmost efforts, to gain on them. '] troops advanced in columns. Lord Howe, He stood, enveloped in smoke, so near the ■ having Major Putnam with him, was in sheet of fire, that a pair of thick blanket \ front of the cent.-e. A body of about five OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. 15 hundred men, the advance or pickets of the French army, which had fled at first, began to skirmish with our left. " Put- nam," said Lord Howe, " wha\ means that firing?" "I kno^ not, but wiih your lordship's leave, will see," replied the former. "I will accompany you," rejoined the gallant young nobleman. In vain did Mijor Putnam attempt to dissuade him by saying — " My lord, if I am killed, the loss of my life will be of little conse- quence, but the preservation of yours is of infinite miportance to this army." The only answer was, "Putnam, your life is as dear to you as mine is to me ; I am de- termined to go." One hundred of Ihe van, under Mojor Putnam, filed off' witii Lord flowft. They soon met the left flank of the enemy's advance, by whose first fire his lordship fell. — It was a loss indeed ; and particularly felt in the opeiations which occurred three days afterwards. His manners and his virtues had made himtiie idol of the army. From his first arrival in America, he had accommodated him- self* and his regiment to the peculiar na- ture of the service. Exemplary to the officer, a Iriend io the soldier, the model of discipline, he had not failed to encoun- ter every hardship and hazard. Nothing oould be more calculated to inspire men with the rash animation of rage, or to temper it with the cool perseverance of revenge, than the sight of such a hero, so beloved, fallen m his country's cause. It had the effect. Putnam's party havingcut their way obliquely through the enemy's ranks and having been joined by Cap- tain D'Ell, with twenty m>m, together with some other small parties, charged them so furiously in rear, that nearly three hundred were killed on the spot, and one hundred and forty-uight made prisoners. In the mean time, from the unskil- fulness of ihe guides, some of our col- umns were bewildered. The left wing, * He cut his hair short, and induced tho regi- ment to follow the example. He fashioned their clothing for the activity of service, and divested himself and them of every article of superfluous baggage. ^ seeing Putnam's party in their front ad- ( vancing over the dead bodies towards , them, commenced a brisk and h^avy fire, ' which killed a sergeant and several pri- { vates. Nor could they, by sounds or ^ signs, be convinced of their mistake, until Major Putnam, preferring the probable , loss of his own life to the loss of the lives of his brave associates, ran through the midst of the flying balls, and prevented ': the impending catastrophe. '; The tender feelings which Major Put- ' nam possessed, taught him to respect an unfortunate foe, and to strive, by every lenient art in his power, to alleviate the miseries of war. For this purpose, he re- mained on the field until it began to grow dark, employed in collecting such of Ihe enemy as were left wounded, to one place; he gave them all the liquor anJ little re- freshments which he could procure ; he turnished to each of them a blanket '^ he put three blankets under a French ser- geant who was badly wounded through the body, and placed him in an easy pos- ture by the side of a tree: the poor fellow could only squeeze his hand with an ex- pressive grasp. "Ah," said Major Put- nam, "depend on it, my brave soldier, yo'.i shall be brought to the camp as soon as possible, and the same care shall be takea of you as if you were my brother." The ne.xt morning Major Rogers was sent to reconnoitre the field, and to bring off' the wounded prisoners; but finding the wound- ed unable to help themselves, in order to save trouble, he despatched every one of them to the world of spirits. Putnam's was not the only heart that bled. The Provincial and British officers, who became acquainted with the lact, were struck with inexpressible horror. Ticonderoga is surrounded on three sides by water; on the fourth, fbrsome distance, extends a dangerous morass; the remain- der was then Ibrtified wiih a line eigh: feel high, and planted with artillery. For one hundred yards in fiont the plain was covered with great trees, cut for the pur- pose of defence, whose interwoven and sharpened branches projected outwards. Notwithstanding these impediments, the 16 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS cn<'-!aeer wh ) had been employed to re- ;, shore of the Hudson, near the Rapids, coimoitre, reported as his opinion, that the j contiguous to which Fort Miller stood, worlds might be carried with muslietry. \ Ids men on the opposite bank had given The ditolty and delay ol" dragging ihe him to understand, that a large body ot' battering cannon over grounds almost im- savages were in his rear, and would be practicable, induced the adoption of this I on him in a moment. To stay and be t'atal ailvice', to which, however, a rumor ? sacrificed— to attempt crossing and be that the garrison, already consisting of four shot — or to go down the falls, with an or five thousand men, was on the point of S almost absolute certainty of being drowiH bein? au'^mented with three thousand } ed, were the sole alternatives that pre- more, probably contributed. The attack ) sented themselves to his choice. So in- was as spirited in execution as ill-judged ) slantaneously was the latter adopted, in design. The assailants, after having I that one man who had rambled a liitle been for more than four hours exposed to from the party, was, of necessity, left, ;i most fatal fire, without making any im- i and fell a miserable victim to savag'? pression by their reiterated and obstinate ( barbarity. The Indians arrived on the proofs of valor, were ordered to retreat. ) shore soon enough^to fire many balls Major Putnam, who had acted as an aid in ) on the batteau before it could be got bringing the Provincial regiments succes- \ under way. No sooner had our batteau- sively to action, assisted in preserving or- j men escaped, by favor of the rapidity der. " It was said that a great number of ) of the current, beyond the reach of the enemv were shot in the head, every ^ musket-shot, than death seemed only to o'her part having been concealed behind ! have been avoided in one form to be iheir works. The loss on our side Was ) enountired in another not less terrible. upwardsoflwo thousand killed and wound- \ Prominent rocks, latent shelves, absorb-. ed. Twenty-five hundred stands of arms / ing eddies, and abrupt descents, for a were taken by the French. Our army, ) quarter of a mile, afforded scarcely the after sustaining this havoc, retreated with I smallest chance of escaping without a such extraordinary precipitation, that they \ miracle. Putnam, trusting himself to a retrained their camp at the southward of; good Providence, whose kindness he had Lake George the evening of the action, s often experienced, rather than to men, The successes in other parts of Amer* ) whose tenderest mercies are cruelty, ica made amends for this defeat. Lou- ) was now seen to place himself sedately isbourg, after a vigorous siege, was reduced \ at the helm, and afford an astonishing bv the Generals Amhefst and Wolfe : ( spectacle of serenity. His companions, Fronienac, a post of importince on the ) with a mixture of terror, admiration and communication betweerx Lake Ontario \ wonder, saw him incessantly changing and the St. Lawrence, surrendered to ( the course, to avoid the jaws of ruin, Colonel Bradstreet ; and Fort du Quesne, / that seemed expanded ;o swallow the situated at the confluence of the Mo- ) whirling boat. Twice he turned it fair' r.ontrahela with the Ohio, the posses* \ ly round to shun the rifts of rocks. sion°of which had kindled the flame of) Amidst, these eddies, in which was the war that now spread through the four ) greatest danger of its foundering, at one quarters of the globe, was captured by \ moment the sides were exposed to the General Forbes. \ fury of the waves; then the stern, and A few adventures, in which the public '} next the bow. glanced obliquely onward, ititerests were little concerned, but which, { with inconceivable velocity. With not from their peculiarity, appear worthy of ^ loss amazement the savages beheld him being pieservcd, happened before the ) sometimes mounting the billows, then conclusion of the year. As one day \ plunging abjuptly down, at other times Major Putnam chanced to lie with a I skillfully veering from the rocks, and batteau and fivo men, on the eastern ^ shooting through the only narrow pas- OP MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. 17 :3age; until, at last, they viewed the hoat^ safely gliding on the smooth surface of the i strtam below. At this sight, it is assert-^) ed, that these rude sons of nature were \ affected with the same kind of supersti- ) tious veneration which the Europeans, in > the dark ages, entertained for some of) their most valorous champions. They ■ deemed the man invulnerable, whom their ^ balls, on his pushing from shore, could "> not touch ; and whom they had seen ) stering in safety down the rapids that had J never before been passed. They conceived ) it would be an affront against the Great ) Spirit to attempt to kill this favored inor- ' tal wilh povi'der and ball, if they shoiild \ ever see and know him again. ^ In the month of August five hund ed : men were employed, under the orders of, Majors Rogers and PutnarH, to watch the \ motions of the enemy ne:ir Ticonderog. \ At South-Bay they .separated the party ) into two equal divisions, and Rogers took \ a position on Wood-creek, twelve miles (J •distant from Putnam. ) Being some time afterwards discovered, ^ ihey formed a re-union, and concerted \ measures for returning to Fort Edward. \ Their march through the woods was in ) "three divisions by the files : the right com- ) •nnanded by Rogers, the left by Putnam, ) and the centre by Captain D'Ell. The \ first night they encamped on the banks of '; Clear 4-iver, about a mile from old Fort ^ Ann, which had been formerly built by ) General Nicholson. Next morning Ma- \ jor Rogers, and a British ofBcer, named ^ Ifwin, incautiously suffered tluinselves, '- from a spirit of false emulation, to bi en- ) gaged in firing at a mark. Nothing could have been n7ore repugnant to the mditary ; •principles of Putnam tiian such conduct, ) or reprobated by him in more pointed \ terms. As soon as the heavy dew which \ bad fallen the preceding night would per- \ mit, the detachment moved in one body, / Putnam being in front. D'Ell in the centre, \ and Rogers in the rear. The imperv^i- ; ous growth of shrubs and under-brush { that had sprung up, where th? land had \ been partially cleared some years before, > occasioned this change in the order of ( march. At the moment of moving, the famous French partisan Molang, who had been sent with five hundred men to inter- cept our party, was not more than one mile and a half distant from them. Hav- ing heard the firing, he hastened to lay an ambuscade precisely in that part of the wood most favorable to his project. Ma- jor Putnam was just emerging from the thicket, into thr common forest, when the enemy rose, and with discordant yells and whoops, commenced an attack on the right of his division. Surprised, but undis- mayed, Putnam halted, returned the fire, and passed the word for the other divisions to advance for his support. D'Ell came. The action, though widely scattered, and- principally fought between man and man, soon grew general and intensely warm. It would be as difficult as useless to describe this irregular and ferocious mode of fight- ing. Rogers came not up ; but as he declared afterwards, formed a circular file between our party and Wood-Creek, to prevent their being taken in rear or enfi- laded. Successful as he commonly was, his conduct did not always pass without unfavorable imputation. Notwithstand- ing, it was a current saying in the camp, that " Rogers always sent, but Putnam led, his men to action," yet, in justice, it ought to br remarked here, that the latter has never been known, in relating the sto- ry of this day's disaster, to affix any stig- ma on the conduct of the former. Major Putnam, perceiving it would be impracticable to cross the creek, deter- mined to maintain his ground. Inspired by his example, the officers and men be- haved with great bravery : sometunes they fjught aggregately in open view, and sometimes individually under cover; ta- king aim from behind the bodies of trees, and acting in a manner independent of each, other. For himself, having discharged his fuzee several times, at length it missed fire, while the muzzle was pressed against the breast of a large and well proportioned savage. The warrior, availing him- self of the indefensible attitude of his adversary, with a tremendous war-whoop, sprang forward, with his lifted hatchet. 18 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS and compelled him to surrender; and ^violently, and repeatedly, pushed the mU2' having disarmed and bound him fast to sSz\e of his gun against Putnam's ribs, and tree, returned to the battle. J finally gave him a cruel blow on the jaw The intrepid Captains D'Ell and Har-< with the but end of his piece. After this man, who now commanded, were forced (^dastardly deed, he left him. to give ground for a little distance; the ^ At length the active intrepidity of D'Ell savages conceiving this to be the certain )and Harman, seconded by the persevering harbinger of victory, rushed impetuously ^valor of their followers, prevailed. They on, with dreadful and redoubled cries. ^ drove from the field the enemy, who left But our two partisan?, collecting a hand- ; about ninety dead behind them. As they ful of brave men, gave the pursuers so ^ were retiring, Putnam was untied by the warm areception as to oblige them in turn, (Indian who had made him prisoner, and to retreat a little beyond the spot at which Wvhom he afterwards called master. Hav- the action had commenced. Here they ling been conducted for some distance made a stand. This change of ground from the place of action, he was stripped occasioned the tree to which Putnam was ^of his coat, vest, stockings and shoes ; tied to be directly between the fire of the^loaded with as many of the packs of the two parties. Human imagination can ^wounded as could bepiled on him ; strong- hardly figure to itself a more deplorable ^ly pinioned, and his wrists tied as closely situation. The balls flew incessaniy from ^together as they could be pulled with a either side, many struck the tree, while ';cord. After he had marched, through no some passed through the sleeves and skirts' pleasant paths, in this painful manner, for of his coat. In this state of jeopardy, ) many a tedious mile, the party who were unable to move his body, to stir his limbs, ^excessively fatigued, halted to breathe, or even to incline his head, he remained j'His hands were now immoderately swelled more than an hour. So equally balanced, ^ from the tightness of the ligature; and and so obstinate was the fight! At one Hhe pain had become intolerable. His feet moment while the battle swerved in favor Mvere so much scratched, thfit the blood of the enemy, a young savage chose an odd '■dropped fast from them. Exhausted with way of discovering hishumor. He found ^bearing a burden above his strength, and Putnam bound. He might have despatch- \ frantic with torments exquisite beyond en- ed him at a single blow. But he loved I' durance, he entreated the Irish interpreter better to excite the terrors of the prison- to implore, as the last and only grace he er, by hurling a tomahawk at his head, or •'desired of the savages, that they would rather it would seem his object too seel'knock him on the head, and take his scalp how near he could throw it wthout touch- ^ at once, or loosen his hands. A French ing him ; the weapon struck in the tree a)ofiicer, instantly interposing, ordered his number of times at a hair's breadth dis-^hands to to be unbound, and some of the tance from the mark. When the Indian ^packs to be taken off. By this time the had finished his amusement, a French bas-/ Indian, who had captured him, and had <)fficer, (a much more inveterate savage by ^ been absent with the wounded, coming nature, though descended from so humane (up gave him a pair of moccasins, and ex- and polished a nation.) perceiving Put- ) pressed great indignation at the unworthy nam, came up to him, and, leveling a fu- treatment his prisoner had suffered, zee within a foot of his breast, attempted '> That savage chief again returned to to discharge it; it missed fire. Ineffectu- That commandant spurned and severely left cheek. His sufferings were in this' reprimanded the barbarians, whose noc- i>laceto be consummated. A scene of, ^"^^1 powvyas and hellish orgies he sud- r ■ £1 •. 1 » «u u J ^ denly ended. Putnam did not want for horror, inhnitelv greater than had ever . ,.-' .^ j rp.. r^ u , : . /leehntT or gratitule. 1 he trench com- met his eyes before, was now preparmg. J ^^„ ^^^ j. J^j^^ ^^ ^^ust him alone with It was determmed to roast hmi alive, ^^hgrn, remained until he could deliver him For this purpose they led him into a dark ;„ safety into the hands of his master, forest, stripped him naked, bound him to*! The savage approached his prisoner a tree, and piled dry brush, with other fu-^ kindly, and seemed to treat him with par- el at a small distance, in a circle round? ticular affection. He offered him some him. Thev accompanied their labors, as j hard biscuit; but finding that he could .,. r ,1- c' 1 1 .-.u -^ ..„, „.,^'' lot chew them, on account of the blow i for his funeral dirge, With screams and , • j r ^u v> i .,,,'', he had received from the Frenchman, sounds inimitable but by savage voices. ^,^jg ^^^^ j^^,^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^j^^^ ^^^^ ^^ Then they set the piles ou fire. .A sudden ^^e biscuit in water, and made him suck shower damped the rising flam3. Still ; the pulp-like part. Determined, however, they strove to kindle it, until at last, the^not to lose his captive, he took the mocca- blaze ran fiercely round the circle Major^sins from his feet, and tied them to one of I'utnam sooi begin lo feel the scorching? his wrists: then directing him to lie heat. His hands were so tied that he) down on his back upon the bare ground, could move his body. He often shifted^ he stretched one arm to its full length, s des as the fire approached. This sight) and bound it fast to a young tree; the at the very idea of which all but savages) other arm was extended and bound in the tnust shudder, afforded the highest diver-. siif-- ferings from which she was ransomed by that soldier of humanity, Colonel S'^huy- ler. Suffice it to say, '.hat he not only pur- chased her freedom, but gathered to ner bosom the scattereJ children of her love, ^and put her under the protection of Major ^ Putnam. ? In the long march from captivity, through I an inhospitable wilderness, encumbered \ with five small children, she suffered in- ( credible hardships. Though endowed with ; masculine lbrtitude,she wus truly i'eminine sin strength, and must have fainted by the' (Way, had it not been for the assistance of ) iMnjor Pui;nam, There were a thousand )gOf)d offices which the h dplessneas of her (condition demanded, and v/hich the gemie- /nessof his nature delighted to pcrtbrm. He ; assisted in leading her little ones, and in (carrying them over the swampy grounds /and runs of water, with which their course ' was frequently intersected. He mingled ^his own mess with that of the widow and ^the fatherless, ana assisted them in supply-' ung and preparing their provisions. Upon arriving within the settlements, they expe^ rienced a reciprocal regret at separation, and ivcre only consoled by the e^tpectation of soon mingling in l:he embraces of vtheir former acquaintances and dearest connec- tions. We now arrive at the period when the 'prowess of Britain, victorious alike by sea> OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. 21 niid ')y land, in ilie new and in the old •> so daring an example, they movea swiftly, world, had elsvaled th it name to the zenith ij in profound stillness, as to certain victory of national glory. The conquest of Que- ^'or death. The people on board the ships, bee opened the wny for the total reduction J beholding the good countenance with which of Canada. On this side of the lakes, Am- ;, tiiey approached, ran one of the vessels on herst having captured the posts of Ticon- ('shore, -and struck the colors of the other, deroga and Crown-Point, applied himself / Had it not been for the dastardly conduct to strengthen the latter. Putnam, who had -of the ship's company in the latter, who been raised to the rans of lieutenant-colo- S compelled the captain to haul down his en- nel, and present at these operations, was |sign, he would have given the assailants a employed the remainder of tnis and some ,= bloody rece[)tion; for the vessels were well part of the silpceeding season, in superin- provided with spars, nettings, and every lending the parties which were detached to ; customary instrument of annoyance as procure timber and oiher materials for the /well as defence, fortification. In 1760, General Amherst, a sagacious, ' It now reinained to attack the fortress, humane, and experienced commander, Mvhich stood on an island, and seemed to planned the termination of the w.ir in Ca- shave been rendered inaccessible by a high nada, by a bloodless conquest. For this f abattis of black-ash, that every where pro- [)urpose, three armies were destined to co- ) jecied over the water. Lieutenant-Colonel operate, by different routes, against Mon- ) Putnam proposed a mode of attack, andof- treal, the only remaining place of strength ! fered his services to carry it into effect, the enemy held in that country. The /The General approved the proposal. Oar corps formerly commanded by General .''partisan, accordingly, caused a sufficient VVolfe, now by General Murray, was or- /number of boats to be fitted for the enter- dered to ascend the river St. Lawrence; <1 prise. The sides of each boat were sur- another, under Colonel Haviland, to pene- 'rounded with fascines, musket- proof, which trate the Isle Aux Noi.v ; and the third, ! covered the men completely. A wide consisting of about ten thousand men, com- ; plank, twenty feet in length, was then fitted manded by General Amherst, after passing ho every boat in such manner, by having up the Mohawk river, and taking its coarse ) an angular piece sawed from one extremi- by the Lake Ontario, was to t'orm a jun( - ; ty, that, when fastened by ropes on both tion by falling down the St. Lawrence. In ■, sides of the bow, it might be raised or lovv- this progress, more than one occasion pre-'^ered at pleasure. The design was, that sented itself to manifest the intrepidity and hhe plank should be held erect while the soldiership of Lieutenant-Colonel Putnam, /'oarsmen forced the bow with the utmost Tvvj armed vessels obstructed the passage, s exertion against the abattis; and that af- and prevented the attack on Oswegatchie. < terwards being dropped on the pointed Putnam, with one thousand men, in fifty ^ brush, it should serve as a bridge to assist batteaux, undertook to board them This^ihe men in passing over them. Lieutenant- dauntless officer, ever sparint^ of the olood ! Colonel Putnam having his dispositions to of others, as prodigal of his own, to ac- attempt the escalade in many places at the complish it with the less loss, put himself ;same moment, advanc3d with his boats in with a chosen crew, a beetle and wedges, ) admirable order. The garrison, perceiv- in the van, with a design to wedge therud- dng these extraordinary and unexpected ders, so that the ve.ssels should not be able ?mr chines, waited not the assault, but ca- lo turn their broadsides, or perform any 'pitulated. Lieutenat-Colonel Putnam was other inanceuvre. All the men in his little ] particularly honored by General Amherst, fleet were ordered to strip to their waist- h or hi-* ingenuity in this invention, and coats, and advance at the same time He promptitude in its execution. The three promised, if he lived, to join and show /armies arrived in Montreal wfthin two :hem th3 way up the sides. Animaied by ''days of each other; and the conquest of 22 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS Canada became complete without the loss,' the whale fishery), which, being fastened of a single drop of blood. i to the rafts, after the first had with incon- At no great distance from MontreaHceivable hazard reached the slioe, were of stands the savage village called Cochna- ( infinite service in preve: ting the others waga. Here our partisan found the Indi- jfrom driving out to sea, as also in dragging an chief who had formerly made him pri- (them ath\\art the billows lo the beach; by soner. That Indian was highly delighted^ which means every man was finally saved, to see his old acquaintance, whom he en- ^ With the same presence of mind to take tertained in his own well-built stone house, (advantage of circumstance!,, and the same with great friendship and hospitality; while j precaution to prevent confusion on similar his guest did not discover less satisfaction) occasions, how many valuable lives, pre- iu an opportunity of shaking the brave (maturely lost, m.ght have been preserved savage bv the hand, and proffering him | as blessings to their families, tHeir friends, protection in this reverse of his military ;and their country! As soon as all were fortunes. Uanded, Lieu. «n;int-Colonel Putnam lortifi- When the belligeram p )wers were con- ed his camp, tliat he might not be exposed siderably exhausted, a rupture took placebo insult trom the inhabitants of the neigh- between Great Britain and Spain, in Jau->boring districts, or from those ot Cartha- uary, 1762, and an expedition was formed gena, who were but twenty-tour miles dis- that campaign, under Lord Albemarle, tant. tiere the pirtj- remained unmoles'ed against the Havana. A body of provin-^everal days, until the storm had so much e 1 erhTrio'rdshir 'Genemr'LymTn,Vhoi weeks in that unhealthy climate, nlreadv raised the regiment of one thousand men began to gro v extremely sickly.* The op- in Connecticut, being the senior officer, po'-tune arrival of ih^ provmcial reinforce- commanded the whole : of course, the im-msnt, mpertect health, contributed not a mediate command of the regiment devolved little to forward tne works, and hasten the upon Lieutenant-Colonel Putnam. The^eduction o. that important place. Bat fleet that carried these troops sailed from ^ the provincials sufTered so miserably by New York, and arrived safelvon the coast sickness afterwards, that very few ever re- ef Cuba. There a terrible' storm arose, turned to tneir native land, and the transport in which Lieutenant-Co- Though a general peace timong the Eu- lonel Putnam had embarked with five bun- ''"peans was ratified in 1763, yet the sa- dred men, was wrecked on a rift of craggy vages on our western frontie.s still con- rocks. Tho weather was so tempestuous, tniued their hostniiies. After they h-id and the surf, which ran mountain-high, taken severnl posts, Gen. Bradstreet wa.s dashed with such violence against the ship, sent, in 1764, with an army against them, that the most experienced seamen expected Col. I'utnam, then, for the first time, in it would soon part asunder. The rest of) the fleet, so far from being able to affords * Colonel Haviland, an accomplished officer, assistance, with difficulty rode out the gale, (several times mentioned in these memoirs, who In this deplorable situation, as the only ^'•«"'^''t '» America a regiment of o„e thous^wul ,. \ I • I 1 ij 1 1 /Irish veterans, had but seventv men remaining expedient by which they could be saved, j^,;^^ ^,^^„ j^^ ,^.fi the Havank. Colonel Havi- strict order was maintained, and all those , land, durin^r this siego. having once with hisregi- people who best und'^rstOOd the use of tools, /ment encountered and routed five thousand Span- instantly employed in constructing rafts i^-j.^^' ""^t Colonel I'utnam on his return and said. ■' ', ■', 11. 1 ("Putnam, give me a pinch of snuff." " J never from spars, plank, and whatever "ther ma-( ^^^ ^^^^^ „ returned Putnam. "1 have always lerials could be procured. There happen-fjust'such luck," cried Haviland; "the rascally ed to Jae on board a large quantity ol | Spaniards have shot away my pocket, snuft-box strong cords, (the same that are used in(^"'^a"" OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. 23 ■commnnd of a regiment, was on the expe- many fallacious proposals for a peace, and dition, as was the Indian Chief whom I HVequent tergiversations in the negotiation, have several times had occasion to men- Uhey concluded a treaty, which ended the tion as his capturer, at the head of one) war in America. hundred Cochnawaga warriors. Before I Col. Putnam, at the expiration of ten Gen. Bradstreet reacned Detroit, which the (years from his first receiving a commis- savages invested. Captain D'Ell, the faith- ;sion, after having seen as much service, ful friend and intrepid fellow soldier of <, endured as many hardships, encountered Col. Putnam, had bejn slain in a desperate ( as many dangers, and acquired as many sally. Having been detached with fivej;laurels as any officer of his rank, with hundred men in 1763, by Gen. Anuierst, [great satisfariiion laid aside his uniform, to raise the siege, he found means of (and returned to his plough. The various throwing the succor into ihe fort. But the ^and uncommon scenes of war in which he garrison, commanded by Major Gladwine, ^bad acted a respectable part, his inter- a brave and sensible officer, had been hO (course with the world, and iniimacy with much weakened by the lurking and insi- (some of the first officers of the army, dious inode of war practised by the savage^, (joined with occasional reading, brought that not a man could be spared to co-^pe- jinto view whatever talents he possessed rate in an attack on them. The com- (from nature, but had extended his know- mandant would even have dissuaded C^-pt. ? ledge, and polished his manners, to a con- D'Ell from the attempt, on account of the )sid3rable degree. great disparity in numbers ; but the latter, ., q,.^ ^i^q twenty-second day of March, relying on the discipline and courage 01^7(55^ tl,e ^^^^.^^^^ act received the royal as- his men replied, " God forbid that I should jggj^t_ jj vvas to take place in America on ever disobey the orders of my General," , ^ . ,•' . ,. . rope, in consequence of an act-lately passed in the ;: ^'^, ^h^" ^'^^ left, occasioned hun to limp in parliament of Great Britain; nor olTiciate as stamp- ) his walk. master or distributor of bonds, within the colony < 'Che Provincial officersand soldiers from of Connecticut, either directly or indirectly. And < Connecticut, who Survived the conquest of I do hereby notify to all the inhabitants of his . ■ . i nt it majostv's colony of Connecticut, notwithstanding / the Havana, appointed General Lyman the said office o'r trust has been committed to me, ) to receive the remainder of their prize not to apply to me, ever after, for any stamped pa- \ — per; hereby dwlaiing that I do rcsitrn. thi: said of- '' ;„ jjj^ cavalcade to Hartford, and was received fice, and execute these prrsen rs of my own free ) ^^h the most perfect good humor. Mr. Ingersol, WILL AND ACCORD, without any equivocation or ? ^^i^o, by chance, rode a white horse, being asked mental reservation. ) "What he thought, to find himself attended by "In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my ^ g^.^ ^ retinue?'"' replied that ho had now a clearer hand, "J- INGERSOL." <, jj^^ ^ij^n ever he had before coiiooived of that t To give a trait of the urbanity that pervaded, } passage in the Revelation, which describes cica ful attachment to that kingdom, which ! they fondly called their parent country. Here, without digression to develope the ) cause, or describe the progress, it may ; suffice to observe, the dispute novj verged \ precipitately to an awful crisis. Most ' considerate men foresaw it would terniin- ^ ate in blood. But rather than suffer the ' chains, which they believed to be in pre- ' paration, to be riveted, they nobly deter- mined to sacrifice their lives. In vain did J they deprecate the infatuation of those ; transatlantic counsels which drove them to deeds of desperation. Convinced of the rectitude of their cause, and doubtful ; of the issue, they felt the most painful so- \ iicitude for the fate of their c(Hintry, on ', contemplating the superior strength of the nation with which it was to contend. America, thinly inhabited, under thirteen distinct colonial governments, could have little hope of success, but from the pro- tection of Providence, and the unconquer- able spirit of freedom which pervaded the m:iss of the people. It it true, since the peace she had surprisingly increased in wealth and population ; but the resources of Britain almost exceeded credibility or conception. It is not wonderful, then, that some good citizens, of weaker nerves, recoiled at the prospect; while others, who had been officers in the late war, or who had witnessed, by traveling, the force of Britain, stood aloof. All eyes were turned to find men who, possessing milita- ry experience, would dare, in the approach- ing hour of severest trial, to lead their un- diciplined fellow-citizens to battle; for none were so stupid as not tocomprehend, that want of success would involve the leaders in the punishment of rebellion. Putnam was among the first and most conspicuous who stepped forth. Although the Americans had been, by many who wished their subjugation, indiscreetly as indiscriminately stigmatized with the im- putation of cowardice — he felt — he knew for himself, he was no coward; and from what he had seen and known, he believed that his countrymen, driven to the extrem- ity of defending their rights by arms, would find no difficulty in wiping away the ungenerous aspersion. As he hap- pened to be often at Boston, he held ma- ny conversations, on these subjects, with General Gage, the British commander-in- chief. Lord Percy, Colonel Sheriff, Colo- nel Small, and many officers with whom he had formerly served, who were now at tlie head quarters. Being often question- ed, '' in case the dispute should proceed to hostilities, what part he would really take?" he always answered, " with his country ; and that, let whatever might happen, he was prepared to abide the con- sequence." Being interrogated, whether he, who had been a witness to the prowess and victories of the British fleets and ar- mies, did not think them equal to the conquest of a country which was not the 2G LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEPwOIC EXPLOITS owner of a single ship, regiment, or mag- ( hostilities commenced. Gen Gage, in aziiie?" he rejoined, that "he could only /the evening of the 18th of April, 1775, say justice would be on our side, and the ) detached from i oston the grenadiers and event with Providence: but that he had , light infantry of the army, commanded by calculated, if it required six years for the \ Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, to destroy combined forces of England and her col- ) some military and other stores, deposited on es to conquer such a feeble country as ;> by the province at Concord. About Canada, it would, at least, take a very long i sunrise the next morning, the detachment time for England alone to overcome I on marching into Lexington, fired on a her own widely extended colonies, which / company of militia, who had just re-as- were much stronger than Canada : that ) sembled ; for having been alarmed late at when men fought for every thing dear, •) night, with reports that the regulars were in what they believed to be the most sa- ^ advancing to demolish the stores, they col- cred of all causes, and in their own na- ) lected on their parade, an 1 were dis- tive land, they would have great advanta- > missed with orders to re-assemble at beat ores over their enemies, who were not in ) of drum. It is established by the affida- tlie same situation ; and that, having ta- / vits of more than thirty persons who were ken into view all circumstances, for his .| present, that the first fire, which killed own part, he fully beliexed that America i eight of the militia, then beginning to would not be so easily conquered by Eng- j, disperse, was given by the British without land as those gentlemen seemed to expect." ^ provocation. The spark of war, thus Being once, in particular, askel, "wheth- ) kindled, ran with unexampled rapidity, and er he did not seriously believe that a well \ raged with unwonted violence. To repel appointed British army of five thousand < the aggression, the people of the border- veterans could march through the whole 1 ing towns spontaneously rushed to arms, continent of America?" He replied ; and poured their scattering shot from eve- briskly, " No doubt, if they behaved civ- \ ry convenient station on the regulars, who, illy, and paid well for every thing they ( after marching to Concord, and destroy- wanted : but" — after a moment's pause, ) ing the magazine, would have found their added, — " if they should attempt it in a ) retreat intercepted, had they not been re- hostile manner (though the American men \ inforced by LordPercy, with the battalion were out of the question) the women, with } companies of three regiments, and a body their ladles and broomsticks, would knock ) of marines Notwithstanding the junc- them all on the head before they had tra- \ tion, they were hard pushed, and pursued veled half way through," Th's was the \ until they could find protection from their tenor of these amicable interviews ; and \ ships. Of the British, two hundred and thus, as it commonly happens in disputes ) eighty-three were killed, wounded and about future events which depend on \ taken. The Americans had thirty-nine opinion, they parted without conviction, ( killed, nineteen wounded, and two made no more to meet in a friendly manner, un- ? prisoners. til after the appeal should have been made] Nothing could exceed the celerity with to Heaven, and the issue confirmed by | which the intelligence flew every where, the sword. In the mean time, to provide ^ that blood had been shed by the British against the worst contingency, the militia > troops. The country, in motion, exhibit- in tlie several colonies were sedulously ) ed but one scene of hurry, preparation, trained; and those select companies, the ( and revenge. Putnam, who was plough- flower of our youth, which were denom-? ing when he heard the news, left his inated minutemen, agreeably to the indi- plough in the middle of the field, unyoked cation of their name, held themselves ini his team, and without waiting to change readiness to march at a moment's warn-^ his clothes, set off for the tlieatre of ac- ing. ) tion. But finding the British retreated to At length the fatal day arrived, when^ Boston, and invested by a sufficient force OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM ■27 to watch their movements; lie came back which, however, he thought prudent at to Connecticut,* levied a regiment, under ^that time to conceal from public notice, authority of the legislature, and speedily <; It could scarcely have been expected, returned to Cambridge.! He was now )but by those credulous patriots who were promoted to be a Major-General on the -prone to believe whatever they ardently Provincial staff, by his colony; and, in a uiesired, that officers assembled from colo- little time, confirmed by Congress, in the (nies distinct in their manners and predju- same rank, on the Continental establish- , 'dices, selected from laborious occupations, ment. General Ward, of iVlassachusetts, j-to command a heterogenous crowd of bv common consent, commanded the Jtheir equals, compelled to be soldiers on- whole; and the celebrated Dr, Warren ^ly by the spur of the occasion, should Jong was made a Major-General. ^be able to preserve harmony among their Not long after this period, the Hritish )followers. As the fact would be a phe- commander-in-chief found the means to nomenon, the idea was treated with mirth convey a proposal, privately, to General Sjand mockery by the friends to the British Putnam, that if he would relinquish the Government. Yet tliis unshaken embryo rebel party, he might rely upon being ^of a military corps, composed of militia, made a Major-General on the British es- ^minutemen, volunteers, and levies, with a tablishment, and receiving a great pecu )burlesque appearance of multiformity in niary compensation for his services. ;,arms, accoutrements, clothing, and con- General Putnam spurned at the offer ; .^duct, at last grew into a regular army — an - * General Putnam w.is absent only one we^ army which, having vindicated the rights fromtlie army at Cambridge ; and tben for the )of human nature, and established the in- purpose of consultation with the L?gislatui-e of '•dependenee of a new empire, merited and Connecticut, at that time in session; and at the -.^^^^ ^,^^ gjorious distinction of the particular request ot that body. Havmg assisted, ' . & _ by his advice, to the organization of a military ^p'atriot army— the patriot army, whose force, for the campaign of 1775, he returned ini- )praise3 for their fortitude in adversity, mediately to the army before Boston, 'eaving ,;^^jj^.g^y ^^ battl«, moderation in Conquest, orders for the troops to follow with as little delay ', „ • ^. ,„„„„,:, .„ ,u„ „_,,oi ov 11 r .u ij I \- i i / CI (oerseverance in supportms tne cruel ex- aspossibe, after the men coud beenusted. — ' La- ^V''"^^ ^ ^^ *^ ilor.) treinities of hunger and nakedness, with- t An article void of foundation, mentioning an )()\xi a murmur or sigh, as well as for their interview between General Gage and General ^j^^^i^^jj^j^H j„ retiring to civil life, at the Putnam, appeared in the English gazettes.in these ; " , -^ . '=! , „,,„^ • ,u„i- words: -General Gage, viewini the Amencan (moment ot victory, with arms in their army with his telescope, saw General Putnam in^hands, and without any jUSt competisa- it. which surprised him ; and he contrived to get ^tjon for their services, will only cease to a message delivered to him that he wanted to J. celebrated when time shall exist no S[)eak to him. Putnam without any hesitation / waited upon him. General Gage shewed him; more. r ik his fortifications, and advised him to lay down his ) Enthusiasm for the cause of liberty, arms. General Putnam replied, he could force (;jjubstituted in the place of discipline, not his fortifications in half an hour, and advised <^^, ,;, j^^ ^^^ eng. General Gage to go on board the ships with his '^"" J '^'=^' ' p .u i .•., r troops." ^ ^ "^ jbled them at once to perform the duties of The apprehension of an attack is adduced with ^ a disciplined army. Though the com- much more vori-similitude in M'Fingal. as the ^,|,^ridin(T officers from the four colonies of reason why General Gage would not sufFer the ^ Encrland were in a manner indepen- mhabitants to go Irom the town of Boston, after /^t;^^ '-'"o'^""^ "^'^ '" . ^ he had promised to grant permission: dent, they acted harmoniously in concert. " So Gage of late agreed, you know, -The first attention had been prudently di- To let the Boston people go ; rected towards forming some little re- Yet when he saw, 'gainst troops that braved him, 1 , , j ■ . i ^^t„ . C^^ ;* ;= itrall They were the onlyjuards thatsav'd lum, {^^^^ <1.'l^ mtrenchuients , for it IS well Kept oti" that Satan of a Putnam, From breaking in to maul and mutt'n him, He'd too much wit such leagues t' observe, And shut them in again to starve." M' Faigul, Canto 1. ^ known that lines, however slight or unte- nable, were calculated to inspire raw sol- diers with a confidence in themselves. The next care was to bring the live stock 28 LIFE, ANECDOTES. AXD HEROIC EXPLOITS from the islands in Boston bay in order to Al mul-tiay, four battalions of foot, ten prevent the enemy, (alreadr surrounded^cornpanies of grenadiers, ten companies by land,) from making use of them, for^of light infantry, with a proportion of ar- fresh provisions. In the latter end ofjtiliery, commanded by Major-General May, between two and Ihree hundred men'Howe, landed under a heavy cannonade were sent to drive off the stock from Hog^from the ships, and advanced in three and Noddle islands, which are situated outlines to the attack The licht infantry the north-east side of Boston harbor, ^beitig formed on the right, was directed to Advantage having been taken of the ebb ^turn the left flank of the Americans; and tide, when the water is fordable between Hhe grenadiers, supported by two battal- the main and Hog island, as it is betweenjions, to storm the redoubt in front, that and Noddle island, the design was^ Meanwhile, on application, the.se troops effected. But a skirmish ensued, in^^ere lugmented by the 47th regiment, which some of the marines, who had been^tho 1st battalion of marines, together with stationed to guard them, were killed ; and'^some companies of light infantry and as the firing continue 1 between the Brit-Jgrenadiers, which formed an aggregate ish water-craft and our party, are-inforce-Jforce of between two and three thousand ment of three hundred men, with two^nen.* But so difficult was it to re-enforce pieces of artillery, was ordered to join the Americans, by sending detachments the latter. General Putnam took the^ across the Neck, which was raked by the command, and having gone down on thejl cannon of the shipping, thatnot more than beach, within conversing distance, and ^ fifteen hundred men^were' brought into inefectualhj ordered the people on board jaction. Few instances can be produced an armed schooner to strike,-he plied herein the annals of mankind, where soldiers with shot so furiously, that tliecrew made? who never had before faced an enemy, or iheir escape, and the vessel was burnt ^ heard the whistling of a ball, behaved with An armed sloop was so much disabled as;such deliberate and persevering valor, to be towed off by the boats of the fleet, j General Putnam rode through the line, Thus ended this affair, in which several^ and ordered that no one should fire till hundred sheep, and some cattle, were re-hhey arrived within eight rods, nor anyone moved from under the muzzles of the j till' commanded. "Powder was scarce enemy's cannon, and our men, accustom-j and must not be wasted. They should not ed to stand fire, by being for many hours fire at the enemy till they saw the white of exposed to it, without meeting with any ^ their eyes, and then fire low, take aim at '•^s^- Uheir waistbands. They were all marks- The provincial Generals, having receiv-) men. and could kill n squirrel at a hundred ed advice that the British commander-in-^yards ; reserve their fire, and ihe enemy chief designed to take possession of the; were ail destroyed. Aim at the handsome heights on the peninsula at Charlstown. coats, pick off the commanders." The detached a thousand men in the night of game orders were reiterated by Prescott the Ifith June, under the orders of Gen- Lt the redoubt, by Pomeroy, Stark, and all eral Warren, to intrench themselves on)ihe veteran officers. one of these eminences, named Bunker The enemy were within gunshot of the Hill. Though retarded by accidents^redoubt ; a few of the sliarp shorters from beginning the work until nearly mid-) night, yet, by dawn of day, thev had con-) ^ „ ,. , . , , . ^ ■ 11,1 . . "i ) The precediiiir purairraph was copied from a structed a redoubt abouteignt reds square, 3^;^;^,^ Register, being the Enfrli«h accountof the and commenced a breastwork from thehroopssent to the attack of Bunker Hill, and the left to the low grounds; which an insuf ^di-^position of those troops. This account, and ferable fire from the shippin^r, floating^*'^'^"^- P"^^''^,'^'",'' =^' '*'<' '.''•'^' ^'"^ ^'*="^;"ff "^®' , , • , ,',' 7 nil ■ Yy''^d-^sohe6\ence oi an order on which the er, countrymen ot those who gave the fire, ^^^1^^^;^,^ ^j. ,^,,^ depended; he rode and received it with the same cool cour^^^^ t,^^ .pot, his sword whistling through age with which .t was given Kank suc-.^^^^ ^^ ';,^ ,^i^ indignation, he threatened ceededrank and returned the fire, but the ^t^^^jj^^^^ ti^^ ^%^ ^,,,^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ odds was fearful; the Americans were Nj^ ^i^^out orders. The discharge well protected by the «'orks ; the efforts ^j-^,,^ ^,^^^g j-^^^ ^,^^1^^,^^ however, drew and courage of the enemy were in vain, ^^^j^^ j;^^ j-^^^^ t,^^ enemy's line, which con- and with surly reluctance they were com- !^.^^^^ ^^^^.-^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^,^^,^ ' ^^^^^^ ^-^^^^ pelied to retreat. ;; rods from the fence, the fatal order was Warren animated and encouraged the^given ; the fire of the Americans mowed men, and with the rest of the ofiicers, set 'tliem down with the same tremenduous them an example with his musket; there ;)j;everity, as at the redoubt. The officers was scarcely an officer of any grade, ex- 'especially fell victims to their deadly aim. cept Putnam and Prescott, without one. ( Perfect as was the fire of the Ameri- During the tremenduous fire of musket- can infantry, their artillery was as gross- ^""y ^^^^ '■^'^'" "* cannon, M'Clary's stento- ly defective in every respect. This arm :"''i" ^"'^e was heard, anuuating and en- requires science, experience, and knosvl- ^couraging the men,, as though he would edge of position. But the artillery com- ^',"spire every ball that sped with his own panics were just selected from the infant-)"''^ "^"^ ene?g}. ry,and entirely ignorant of their duty. ^ The British fired their heaviest vollie^ Oallender earned his pieces into action, .^f ,,,^^],^i,, ,,,,^1, admirable coolness and but his catridges required adjusting. To-. _.^^^,^^^j -^^^^ ^^j^,^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ,j^^ ^.^p^. tally m violation of military discipline, ^^^ ^^^,ns, ^nd hnd nlniost every ball passed lell his post without orders, and was retire harmless over them. Their artillery had ing to a secure place under cover of the i^^en stopped by the brick kilns in the low. hdi, to prepare for firing. Putnam ^b- ; ,^j^^j ^^^^^.^^ 1,^^!^ ^^-^^t. This served this appearance of retreat, and was ^._; ^^^^^^ j^^^i ^^^,^,.3^ the ground fired with mdignat.on; he ordered him in- ^^,.^^^ their dead, were at length compelled stantly tohis post; Callender remonstrated, y^^^^-^^^ ^^ retreat ; and the huzza of vie but Putnam threatened him with 'nstant^^^^^ ^^.^^j^^^j ^1^^^.^ the American line, death, it he hesitated, and forced him back. His men, however, were distrusted ' General Ward had bv this time des- with a part of the service they did not un-' patched sufficient re-inforcements, but derstand, most of them had muskets and they did not reach the field. The fire mingled in the fight; the pieces were across the Neck wore an aspect too ter- entirely deserted, and the Captain) rific for raw troops to venture through it. relinquished them. 'Putnam flew to the spot to overcome their m U?P., ANECDOrRS, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS fears and hurry ihem on before the enemy? order \ras so p;Upably absurd, With their returned. He entreated, threatened, andnhree pounders, that Capt lin Trevitt abso-' uiicouraged them ; lashing his hofse with^iutely refused obedience, ordered his men the flat of his sword, he rode back\vard('to follow him. an I marched for the lines, and forward across the Neck, through the) Major Gridley was sensible his" artillery hottest tire, to convince tiiein there was no^ would be hazarded without infantry to danger. The balls ho^ve^•cr threw up cover them. Colonel Mansfield had been clouds of dust about him, and the ?oldiers ordered with his regiment to re-enforce were perfectly cf)nviiiced that he was in-\the troops at Charlestown, but being per- vulnerable, but not efjually conscious ofciemptorily commanded by Major Gridley, being so Ihcm.selvps.* Some of these) whom he considered high military author- troops, however, ventured over. ity, to cover his pieces, he complied, in The battalion of artillery under Major^violation of his orders. Gridley had proceeded but a few hundred^ Genera! Putnam left the neck for Bunk- rods down the road to Charlestown. when^er Hill to bring up the reinforcements, they were halted, and this officer deter- He there found Colonel Gerrish with his mined not to proceed to the hill, but waitjregim.ent and some scattered troops. The and cover the retreat, which he considered) Colonel had been a Captain in the pro- inevitable. He was young Pnd inexperi-Jvincial army of 17.56, he was of unwield* enced, and totally inadequate to the inijior-, ;!y corpulence, and a disposition by far too tant command which had been conferred) quiet for a soldier's. Me had marched on him in compliment to his father, Colo-<;his men rapidly from Cambridge, and un- nel Gridley. He was confound.;d withthejwisely halted them here to °rest. The dangers and difficulties of his situation,) blazing sun and tremendous fire of the and never recovered his self possession J enemy combined were far too powerful for during the day. )the faintness of his military ardor to over* While the artillery was halted in this)come. The men were disorganized and situation. Colonel James Frye, (who was s dispersed on the w.st side of the hill, and absent from his regiment on duty the day /covered, by the summit from the fire, before, but the battle approaching, had )putnam ordered them on to the lines ; he found his way to the field,) riding from entreated and tlireatened them, and some Charlestown, gallopped up to them, and , of the most cowardly he knocked down demanded of the senior captain,! '• why.; with his sword, but all in vain. The men this unseasonable halt ! '' He was aston- ■ complained they had not their officers; ished at the reply, and ordered them in-', he offered to lead them on himself, but the stanlly to the field. This veteran also u cannon were deserted, and they stood animated their courage by the glorious^ no chance without them." The battle recollection " this day thirty years since, /indeed appeared here in all its horrors. " I was at the taking of Louisbourg when , The British musketry fired high, and took ••it was surrendered to us; it is a fortu- ? effect on this elevated hill, and it was "'nate day for America, we shall certainly 'completely exposed to tlie combined fire " beat the enemy." ' from their ships, batteries, and field ])ieces. The artillery proceeded. Gridley join- ) The enemy were by this time organized edthem; but his aversion to joining in ^ anew, and were again advancing to the the cngagemem was invincible, and he^attack. Putnam's^duty called him to the ordered them on to Cobble Hill, to fire at 'lines. At thi<. time Captain Ford appear- the Glasgow and floating batteries. The^ed »vith his company. He served in a re- _, ' )giment under the veteran Lieutenant Par- n 1^ nf^M^Tl ?n '? P'^'^'i^y 'h^'^^P-^ker and Major Brooks Of them he had osition ol Mr. bnrauol iJasset ; ll)e otlier circum-/ i i , . c i i- tt t. j stances by oral testimony. / learned the duties of a soldier. He had t He was living in in 1B12. and from whom we J already signalized himself at Lexington have this anecdote. ''battle, by killing five of the enemy. His OF MAJOR-GEMERAL PUTNAM. 31 orders were to proceed to the lines, and^vvhat was a thousand times more impor- re-inforce the troops ; he obeyed, marched jtant, a knowledge of their weapons. Their unconcerned across the Neck, and was ''aim was too elevated, and the enemy were proceeding down Bunker Hill, when Put-' hidden behind their works. Some of nam was delighted with an aid so oppor»? their balls, however, took effect, and a few tune. Calender's deserted cannon were \ of the privates fell victims. The brayfe at the foot of the hill ; he ordered Captain ( Major Moore was mortally wounded. Ford with his company to draw them into^ Major Buck minster received abal! throucrh line. The Captain remonstrated " his ^ the shoulder, and was crippled for life, company were totally ignorant of the dis-,) To add new horrors to the scene, vast cipline and employment of artillery " ^columns of smoke were now observed over But the General peremptorily persisting ;Charlestown, and passed to the south over in his order, he obeyed; his company J,the American lines. General Howe, on moved with the cannon and the General /his fiist advance, had sent word to Gener- to the rail fence. ^ al Burgoyne ami General Clinton, on The heroic enemy with unwavering step/ (!opp's Hill, that his left flank was annoy- and firm undaunted bravery appeared ^ed by musketry from Charlestown, and again before the murderous lines which ('ordered them to burn it down. A carcass had already compelled them to retreat. /was fired, but fell short near the ferry They had nearly the same obstacles to'^vvay; a second fell in the street, and the overcome as before. Their cumbrous, town was on fire. The conflagration was knapsacks, tall and almost impassable) completed by a detachment of men who grass, and a torrid sun, blazing in face of 'landed from the Somerset. The whole them, they had to contend against, as well /town was combustible. The flames as- as an enemy every way worthy of them, ^cended to heaven on the lofty spire of the One new obstacle they had to pass, the /church, and resembled the eruptions of a dead bodies of their fellow soldiers which , vast volcano in solemn grandeur and sub- covered the ground. But thisserv^id rath- limity. The advance of the enemy was er to stimulate them to still more daring' not obscured by the smoke from Charles- efforts to avenge their fall. The last of < town ; they were in full view of the Amer- the re-inforcements, a few companies of icans. Putnam now, with the assistance marines arrived on the left. of Captain Ford's company, opened his The Americans were now tnore confi artillery on them. He had on this day dent and perfect than before in a manoeu- performed the service of General, engi- vre which had bf^en crowned with success. | neer, and guide, and he now turned can-^ It was indeed perfectly simple, but equal- nonier, with splendid success, and to the ly fatal to the foe. They received orders highest satisfaction of his surrounding to reserve their fire till the enemy ap-| countrymen. Each company of artillery proached still nearer than before. At had but twelve catridges, and these were six rods only they were permitted to re-; soon expended. He pointed the cannon, turn the fire. The British artillery ap- the balls took effect on the enemy, and one proached by the narrow road between the /case of canister made a lane through tongue of land and Breed's Hill, within them. As in Milton's battle, three hundred yards of the rail fence, and '/ ., p^^, dissipation followed and forced rout." almost in a line with the redoubt, and', opened on the lines to prepare a way for /With wonderful courage, however, the en- their infantry. The latter commenced a'emy closed his ranks, and the fire became regularand tremendous volley by platoons '^general on both sides. The Americans and their fire soon became general. But ; suffered the enemy to approach still nearer unfortunately for them, though perfect in'ithan before ; men and officers fell in pro- drill discipline, and regular movements of/ miscuous heaps; whole front ranks of parade, they were as grossly unskilful in' them were swept away. 33 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS GeneraMVard was withoutstafF officers junction and glorious example were not to ber.r his commands, excepting one aid, lost; and that his son was worthy of him. and a secretary, who performed lhe\ 'Ihese reinforcements, with Captain duty. During the whole day tliese werei Clark and Captains Chester and Coit, who mounted and oa full speed between Breed's) soon followed with their companies, sup- Hill and head quarters. Loss and neg- \ plied the places of those who had expend- lect of orders were the inevitable Conse-(ed their ammunition and left the ground, quence, Colonel Gardner's regiment ahd( and of the detachment sent off with the others who had been posted between Cam- intrenching tools, who, in contempt of bridae and Chariestown, to wait further ) their orders, never returned, orders, were overlooked. The battle was; 'I'he British had a long time borne the ratrinor, and no orders arrived. The T'o^j murderous fire of the enemy, but their as-* lonel was a gentleman of rank, had been ^ tonislung. fortitude and daring efforts were a member of the legislature, and com '; useless against the insuperable difficulties nianded a fegiment of militia, which. |, they encountered. Nearly a thousand of marching to Lexington to join in the en- < their number had fallen, with an incredi- gagenient there, suddftn4y opened on the;l)ie proportion of the bravest officers. British artillery ; being entirely void of^ Tiie distinguished Colonels Abercrombie cover they dispersed. His gallant soul ^ and Williams, and Major t^pendiove, had felt theif conduct as a stigma on himself, ) purchased fame with their lives, and he resolved on the earliest opportuni-;! The gallant Major Small was leftsiand- ry to wipe the spot from his eecutcheon { ing alone, every one shot down about him. A glorious occasion was before him, and j The never erring muskets were leveled at he panted to cmbriice it — to reap the hon-', him, and a soldier's fate was his inevitable ors of victory^ or death and lasting fame, /destiny, had not Putnam at the instant ap- The latter fate was decreed him. He peared. Each recognized in the other an called to him his officers, and offered toxoid friend and fellow soldier; the tie was lead them into battle; most of them, with sacred ; Putnam threw up the deadly mus- three hundred of his men, followed him. kets with his sword, and arrested his fate. He led them over Bunker Hill, viewed ^ He begged his men to spare that officer, with unconcern the battle scene on the^ as dear to him as a brother. Th<; Gener- hill before him, terrible as Mount Sinai, al's humane and chivalroiis generosity e.v and with glorious anticipations, was de-\ cited in them new admiration, and his scending to the engagement, when a mus-i friend retired unhurt, ket ball entered his groin, and the vvound| The undaunted Howe still led on his proved mortal. He gave his men his last j men in the hottest of the battle. His solemn injunction, to conquer or die, and^ friend and volunteer aid. Gordon, and was carried off the field. He soon met ) Captain Addison, a descendant from the Captain Trevctt advancing with his artil- j, author of the Spectator, were slain, and lery, and an interesting and heroic inter- / almost every other officer of his staft, or view ensued between the Colonel and near him, was shot. Mortified and indig* Captain Trevett's second Lieutenant, nant at so mucli blood wa.sted in vain, he Gardner, his son, a mere youth of nine-/ seemed to court an honorable death to teen. The son was in an agony at the hide him from the disgrace of a second desperate situation of his father, and \ defeat by an enemy he despised as peas* would have attended him off the ground. ) ants and rebels. His life seemed charm- But the Colinel prohibited this. " He ed. and he Avas compelled to follow his should not be alarmed at his situation, he( army, who again retreated, and left their was engaged in a good cause, and must, enemy to taste, a second time, tiie joys of march on and do his duty." The distract- f victory. cd son obeyed, and his dying father had^ The exi.ltation of the Americans was the consolation to learn that the last in-) glorious and well deserved, but it was, OP MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. S3 alas, shortlived. They had leisure to re- alize the entire hopelessness of their situ- ation. Their ammunition was expended, and they were as destitute of every offen- sive weapon as the naked savages, their predecessors. Prescott found a few artil- lery cartridges, which he distributed to his men, and they determined to show a resolute frynt to the enemy, to club their muskets, and even employ the stones thrown up with the parapet against them. Their only hope, however, was from a want of fortitude in the enemy, and that they had twice this day proved was slender indeed. General Mowe gave his men orders to prepare pgain to advance. Some of the officers remonstrated, that it would be mere butchery to lead them on again ; but the General?, and nearly every officer, were indignant at a distant suspicion ol their yielding the victory to these rebels, an undisciplined rabble, of inferior num- bers, after all their boasting, and after they ihad poured out every epithet of contempt against them. To conquer or die was (heir resolve. Bloody experience at last opened their eyes to their egregious errors. Their over- weening confidence was laid aside, and a calculated, deliberate, and judicious plan of attack adopted. The overloaded knap- sacks were relinquished ; firing with mus- ketry was prohibited, and a charge with th'i bayonet resorted to. The attack was to be more concentrated ; while the troops at the rail fence were amused by a show of force, the grand effort was to be against the redoubt and breastwork, and particularly the right flank. The accomplished and chivalrous Gen- eral Clinton now joined and brought his splendid talents into the council, and his distinguished gallantry into the field. Im- mediate and inconceivable was the sensa- tion his appearance produced at this mo- ment of deep despondence. From Copp's Hill he had observed with shame and in- dignation the double rout of his country- men, and particularly that the two distin- guished battalions, the marines, and forty- seventh, were staggered and wavering, c Without wailing for orders, he threw him- self into a boat, passed over, and soon breathed into them his own exalted hero- ism. ; General Howe a third time commanded ] a forward movement to scale the works, and rush on the enemy with the bayonet. He came to the left to lead on to the re- doubt himself. Clinton joined General J Pigot and the marines on the left, to turn ^ the right flank of the Americans. The i artillery were ordered to advance still \ farther than before on their old rout, and turn the left of the breastwork to rake the line. General Howe ai last became .sensible that this was the most vulnerable [ point and key of his enemy's position. The Americans made every preparation possible to repel the last desperate effort of the enemy. Putnam again rode to the rear, and exhausted every art and effort to bring on the scattered re-enforcements. Captain Bayley, only, of Colonel Gerrish's regiment, advanced to the lines, and Cap- tain Trevett now arrived at the rail fence with his pieces. The enemy stripped off their knap- sacks, and many of them their coats ; the artillery pushed on by the road on the north, the forty-seventh and marines near the road on the south side of the hill, and the remains of the royal Irish and other regiments, and part of the grenadiers and light infantry, in front. Their past efforts had exhausted the strength and spirit of many of the men, who lingered in the rear, and their gallant officers were com- pelled to urge them on with their swords. Some of the less resolute fired their pie- ces, but the great masses obeyed their or- ders, and with firmness moved on to the charge. They arrived under the fire of the Americans, who improved to advan- tage their last opportunity for vengeance. Every shot took effect. The gallant Howe at last received a ball in the foot, where, only, like Achilles, he seemed to be vul- nerable, but continued to animate his men. A few only of the Americans had .1 charge of ammunition remaining. They had sent for a supply in vain ; a barrel 34 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS and a half only were in the magazine.? for dead, when he seized his opportunity They resorted next lo stones, but these; and escaped. served only to betray their weakness, and| The heroic but diminutive Pigot ran up lent new energy to the foe. ^ the south-east corner of the redoubt, as- Thc artillery advanced to the open^sisted by a tree left standing there, and space between the brea.stwork and raiK desperately led on his men. Troops sue- fence; this ground was defended by sonici, ceeded troops over the parapet, and Pres- brave Essex troops, covered orJy by scat-; cott exhausted every resource to repel tered trees. With resolution and deadly ■! them, even with the buts of hia guns, aim they poured the most destructive vol-i. But he had now his last great victory hes on the enemy. 'I'he cannon, howev-) to achiere, to which all his past toils, er, turned the breastwork, enfiladed the dangers, and privations, were nothing, line, and sent their balls through the open( He had twice conquered the enemy ; he gateway or sally port, directly into the re) had now a jnore difficult task, to conquer doubt, under cover of which the troops at) himself, to bend doivn his lofty soul, and the breastwork were compelled to retire, (turn his back to the enemy. Perfectly The enemy bravely bore the deadly fire,/ careless of his own life, he had no right and continually closing his broken ranks.) to trifle with the lives of his men. It was deliberately advanced on every side of the( a sacred deposit they had intrusted to his redoubt except the north. They were nowi honor, a bond which he never forfeit- under the eastern side of the redoubt and|)ed. Instead of a useless waste of life, covered from 'the fire. The Americans re-( with a "nil desperandum," he quelled tired to the side opposite to take them as^ his revolting spirit and ordered a retreat, they rose. Lieutenant Prescott, a nephewj- General Ward had gratified at last the ot theColonel, received a ball through the^ ardent wishes of the Connecticut troops arm; it hung broken and useless by his side. ^ to join their beloved General. Captains The Colonel ordered him to content him-) Chester, Clark, and Coit were on the self with encouraging his men. But he^ ground with their troops, and Major Dur- contrived to load his piece,and was passing; kee's impatience had before this brought by the sally poit to rest against tiie enemy, ) him mounted to the field, to join his old when a cannon ball cut him to pieces. ) commander and comrade of former wars. Young Richardson, of the royal Irish, J Putnam's imagination had already in- was the first to mount the works, and was) scribed the victory of Bunker Hill on hia instantly shot down ; the front rank which \ coat of arms, when a dark cloud flew succeeded shared the same fate. Among,' across the brilliant prospect. The retreat these mounted the gallant Major Pitcairne.) of the riwht wing burst upon him. and exultingly cried " the day is ours,") The gallant veteran Gridley now re- when a black soldier, named Salem* shot|> ceived a ball through the leg, and was him through, and he fell. His agonized^ carried off. He had served all night at son received him in his arms, and tender-) the intrenchments, and had all day assist- ly bore him to the boats. It was he who^ ed in defending his own works, and pro- caused the first effusion of blood at hex-/ ving their excellence, ington In that battle his horse was shot;; {y,^^^^^^'^ troops fought their way under h.m, while he was separated from,; tj^^^^^h ^^e surrounding enemy. The vet his troops; with presence of mind he; ^.^^^ g ^^j^ g.^^roft was charging his feigned himselt slain; his pistolst werej j a British soldier leaped from the taken from the holsters, and he was le ft.) parapet., touching him as he came to the * A contribution was made in the army for this-; ground, and leveled at him; they fired soldier and he was prosonted to Washington, as , toorether ; the Captain tore him to pieces, having performed this feat. > ^°^ escaped unhurt. One of the men pllrarlU?^^^^!!; fL^Xom ' without a™,n„„i.lo„ perceived Lieu.enan. wo have the above anecdote. ( Prescott's loaded musket by Us deceased OP MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. 35 master; a Briton obstructed his passage, , him ;* his countrymen were in momenta- seizing the loaded musket he brought his)ry expectation of seeing this compeer of antagonist to the ground. Ithe immortal Warren (all. He entreated Colonel Bridge, who came with the first { them to rally and renew the fight, to finish detachment, was one of the last to retreat, (his works on Bunker Hill, and again give and was twice severely wounded, in the "i the enemy battle on that unassailable po- head and neck. His Lieutenant-Colonel, ^tition, and pledged his honor to restore to the veteran Parker, who had escaped l* them an easy victory. Captuin Smith, of throujh the whole war of l7o(J, in which > General Ward's regiment, canoe with his he h;id signalized himself and especially ' company to re-enforce, joined in the re- nt the desperate siege of Fort Frontenac, <, treat, and assisted to keep the enemy at 'received a ball in the thigh, and was left (bay. mortally woanded in the redoubt. } The Americans had retreated about rru u- 1 \ir r ^.^a t .i ^ ^ twenty rods before the enemy had lime to J he chivalrous Warren Imgered to the, u j ■ , •' . _ 1 . 11 u I ■ t r 1 • I „ ' '■'^I'V «rid pour in a destructive fire on last. Ills exalted spirit disdained as a ( , •' , •' . , , , , , . ,• ^ . . .u * • •. ki« (them, which destroyed more than they had discrrace a retreat the most inevitable. } , . u. c j ■ , , .-> . , ,. TT • .1.1 .. * .t f j„ . (lost betore duringthe day. Co onel 'res- He animated the men to the most despe- ) ,,,,-, " , -^ , • , , „ . , ■ J I u •. ir K J ) cott s adiutant was shot and crippled; rate daring: and when hope itselt had,^ . ■ i\ r i • i p ^" ? n.i k .n } g • ^j , n w *k -„i ', Captain Uow, ot his regiment, was a so lied, he still disdained to ny. With sal- ( ■ , j ■ i • , i , ,., , , 1 r II J u- .. (crippled bv a wound in the leg, and Cap- len reactance he loilowed his country-/ .^'^r, " c \ i r i? i , ^ , ,. . .1 . 1 II f nam Bancroft had a part ol his hand car- men, and seemed to court that ball from • j «• the enemy, which, a few yards from the \ mi. \ • t c. ■ i , ,. ■" J ,' ui- I J J > 1 he American left wing were open y redoubt, passed throuorh his head, and se-( , , . , , * , . " -^ , ' T- ., , = , ,-. J c i^- (congratulating themselves on their victo- •cured to hiin the eternal gratitude ot his) ■ .u • a i ji • , • ,*', i- ,, I ) ry, when their Hank was opened by the re- coantrymen, and immortaltame through- /^ . r .u • i . mi i , .1 ■' ,, ^ treat or the right, 1 he enemy pressed on out the world. ^,„ j .u • ,i ■ . „ ( them, and they were in their turn compelJ- Small here repaid the debt of gratitude \ ed to retire. Putnam covered their retreat he owed the enemy. He Recognized < ^ith his Connecticut troops, and dared the- Warren, his intimate friend, as he was < utmost fury of the enemy, in the rear of leaving the- redoubt, called to him for j the whole. These pursued with little ar- God's sake to stand and save his life; he ^ dor, but poured in their thundering vol- turned and seemed to recognize him, but J [ies, and showers of balls fell like hail, kept on. Small commanded the men not ( around the General.! (to fire at him ; threw up the muskets with ) He addressed himself to every passion his sword, but in vain, the fatal ball had of the troops, to persuade them to rally, '■^P"^''- ) to throw up his works on Bunker Hill, The enemy came on, exhausted by ^ and make a stand, and, as the last resort, their desperate efforts, under a blazing < threatened them with the eternal disgrace sun, and broken by the well directed fire. < of deserting their General. He took his They had not force to employ the bayonet, > stand near a field piece, and seemed re- and were too much broken and mingled ) with the enemy to fire their pieces. Their \' right and left wings were indeed facina I' * Deposition of Lyman, then a Lieutenant, and '^ . , • I 1 A • ^ present, and Miner, a private in the same compa- each other, with the Americans between; \ „y. This is confirmed too by the testimony of a their fire would have cut down both friend ') disliiiffuished oiBcerof the revolution, yet living, and foe. While they formed them.selves ^ '» 1318, who had served with General Putnam ia .,„^.., ,i,« \™„--., M„ . J 1 J Uhe French war, and was present, though badly anew, the .Americans collected, and made ? ^ . r » & .^ a brave and orderly retreat Putnam put ) spurs to his foamintr horse and threw him- „,^™', ^^""^ we have from a respectable friend. \r \ . ,1 , ,. p I , ( Philip Johnson, Esq., who was present, and livinff self between the retreating force and the ;„ ig^S, at Newburvport. His honor and veraci- enemy, who were but twelve rods from ^y is surpassed by uo man's. de LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS ?:olve(l to brave the foe alone. His troops, however, felt it impossible to withstand > the overwhelming force of the British bayonets; they left him. One sergeant { only dared to stand by his General to the / last; he was shot down, and the enemy's bayonets were just upon the General be- ' fore he retired. ( General Romeroy continued to animate the men, and cut down the enemy him-' self, till a well hove ball shattered his , musket. The retreat having commenced, he disdained to tuj-n his back ; but with backward step and lowering front should- ered the fragments of his piece and car- ried off his men, encouraging them to pour in their formidable fire on the enemy. ; The premature death of Warren, one { of the most illustrious patriots that ever < bled in the cause of freedom ; the veteran ( appearance of Putnam, collected, yet ar- ; dent in action ; together with the aston- ^ this distance, point out to you the works "As there are the best reasons to be" ( most proper to be first raised; and your Ijeve that the enemy's fleet and army, / perseverance; activity, and zeal will lead' which left Nantasket-Road last Wednes- you, without ray recoramending it, to ex- day evening, are bound to New York, to > ert every nerve to disappoint the enemy's endeavor to possess that important post, ) designs. and, if possible, to secure the conimuni- ; ^ "■ Devoutly praying that the power cation by Hudson's river to Canada, it ^ which has hitherto sustained the American must be our care to prevent them from \ arms, may continue to bless them with the accomplishing their designs. To that end divine protection. I bid you — farewell. I have detached Brigadier General Heath, \ " Given at Head-Quarters, in Cam- with the whole body of riflemen, and five ^ bridge, this twenty-ninth of March 1776. battalions of the Continental army, by ^ " " G. Washington." the way of Norwich, in Connecticut, to J y^.-egted with these commands, Gener. New York. These, by an express ar- r ^j p^^,^.^^ ^^^^.^U^j j^^ long and expedi- rived yesterday from General Heath I ;> ^j^^^ ^^^^^^ to New York. His first have reason to believe, are in New ^ ork. ; caution, upon his arrival, was to prevent Six more battalions, under General Sulli- j ^j^^^^^^^^^^ or surprise in the niaht sea- van, march this morning by the same ^^^^^ With these objects in view, after route, and will, I hope, arrive there in ^ j^^ ^j^^ necessary guards, he issued eight or ten days at farthest. 1 he rest ol ^j^ orders.t He instituted, likewise, oth- thearmy will immediately follow in di- J ^^ ^^,^^^1^^^^^ regulations to meliorate visions, leaving only a convenient space ^^j^^.j^^ of the tn.ops, and to preserve between each division, to prevent confu- ^^^^^ ^ agreement thatsubsisted between sion, and want of accommodation upon .^j^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ citizens, their march. \ ou will, no doubt, rnake ] Notwithstanding the war had now ratred the best despatch in getting to New ^ ork. ,^ .^ ^^,^^^ ^^^ ^j^,^ unaccustomed severity Upon your arrival there, you will assume ) | ihe command, and immediately i)roceed in • . ^„ .„ xK^ „;.,„ ,^^^,^,^^^A \ * Colone Joseph Trumbull, eldest sou to tlic continumg to execute the ;;/,/n proposed ^^^^^.^^^^^^ ^,^^^^ '^^^^^^ by Major-General Lee, for fortifying that +rFNFRAr ornFRS . city, and securing the passes of the East \ + GLNERAL OLDERS. and North rivers. If, upon consultation j " Head- Quarters, Neio York, April 5, 1776. with the Brigadiers General and Rnori- ) " The soldiers are strictly enjoined to retire to neers, any "alteration in that plan jg ^heir banacks and q.uirters at tuttoo-beatu.g. and iicci , uiij «■ V- J Uo remain there until the. rjteille IS beat. thought necessary, you are at liberty to \ »• Necessity obligbs the Oeneral todesire the in- make it: cautiously avoiding to break in (habitants of the city to observe the sanie rule, as too much upon his main design, unless ^ no P^t^o" will be permitted to pass any sentry af- , ., 1 .1 „ ^ ; tor this nirrlit, without the- couutfrsiirn. where it may be apparently necessary so j .. ,^,^^ ^„habiiauts. whose busine:>s require it. to do, and that by the general voice and '> may know the countersign, by applying to any of opinion of the gentleman above mentioned, 'the Brigade-Majors." OF MAJOR GENERAL PUTNAM. 39 for nearly a year, yet the British ships at New York, one of which had once fired upon the town to intimidate the inhabit- ants, found the means of being supplied with fresh water and provisions. General Putnam resolved to adopt effectual meas- ures for putting a period to this inter- course, and accordingly expressed his pro- hibition* in the most pointed terms. Nearly at the same moment, a detach- ment of a thousand continentals was sent to occupy Governor's Island, a regiment to fortify Red Hook, and some companies of riflemen to the Jersey shore. Of two boats, belonging to two armed vessels, which attempted to take on board fresh water from tlie watering place on Staten Island, one was driven off by the riflemen, with two or three seamen killed in it, and the other captured with thirteen. A few days afterwards, Captain Vandeput, of the Asia man of war, the senior officer of ships on this station, finding the intercourse with the shore interdicted, their limits contracted, and that no good purposes could be answered by remaining there, sailed, with all the armed vessels, out of the harbor. These arrangements and transactions, joined to an unremitting at- tention to the completion of the defences, gave full scope to the activity of General Putnam, until the arrival of General Washington, which happened about the middle of April. * PROFIIBITION. ^* Head- Quarters, New York, Avril 8, 1776. " Tlie General informs the inhabitants, that it is become absolutely necessary that all commnni- catioii between the ministerial fleet and the shore, should be iintnediateiy stopped ; for that purpose he has given positive orders, the ships should no longer bo furnished with provisions. Any inhabit- ants, or others, who shall be taken, that have been on board, after the publishing of this order, or near any of the ships, or going on board, will be con-^ideredas enemies, and treated accordingly. " All boats are to sail from Beekman slip. Captain James Aimer is appointed inspector, and ■will give permits to oyster-men. It is ordered and expected that none attempt going without a pass. "ISRAEL PUTNAM, " Major-General in the Continental army, and commander-in-chief of the forces in New York.' The Commander-in-chief, in his first public orders, " complimented the officers who had swu essivcl'j commanded at New York, and returned his thanks to them, as well as to the officers and soldiers under their command, for the many works of de- fence which had been bO expeditiously erec- ted : at the same time he expressed an ex- pectation that the same spirit of zeal for the service would continue to animate their future conduct." Putnam, who was then the only Major-General with the main ar- } my, had still a chief agency in forwarding ) the fortifications, and, vyith the assitance of the Brigadiers Spencer and Lord Stir- ling, in assigning to the different corps their alarm posts. Congress having intimated a desire of consultmg with the Commander-in-chief, on the critical posture of affairs, his Ex- c{.llency repaired to Philadelphia accor- dingly, and was absent from the twenty- first of May, until the sixth of June. General Putnam, who commanded in that interval, had it in charge to open all let- ^ ters directed to General Washington, on "^1 public service, and, if important, after regulating his conduct by their contents, to forward them by express ; to expedite the works then erecting ; to begin others which were specified ; to establish signals for communicating an alarm; to guard against the possibility cf surprise ; to se- cure well the powder magazine; to aug- ment, by every means in his power, the quantity of cartridges ; and to send Brig- adier-General Lord Stirling to put the 'posts in the Highlands into a proper con- dition of defence. He had also a private and conjidential instruction^ to afford whatever aid might be required by the provincial congress of New- York, for ap- prehending certain of their disaffected citizens ; and as it would be most con- venient to take the detachment for this service from the troops on Long Island, under the command of Brigadier-General Greene, it was recommended that this of- ficer should be advised of the plan, and that the execution should be conducted with secrecy and celerity, as well as with decency and good ordar. In the records 40 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS of the army, are preserved the daily or- ders which were issued in the absence of the Commander in-chief, who on his re- turn, was not only satisfied that the works had been prosecuted with all possible des- patch, but also that the other duties had been properly discharged. It was the latter end of June, when the British fleet, which had been at Halifax, wailing for re-inforcements from Europe, began to arrive at New ^ ork. To ob- struct its passage, some marine prepara- tions had been made. General Putnam, to whom the direction of the whale-boats, fire-rafts, flat-bottomed boats, and armed vessels, was committed, afforded his pat- ronage to a project for destroying the en- emy's shipping by explosion. A machine, altogether different from any thing hither- to devised by the art of man, had been invented by Mr. David Bushnell,* for suh- * David Bushnell, A. M., of Saybrook, in Connecticut, invented several other machines for ' the annoyance of shipping; these from accidents, not militating against the philosophical principles < on which their success depended, only partially succeeded. He destroyed a vessel in the charge of Commodore Symrnonds, whose report to the Admiral was published. One of his kegs also demolished a vessel near the Long Island shore. About Christmas, 1777, he committed to the Del- aware a number of kegs, destined to fall among* the British fleet at Philadelphia ; but his squadron ' of kegs, having been separated and retarded by the ice. demolished but a single boat. This ca- tastrophe, however, produced an alarm, unprece- dented m its nature and degree ; which has been 80 happily described in the subsequent song, by the Hon. Francis Hopkinson, that the event it cele- brates will not be forgotten, so long as mankind ahall continue to be delighted with works of hu- mor and taste. THE BATTLE OF THE KEGS.— ^ Song. [^Tanc, Moggy Laicder.'\ Gallints, atfRnd, and hear n. friend, Tlirill forth liarmo.iioiis ditty: Stranje thinff-» I'll t •!!, which lute befell In I'hiladelphia city. 'Twas enrly d.iy, as poets say, 3\\^\. when the sun was rising, A Bolilifir atcxid on Ing of wood, And saw a sight surprising. As in a maz'- he stood to gaze, Tho truth cnn't ho di>nii'd, .Sir, He spied a >core nf kojis or more, Coini) floating down the tide, Sir. A sailor, too, in jerkin blue, 'J'lu) elrinsi; api>oiirauce viewing, ' i?narinc it'ivigatlon, which was found to* answer the purpose perfectly, of rowing horizontally at any given depth under wa- ter, and of rising or sinking at pleasure. To this machine, called the Ainericar» Turtle, was attnched a magazine of pow- der, which it was intended to be fastened under the bottom of a ship, with a driving screw, in such sort, that the same stroke which disengaged it from the machine, should put the internal clockwork in mo- tion. This being done, the ordinary ope- ration of a gun-lock at the distance of half an hour, an hour, or any determinate time, would cause the powder to explode, and leave the effect to the common laws of nature. The simplicity, yet combina- tion discovered in the mechanism of this wonderful machine, were acknowledged by those skilled in physics, and particu- larly hydraulici, to be not less ingenious First damn'd his eyes in erent surpriss, TJien said — "Some mischief's brewing. These kegs now hold the rebels bold, PacU'd up like pickled herring ; And they're come down t' attack the town In this new way of ferry'ng." The soldier flew ; the sailor too ; And, scar'd almost to death, .Sir, Wore out their shoes to spread the news, And ran till nut of breath, Sir. Now up and down, throughoiu the town. Most frantic scenes were acted ; And some ran here, and some ran there. Like men almost distracted. Some fire cried, which some denied, But said the earth had quaked : An.i girls and boys, with hideous noise,. Ran through the town half naked. Sir William* he, Bimgas n. flea, Lay all this time a snoring ; Nor dreamt of harm, as he lay warm- In bed with Mrs. L*r*ng. Now in a fright, he starts upright, Awak'd by such .-» clatter : lie rubs both eyes, and boldly cries, " For God's sake, what's tlie matter V' At his bedside he then espivd Sir Erskinef at romiinnd, Sir ; Upon one foot he had one boot, And t'other in his hand, Sir. " Arise! arise ! " Sir Erskine cries : " The rebels— more's the piiy — Without a boat, are all on float. And rang'd before tho city. • Sir William ffowe. t Sir mUiam Erskine. OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. 41 than novel. The inventor, whose consti- c on board of which the British Admiral, tution was too feeble to permit him to per- ( Lord Howe, commanded. In coming up, form the labor of rowing the Turtle, had 'the screw had been calculated to perfo- taught his brother to manage it vviih per- ■ rate the copper sheathing, unluckily fect°dexterity; but unfortunately his broth- ( struck against some iron plates where the er fell sick of a fever just before the arri- ' rudder is connected with the stern. This val of the fleet. Recourse was therefore , accident, added to the strength of the tide had to a sergeant in the Connecticut which prevailed, and the want of adequate troops; who, having received whatever ( skill in the sergeant, occasioned such de- instructions could be communicated to (lay, that the dawn began to appear, him in a short time, went, too late in the ) whereupon he abandoned the magazine to night, with all the apparatus, under the chance, and after gaining a proper dis- bottom of the Eagle, a sixty-four gun ship, : taiice, for the sake of expedition, rowed ; on the surface towards the town. Gener- ^ al Putnam, who had been on the wharf '■ anxiously expecting the result, from the (first glimmering of light, beheld the ma- *> chine near Governor's Island and sent a \ whale-boat to bring it on shore. In about . twenty minutes afterwards the magazine exploded, and blew a vast column of wa- ', ter to an amazing height in the air. ^ As th>i whole business had been kept an invi- olable secret, he was not a lutle diverted with the various conjectures, whether this /stupendous noise was piodu.'.ed by a I bomb, a meteor, a water-spout, or an >; earthquake. Other operations of a most Uerious nature rapidly succeeded, and ) prevent id a repetition of the experiment. On the twenty-second day of August, Uhe van of the British lauded on Long Is- (land, and was soon followed by the whole !' army, except one brigade of Hessians, a small body of British, and some conval- !escents, left on Staten Lsland. Our troops ;on Long Island had been commanded du- (ring the summer by General Green, who ;■ was now sick; and General Putnam took ( the command but two days before the bat- ^ tie of Flatbush. The instructions to him, /pointing in the first place to decisive ex- pedients for suppressing the scattering, unmeaning, and wasteful fire of our men, !' containpd''regulations for the service of the guards, the brigadiers, and the field Parsons, and some other gentlemen of science, ' oflicers of the day; for the appointment was appointed a Captain in the corps of sappers > ^^^^^ encouragement of proper SCOUtS, as '■'h capacity he continued to : ^ ke"epin>r the men constantly at until the conclusion of the ) "^ " "^ '"' ^ ' ^ .■ .1 k, . ^nW. rr nf their po.-^ts; for preventing the burning ot {buildings, except it should he necessary^p ' for milUary purposes, and for prc.ervsng " The motley crew, in vessels new, With Satan for their guide. Sir, Paek'd up ill b;i23, or wnoilen k"!;s, Came driving duwii the tide. Sir: " Therefore prepare for bloody war ; These kegs must all he routed, Or snr'-ly we uespis'd shall be, And Uritioh courage doub'ed." The Royal Iiand now ready stand, All raiig'd in dread arraj. Sir, Witli stomachs stout, tnsee it out, And make a bloody day, Sir. The cannons roar from s!iore to shore, The small arms make a rattle : Since wnrs began, I'm sure no man E'er saw so strange a batlle. The rebel* vales, the rebel da'es, With rebel trees surrounded, Thi- distant woods, the hills and floods, With rebel echoes sounded. The fisli below swam to and fro, Attack'd from every quarter : " Why sure," thuuiht they, " the Devil'.< to pay 'Mong'st folks above th^ wjter." The kess, 'tis said though strongly made Of rebel staves and hoop^, Sir, Could lint oppose their pow'rfu foes, Theconqu'riiig British troops, Sir. From morn to night those men of might, Display'd amazing courage: And when the sun was fairly down, Ketir'd to sup their porridf;e. All hundro 1 men, with each a pen. Or more, upon mv word, Sir, It is most true, would be too few Their valor to record, Sir, Such feats did they perform that day. Upon thiise wiciced ke2;s, Sir, That years to come, if they get home. They'll make their boasts and brags. Sir. Mr. Bnshnell, having been hijjhly recommend- ed for his talents bv President Stiles. Genera and miners ; in whic serve witli that corps war * The British afTicers were so fond of the word rebel, tha' they often, applied it most absurdly. 4-2 LIFE. ANECDOTES, AND MER.OIC EXPLOITS, private property from pillage and destnic- / tion. To these regulations were added, ' in a more diffuse, though not less spirited and professional style, reflections on the distinction of an arnny from a mob; with exhortations for the soldiers to conduct themselves manfully in such a cause, and for the commander to oppose (he enemy's approach with detachments of his best troops; while he should endeavor to ren- der their advance more difficult by con- structi'jg abattis, and to entrap iheir par- ties by forming ambuscades. General Putnam was within the lines, when an engagement took place on the 27th, be- tween the British army and our advanced corps, in which we lost about a thousmd men in killed and missing, with the Gene- rals Sullivan and Lord Stirling made prisoners. But our men, though attacked on all sides, fought with great bravery; and the enemy's loss was not light. The unfortunate battle of Long Island, the masterly retreai from thence, and the actual pas-age of part of the hostile fleet in the East river, above the town, preceded { the evacuation of New York. A promo- tion of four major-generals, and six briga- diers, had previously been made by Con- gress. y\fterthe retreat from Lonof Island, the main army, consisting, for (he moment, of sixty battalions, of which twenty were Continental, the residue, levies and mili- tia, was, conformably to the exigencies of the service, rather than to the rules of war, formed into fourteen brigades; Ma- jor-General Putnam commanded the right grand division of five brigades, the iVIa- jors General Spencer and Greene, the centre of six brigades, and Major-General Heith, the left, which was posted near Kingsbridge, and composed of two bri- gades. The whole never amounted to twenty thuisand effective men; while tlie British and German forces, under Sir Wil- liam Howe, exceeded twenty-two thou- sand: indeed, the minister had asserted in parliament, that they would consist of more than thirty thousand. Our two centre divisions, both commanded by General S[)encer, in the sickness of Gen- •■'eral Greene, move I towards Mount Wash- ington, Harlaem Height^?, and Horn's I look, as soon as the final resolution was taken in a council of war, on th'' twelfth of September, to abandon the city. That event, thus circumstanced^ took effect a few days after. 0:i Sunday, the fifieenth, the British, after sending three ships of war up the North River to Bloomingdale, and keep- ing up, for some hours, a severe cannon- ade on our lines, from those already in the East river, landed in force at Turtle Bay. Our new levies commanded by a state bri- gf.diergeneral fled without making resis- tance. Two brigides of General I'utnam's division, ordered to their support, not- with.> to engage, it appears highly probable that) day would have presented an easy victory ( to the British. On the other side, the ( American commander-in-chief had wisely? countenanced an opinion, then universal- Ji ly credited, that our army was three times more numerous than it was in reality. It) is not a subject for astonishment, that the \ British, ignorant of the existing circuin- \ . OS stances, imposed upon as to the numbers ; by reports, and recollecting what a few I brave men, slightly intrenched, had per- ( formed at Bunker Hill, should proceed • with great circumspection. For their re- ; proaches, that the rebels, as they affected \ to style us, loved digging better than ', fighting, and that they earthed themselves '? in holes like foxes, but ill-concealed at ^ the bottom of their own hearts the pro- \ found impression that action had made, i Cheap and contemptible as we had once ) seemed in their eyes, it had taught them. to hold us in some respect This respect, in conjunction with a fixed belief, that the enthusiastic spirit of our opposition, must soon subside, and that the inexhaustable resources of Britain would ultimately tri- umph, without leaving anything to chance, (not the avarice or treachery of the Bri- tish general, as the factious of his own nation wished to insinuate,) retarded their operation, and afforded us leisure to res- cue from annihilation, the miserable relics of an army, hastening to dissolution by the expiration of enlistments, and the country itself from irretrievable subjuga- tion. In truth, we are not lkss in- debted TO THE M,\TT0CK AT ONE PERIOD, THAN TO THE MUSKET AT ANOTHER, FOR OUR POLITICAL SALVATION- It required great talents to determine when one or the other was most profitably to be em- ployed. I am aware how fashionable it has become to compare the American commander-in-chief, for the prudence dis- played in those dilatory and defensive op- erations, so happily prosecuted, in the ear- ly stages of the war, to the illustrious Ro- man, who acquired immortality in restor- ing the commonwealth bi/ delay. Advan- tageous and flattering .is the comparison at first appears, it will be found, on exam- ination, to stint the American Fabius to the smaller moiety of his merited fame. Did HE not, in scenes of almost unparal- leled activity, discover specimens of tran- scendent abilities; and might it not be proved, to professional men, that boldness in council, and rapidity in execution, were, at least, equally with prude.it pro- crastination, and the quality of not being compelled to action, attributes of his mil- itary genius? This, howover, was an oc- casion, as apparent as pressing, for attain- ing his object by delay From that he had everything to gain, nothing to lose. Yet there were not wanting j)oliticians, at THIS VERY TIME, who querulously blamed these Fabian measures, and loudly clam- ored that the immense labor and expense bestowed on the forti fication of New York had been thrown away; that if we could not face the enemy there, after so many preparations, we might as well relinquish 44 LIFE, ANECDOTES. AND HEROIC EXPLOITS the contest at once, for we could nowhere make a stand: and that if General Wash- ington, with an army of sixty thousand men, strongly intrenched, declined fight- ing with Sir William Howe, who had lit- tle more than one third of that number, it was not to bf; expected he would find any other occasion that might induce him to engage. Rut General Washington, content to suffer a temporary sacrifice of personal reputation, for the sake of secur- ing a permanent advantage to his country, and regardless of those idle clamors, for which lv3 had furnished materials, by ma- king his countrymen, in order the more efTectually to make his enemy believe his force much greater than it actually was, inflexii)ly pursued his system, and glori- ously demonstrated how poor and pitiful, in the estimation of a great mind, are the censorious strictures of those novices in war and politics, who, with equal rash- ness and impudence, presume to decide dogmatically on the merits of plans they could neither originate nor com- prehend! Thai night, our soldiers, excessively fa- tigued by the sultry march of the day, their clothes wet by a severe shower of rain that succeeded towards the evening, their blood chilled by the cold wind that produced a sudden change in the temper- ature of the air, and iheir hearts sunk within them by the loss of baggage artil- lery, and works in which they had been taught to put great confidence, lay upon their arms, covered only by the clouds of an uncomfortable sky. To retrieve our disordered affairs, and prevent the enemy profiting by them, no exertion was relax- ed, no vigilance remitted, on the part of our higher officers. The regiments which had been least exposed to fatigue that day, furnished the necessary pickets to secure the arrny from surprise. Those whose military lives had been short and unprac- tised, felt enough beside the lassit.ide of body, to disquiet the lraii(]inlity of their repose. Nor had thos* who were older in .service, and of more evperience, any sub- ject for con>olation. The warmth of en- thusiasm seemed to be extinguished. The force of discipline had not sufficiently oc- cupied its place to give men a depen- dence upon each other. We were appa- rently about to reap the bitter fruit of that jealous policy, which some leading men, with the best motives, had sown in our federal councils, when they caused the mode to be adopted, for carrying on the war with detachments of malitia, from ap- prehensions that an established continen- tal army, after defending the country against foreign invasion, might subvert its liberties themselves. Paradoxical as it will appear, it may be profitable to be known to posterity, that while our very existence as an independent people was in question, the patriotic jealou.sy for the safety of our future freedom had been carried to such a virtuous but dangerous excess, as well nigh to preclude the at- tainment of our independence. Happily, that limited and hazardous system soon gave room to one more enlightened and salutary. This may be attributed to the reiterated arguments, the open remon- strances, and the confidential communi- cations of the commander-in-chief, who though not apt to despair of the republic,' on this occasion expressed himself in terms of unusual despondency. He de- , dared, in one of his letters, that he found, to his utter astonishment and mortifica- tion that no reliance could be placed on a great portion of his present troops, and that, unless efficient measures for estab- lishing a permanent force should be spee- dily pursued, we had every reason to fear the final ruin of our cause. Next morning, several parties of the enemy appeared! upon the plains in our front. On receiving this intelligence, General Washington rode quickly to the outposts, for the purpose of preparing against an attack, if the enemy should ad- vance with that design. Lieutenant-Co- lonel Knowllon's rangers, a fine sele^'tion from the eastern regiments, who had been skirmishing with an advanced party, came in, and iiuormed the general that a body of British were under cover of a small em- inence at no considerable distance, fiis excellency, willing to raise our men from OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. ifi ihelr dejection by the splendor of some > about forty wounded: our loss in killedj little success, ordered iiieutenantColouel > except of two valuable officers, was very Knowlton, with his rangers, a!id Major ^ inconsiderable. Leitch, with three companies of Weedoa's } \n advantage,* so trivial in itself, pr(>- regiment of Virginians, to gain their rear, i duced, in event, a surprisincr and most in- while appearances should be m.ade of an ) credible effect upon the whole army, attack in front. As soon as th3 enemy s Amongst the troops not engaged, who; saw the party sent to decoy them, they ; during the action, were throwing earth ran precipitately down the hil!, took pos- from the new trenches, with an alacrity session of some fences and bushes, and Mhat indicated a determination to defend commenced a brisk firing at long shot. ^ them, every visage was seen to brighten, Unfortunately Knowlton and Leitch made •! and to assume, instead of the gloom of their onset raiher in flank than in rear. > despair, the glow of annimation. This The enemy changed their front, and the ] change, no less su'lden than happy, left skirmish at once became close and warm. ) little room to doubt that the men, who ran Major Leitch* havmgreceived three balls , the day before at the sight of an enemy, through his side, was soon borne from ^ would now. to wipe away the stain of that the field; and Colonel Knowlton, who had disgrace, and to recover the confidence of distinguished himself so gallantly at the ^ their geaeral, have conducted themselves battle of Bunker Hill, was mortally v/oun- in a very different manner. Some altera-" dcd immediately after. Their men, how- ' tion was made in the distribution of corps, ever, undaunted by these disasters, stimu- , to prevent the British from gaining either lated with the thirst of revenge for the ! flank in the succeeding night. General loss of their leaders, and conscious of ^ Putnam, who commanded on the right, acting under the eye of the Commander- ) was directed in orders, in case the enemy in-chief, maintained the conflict with un- ^ should attempt to force the pass, to apply common spirit and perseverance. But j for a re-enforcement to General Spencer, the general seeing them in need of sup- < who commanded on the left, port, advanced part of the Maryland regi- f- General Putnam, who was too good a ments of Griffith and Richardson, togeth-^ er with such detachments from such east-,' ,. * A transcript from General Washington's Pub- , , , . ; lie Orders oi the I all, vvil!, better than any other em corps as chanced to be most contigu- ^ document that could be adduced, show his senti- OUS to the place of action. Our troops ■' ment on the conductor the two preceding days, this day. without exception, behaved with > and how fervently he wished (o foster the good the greatest intrepidity. So bravely did J dispositions discovered on the last, they repulse the British, that Sir William > "ORDERS. Howe moved his reserve, \v\ih two field ^ ^' Head- Quarter's, Harlaem Heights,} . _ I- r TT • J { StptcTnOer \ t , 17/0. S pieces, a battalion of Hessian grenadiers, ,. pj^role. Leitch. Countersijn, rireima. and a company of Chasseurs, to succor S " The General most heartily thanks The troops his retreating troops. General Washino-- ,• commanded yesterday by Major Leitch, who first ton, not willing to draw on a general ac- ') advanced upon the enemy, and the others who so ,. J ,. ,° , ° . T S resoluteiv supported them. 1 he behavior yester- tion, declined pressing the pursuit. In ;, ^ay was' such a contrast to that of some of the this engagement were the second and '> troops the day before, as must show what may be third battalions of light infantry, the forty- •' done, where officers and soldiers will exert them- second British regiment, and the German ) ^'^'^'^^•^^"^^ more, therefore, tho General calls ^, /. I -in- ) upon otricers and men, to act up to the noble cause Ohasseurs, of whom, eight officers, and 'j i,i ^,,hich they are engajed, and to support the upwards of seventy privates, were woun- ? honor and liberties of their country. ded, and our people buried nearly twenty, S "The gallant and brave Colonel Knowlton, _i i„rt I J „ xu c ij 1X7- u J ) who would have been an honor to any countrv, who were left dead on the field. We had ■, .^^^j^^^ f^,,^^^ yesterday, while gloriously fighting, ~^ ^ ^^ — ^^^^^,, — — ,-,,^ ^^ } Captain Brown is to take the command of the *Major Leitch, after languishing soma days, ^ party lately led by Colonel Knowlton. Officers died of a locked jaw. and men are to obey him accordingly." 46 UFK, ANECDOTES, AND IlEaOIC EXPLOITS hiisbaiidiTian himself not to have a respf^ct^ fur the labors and improvements of others,) strenuously secomled the views of the^ commander-in-chief in prevenlintr the de-s vastntKMi of firm*, and the violation of(^ private property. For, under pretext that / the property in this quarter belonged to) friends to the British government, as in-^ deed it mostly did, a spirit of rapine and licentiousne-ss began to prevail, which,) unless repressed in the beginning, forbo-; ded, besides the subversion of discipline,^ the disgrace and defeat of oar arms. ) Our new defences now becoming so) stronc as not to admit insult with impu-') nity, and Sir William Howe, not choosing) to place too much at risk in attacking us^ in front, on the l2th day of October, leav-; ing [^ord Percy with one Hessian and two > British brigades, in his lines at Harlaem, ^ to cover New York, embarked with the) main body of his army, with an intention of landing at Thfog's Neck, situated near West-Chester, and little more than a league above the communication called Kingsbridge. which connects New York Island with the main. There was noth- ing to oppose him; and he effected his de- barkation by n'ne o'clock in the morning. The same policy of keeping our army as compact as possible; the same system of) avoiding being forced to action; and the j same precaution to prevent the inlerrup-) tion of supplies, reinforcements, of re-) treat that lately dictated the evacuation > of New York, now induced Gen. Wash-) ington to move towards the strong^ grounds in the upper part of West-Ches- ter county. General Putnam was with the army at White-Plains, and took part in the action fought there the 28th of October. It was the position of Krigadier-General M'Dou- ffal which was attacked, and Washington ordered a detachment of the army under Major-Goneral Putnam, to support him. Some days after this action, General Put- nam was ordered to cross the Hudson, and provide against an irruption of the enemy into New Jersey. He was soon followed by Washington with part of his army, which took post in the vicinity of) Fort Lee, and, after the fall of the Port; General Putnam w; s constantly about his person during the whole retreat through 'Sew Jersey, and among the last of the fugitive army which crossed ihe Delaware. He was then ordered to Philadelph'a to fortify and defend the city, which Con* gress had ordered to be defended to the last extremity. Without slopping to dilate on the subse- quent incidents, that might swell a folio, though hfirc compressed to a single para^ graph; without attempting to give in de- tail the skillul retrograde movements of our Commander-in-chief, v/ho, after de- taching a garrison for Fort Washington, ijy prc-occupying with extemporaneous re^ doubts and intrenchments, the ridges from Mile SqUafe to TVk te Plains, and by folding one brigade behind another, in rear of those ridges that run parallel with the ISoUrld^ brought oiX all his artillery, stores, and sick, in the face of a superior foe; without commenting on the partial and e:juivocal battle fought near the last m(?ntioiied village, or the cause why the British, then in full force, (for the last of the Hessian infantry and British light- horse had just arrived,) did not more seri-- ously endeavor to induce a general pn- gagement; without journalizing their mil- itary inanoBuvres in falling back to Kings- bridge, capturing Fort Washington, Fort Lee, and marching through the Jerseys; without enumerating the instances of ra- pine, murder, hnt and devastation, that marked their progress, and filled our bo- soms with horror und indignation; with- out describing how a devision of our dis- solving army, with General Washington, was driven before them beyond the Dela- ware; Vi'ithout painting the naked and for- lorn condition of the-e much injured men, amidst the rigours of an inclement season; and without even sketching the consterna- tion that seized the States al this perilous period, when General Lee, in leadi ig from the north a small re-inforccinent to our troops, was himself taken prisoner by sur- prise; when every thing seemed decidedly declining to the last extremity, and when every prospect but seemed to augment the OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM depre?3ion of despair — ^until ihe genius of, Trenton, on the very day he re-crassed one man, in one day, at o single stroke, j the river lo surprise the Hessians, expres- wrested from the veteran battalions of Dri- ) sing hi!> satisfaciion at Ihe re-eslablishment tain and Germany, the fruits acquired by i of that General^s health, and informing, the total operations of a successful cam- 1 that if he had n't himsell been well con-^ paign, and reanimated ihe expiring hopi^ of } vinced before, of the enemy's intention a whole nation, by the glorious enterprise Wo possess themselves of Philadel|)hia,- at Trenton. ( as soon a.l the frost should form ice While the hostile forces, rashly inflated ; strong enough to transport them and their with pride by a series of uninterrupted sue- \ artillery nc'ross the Delaware^ he had cesses, and fondly drean^.ing that a period / now obtained an intercepted letter, which would soon be put to their labors, by the) placed the matter beyond a douht. He completion of their ccmquests, had been I added, that if ihe citizens of Philadelj)hia pursuing the wretched remnants of a dis- ) had any regard for the town, not a mo- banded army to the banks of the Delaware, meiit*s time should be lost until it should General Putnam was diligently employed I be put in the best possible posiure of de- in fortifying Philadelphia, the capture of' fence; but lest that should: not be done, he which, appeared indubitably to be their ) directed the removal of all public stores, principal object. Here, by authority and except provisious necessary for immeii- example, he strove to conciliate contend- ^ ate use, to places of greater security. He ing fac.ions, and to excilf- the citizens to | queried whether, if a party of miiitia could uncommon efforts in defence of everything \ be sent from Philadelphia to support those interresting to freemen. His personal in- ; in Jersey, about Mount Holly, it woul::: dustry was unparalleled. His orders,* ( not serve to save them from submission? with respect to extinguishing accidental \ At the same time he signified, as his opin- fires, advancing the public works, as Well / ion, the eX])ediency of sending an active as in regard to other important objects, ( and influential officer to inspirit the people, were perfectly military and proper. But ( to encourage them to assemble in arms, as his health was, for a while, impaired by ) well as to keep those already in arms from his nnrelaxed exertions. \ disbanding; and Concluded by manifesting The Commander-in-chief, having, in ( a wish that Colonel FormaJi, whom he de- spite of all obstacles, made good his re- ') sired to see for that purpose, might be em treat over the D =laware, wrote to General \ ployed on the service. Putnam, from his camp above the falls of) , , ( The enemy had vainly, as incautiously,. 'As a specimen, the following is preserved: imagined, that to overrun was lo conque; . •i They had even Carried their presumption •♦GENERAL ORDERS. j ^^ ^^^^ extreme weakness, and expected "Head- Quarters, Philadelphia, 1 submission, .so far, as to attempt covering December 14, nil}. ( ,, , 41 i u- u.i i j i "Colonel Gviffip. is appointed Adjutant Gene- ^ ^^^ ^o^n"7 ^^"-o^S'' ^^hichthey had march^ ralto the troops ill and about this city. Aliordersjel, with an extensive chain ot canton- from the General, through him, either written or ments. That link, which the post at Tren- yerbal, are to be strictly attended to and punctual ^ ^^^ supplied, consisted of a Hessian bri^ '^ mTLg of an alarm of fire, the city guards \ g^^e of infantry, a company of chasseurs, and patroles are to suffer the inhabitants to pass ) a squadron of light dragoons, and six field unmolested, at any hour of the night: and the 1; pieces. At eight o'clock in the morning good people of Philadelphia are earnestly reques- \ ^f ^^g twenty-sixth of December, General ted and desired to give every assistance ni their) ttt i- , vi » . /• u j j power, with engines and buckets, to extinguish Washington, With twenty'fojr hundred the fire. And as the Congress have ordered the \ men came upon them, after they had para- city to be defended to the last extremity, the Gen-' ^ ded, took one thousand prisoners, and re- eral hopes that no person will refuse to give every gg^^ ^^e same day, without loss, to hia assistance possible to complete the fortihcations ( ^^ , ,1 . that are to be erected in and about the citv. \ encampment. As soon as the troops were "ISRAEL PUTNAM," recovered from their excessive fatigue,. 4y . Llt-R, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOtTS General Washington re-crosscd a second ;, of tlie country, going constantly back' liinc to Trenlon. On tlic second oljwaids and forwards on the same s '-cret Janrarv, Loid Cornwallis, with the bulk ) service; and lastly, if he should discover of the British army, advanced upon hira, )any intention or motion of the enemy cnnnonaded his post, and offered him Uhat Could be depended upon, and miglit be battle: bi^t 'ho two armies being separated ? of consequence, not to fail in conveying by the interposition of Trenlon Creek, ) the intelligence, as rapidly as possible by G;-neral Washington hnd it in his option to ) express, to head-quarters. Mnjor-General decline an engMgement, which he did for ^ Putnam was directed, soon after, to take the sake of striking the masterly stroke <; post at Princeton, where he continued un*- that he then meditated. Having kindled >til spring. He had never with him more frequent fires around his camp, posted ; than a feW hundred troops, though he was faithful men to keep them burning, and > only at fifteen miles distant from the ene* advanced sentinels, Whose fidelity might ! my's strong garrison of Brunswick. At be relied upon, he decamped silently after /one period, from a sadden diminution, oc* dark, and, by a circuitous route, reached '^ casioned by the tardiness of the militia Princeton at nine o'clock the next morn* |j turning out to replace those whose time of ing. The noise of the firing, by which <; service was expired, he hd fewer men for he killed nnd captured between five and / duty than he had miles ol frontier to guard, six hundred of ihe British brigade in that ^ Nor was the Commander-in-chief in a town, was the first notice Lord Cornwal- < more eligible situation. It is true, that lis had of the stolen march. GeneraW while he had scarcely the semblance of an VV.-ishington, the project successfully ac^^ army, under the specious parade of a park complished, instantly filed ofl for the s of artillery, and the imposing appearance mountainous grounds of Morristown. — ^ of his head-quarters, established at iM orris* Meanwhile, his Lordship, who arrived, by ?town, he kep* up, in the eyes of his coun" a forced march, al Princeton, just as he nrymen, as well as in the opinion of his had left it, finding that the Americans \ enemy, ihe appealTince of no contemptible could not be overtaken, proceeded without, ' force. Pjture generations will find diffi* halting>to Brunswick. Realty in conceiving, how a handful oi' new On the fifth of January, 177T from ) levied men and militia, who were necessi- Pluckemnij Gen. Washington despatched Uatcd to be i-ioculated for the smnll pox in an account of this second success to Gen. {th.^ course of the winter, could be subdivi- Putnam, and ordered him to move imme" )dcd and ported so advantageously, as efTec- diately, with all his troops, to Croswick's, Uually to protect the inhabitaiits, confine for the purpose of co'-operating in recov"-)thc enemy, curtail their fornge, ano beat ering the .Ferseys; an event, which the .^ up their quarters, without sustaining a sin- present fortunate juncture, while the ene'^gle disaster. my were vet panic struck, appeared to ^^ _.,. promise. The General cautioned him. In the bnttle of Princeton, Captain however, if the enemy should still contin- \ MTherson, of the 17th British regiment, ue at Brunswick, to guard with great cir- ^a very worthy Scotchman, was desperate^ cumspection against a surprise; especially ,^ ) who, environed on every side by enven- upon vou the command oi the troops now there, ( , , • j i and such as may bo sent to your care. ^ omed adversaries, remamed inseparably '• You are to endeavor, as much as possible, to ) harrass and annoy tlie enemy, by keeping scout- \ ''Extract of a Letter from General Sir William ing parties constantly or as frequently as possible, > Howe to Lord Georgk Germaine, dated Neio around their quarters. ^ York, December 20, lllQ. • ' As you will be in the neighborhood of Gener- s, alw Dickenson and Warner, 1 recommend it to J. Having mentioned the fruitless attempt of Lord you to keep up a correspondence with them, and / Cornwallis to find boats at Corryel's forry to pass endeavor to regulate your parties by theirs, so as ! the Deieware — he proceeded thus: to have some constantly out. ) *' The passage of the Delaware being thus ran- " Use every means in your power to obtain in- ; dered impracticable, his lordship took post at Pen- telligence from the enemy; which may possibly nington, in which place and Trenton the two di- be better effected by engaging some of those peo- ; visions remained until the fourteenth, when the pic who have obtained /rro/crfJOTis, to go in, under 5 weather having become too severe to keep the pretMice of asking advice, than by any other ; field, and the winter cantonments being arranged, moan-!. ' ) the troops marched from both places to their re- '• You will also use every means in your power ' spectivo stations. The chain, I oxen, is rather too to obtain and communicate the earliest accounts ji cxtcnsirc, but i was induced to occupy Burling- of the enemy's movements; and to assemble in ? ton to cover the county of Monmouth, in which the speediest manner possible, your troops, either ', there are many loyal inhabitants; and trusting to for offence or defence. " ) the almost general submission of the country to " Given at Head- Quarters, ) the southwest of this chain, and to the strength of ** The Ath day of Feb., 1777. I the corps placed in tho advanced posts, I conclude •• GEORGE WASHINGTON." the troops will be in perfect security." OP MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM, 51 fiVeted ill aflecti:!!! to American inde|)en- denci;.'' Ho first detached Colonel Gurnej , and afierwiirdsj, Major Davis,* with such parties of militia as could be -jpared, for ihgir support. Several skirmishes occur- red, in whicn our people had always the advantage^ They took, at ditierent times, many prisoners, horses, and wagons, from foraging parties. In effect, so well did they cover the country, as to induce some of the most respectable inhabitants to de- clare, that the security of the persons, as well aa the salvation of the property of many friends to freedom, was owing to the spirited exertions ol these two detachments; whoj at ihe same time that thoy rescued the country from the tyr.mny of tories, afforded an opportunity for the militia to recover from their consternation, to em- body themselves in warlike array, and to stand on their defence. Daring this period, General Putnam having received unquestionable intelli- gence that a parly of refugees, in British payj had taken post, and were erecting a kind of redoubt at Lawrence's Neck, sent Colonel Nelson, with one hundred and fifty militia, to s irprise them. That offi- cer conducted with so much secrecy and decision as to take .he whole prisoners. Those refugeesf were commanded by Ma- *As there happened to be in my possession a copy of one of his letters to tliose officers, it was thought worthy of insertion hare, ir. order to de- monstrate his satisfaction with their conduct. *' To Major John Davis, of the tiiird battalion of Cnniberiand County MiUtia. " Sir, *' I am much obliged to you for your activity, vigor, and diligence, since you have been under my command; you will, therefore, n»:irch your men to Philadelphia, and there discharge them; Teturninn^ into the store all the ammunition, arms, «ud accoutrements, you received at that place. "I am, sir, your humble servant, "ISRAEL PUTNAM. "Princeton, February 5, 1777." ^Extract of a Letter from General Putnam to ihe Council of Siifetij, of Pennsylvania, dated at Princeton, February 18, 1777. "Yesterday evening, Colonel Nelson, with a hundred and fifty men, at Lawrence's Neck, at- tacked sixty men of Cortlandt Skinner's brigade, commanded by the enemy's renowned lahd PILOT, Major Richard Stockton, xoxiiQA them, and Jor Stockton, belonging to Skinner's bri- ^gade, and amounted to sixty in number. { A short time after this event, Lord Corn- 1 wallis sent out another foraging party to- ; wards Bound Brook. General Putnam, ^ having received notice from his emissaries, { detached Major Smith, with a few riflemen, ^ to annoy the party, and followed himself i with the rest of his force. Before he \ could come up. Major Smith, who had (' fo: med an ambush, attacked the enemy, ; killed several horses, took a few prisoners, s and sixteen baggage wagons, without sus- taining any injury. By such operations, \ our hero, in the course of the winter, cap- )tured nearly a thousand prisoners. ( In the latter part of February, General ) Washington advised General Putnam, that, ) in consequence of a large accession of J) strength from New York to the British ar- { my at Brunswick, it was to be apprehended 1 they woulc! soon make a forward movement towards the Delaware: in which case, the \ latter was directed to cross the river with 1 his actual force, to assume the command )of the militia who might assemble, to se- ■ s cure the boats on the west side of the Dela- { ware, and to facilitate the passage of the / rest of ihe army. But the enemy did not ) remove from their winter quarters until the ', season arrived when green forage could ^ be supplied. In the intermediate period, ) the correspondence on the part of General i Putnam, with the commander-in-chief, con- ■ sisted principally of reports and inquiries \ concernmg the treatment of some of the \ tbllovving descriptions of pensons: either of ^ those who catne within our lines with flags /and prfttended flags, or who had taken I protection from the enemy, or who had { been reputed disaffected to our cause, or )^ who were designed to be comprehended in ) the American proclarnation. which requir- Sed that those who had taken protections (should give theiTi to the nearest American ) officer, or go within the British lines. The ) letters of his excellency, in return, gene- S rally advisory, were indicative of confi- (dence and approbation. \ took the whole prisoners — among them, the major, { a captain, and three subalterns, with seventy stand / of arms. Fifty of tlie Bedford, Pennsylvania, Riflemen behaved like vettrans." 52 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS When the spring had now so far advan- ced that it was obvious tho enemy would soon take the field, the commander-in- chief, after desiring General Putnam to give the officer who was to relieve him at Princeton, ail the information necessary for the conduct of ,hal post, appointed that general to the command of a separate ar- my in the Highlands of Naw York. It is scarcely decided, from any docu- ments yet published, whether the prepos- terous plans prosecuted hy the British gen- erals in the campaign of 1777, vrere alto- gether the result of their orders from home, or whether they partly originated from the contingencies of the moment. The sys- tem which, at the time, landed to puzzle all human conjecture, when developed, served also to contradict all reasonable calculation. Certain it is, the American commander-in-chief was, for a considera- ble time, so perplexed with contradictory appearances, that he knew not how to dis- tribute! his troops, with his usual discern- ment, so as to oppose the enemy with equal prospect of success in different parts. The gathering tempest menaced the northern frontiers, the posts in thu Highlands, and the city of Philadelphia; but it was still doubtful where the fury of the storm would fall. At one time. Sir William Howe was forcing his way by land, to Philadelphia; at another, relinquishing the Jerseys; at a third, facing round to make a sudden in- road; then embarking with all the forces that could be spared from New Vork; and then putting out to sea, at the very moment when General Burgoyne had reduced Ti- conderoga, and seemed to require a co-op- t ration in another quarter. On our side, we have seen that the old continental army expired with the year 1776 ; since which, invention had been tortured with expedients, and zeal with eftbrts, to levy another; for on the success of the recruiting service, depended the salvation of the country. The success was such as not to puff us up to presump- tion, or depress us to despair. The army in the Jerseys, under the orders of the general-in-chief, consisted of all the troops raised south of the Hudson; that in the northern department, of the New Hamp- shire brigade, two brigades of Massachu- setts, and the brigades of New York, to- gether with some irregular corps; and that in the Highlands, of the remaining two brigades of .Massachusetts, the Connecti- cut line, consisting of two brigades, the brig-xde of Rhode Island, and one regi- ment of New York. Upon hearing of the loss of Ticonderoga, and the progress of the British towards Albany, General Washington ordered the northern army to be re en forced vrith the two brigades of Massachusetts, then in the Highlands; and upon finding the army under his immedi- ate command out-numbered by that of Sir William Howe, which had, by the circuit-* ous route of the Chesapeake, invaded Penn- sylvania, he also called from the High- Innda one of the Connecticut brigades, and that of Rhode Island, to his own assis- tance. In the neighborhood of General Put- nam, th.M'e was no enemy capable of ex- citing alarms. The army left at New York seeme 1 only designed tor its defence. In it were several entire corps, composed of tori IS, who had flocked to the British standard. There was, besides, a band of lurking miscreants, not propsrly enrolled, who staid chiefly at West Chester; from whence they infested the country between the two armies, pillaged the cattle, and carried off the peaceable inhabitants. It was an unworthy policy in British Gene- rals to patroni'/e banditti. The whig in- habitants on the edge of our line.«, and and still low. r down, who had been plun- derd in a merciless manner^ delayed not to strip tiie tories in return. People most nearly connected and allied, frequently be- came most exasperated and inveterate in malice. Then the ties of fellowship were broken — then, friendship itself being sour- ed to enmity, the mind readily gave way to private revenge, uncontrolled retalia- tion, and all the deforming passions that disgrace humanity. Enormities, almost without a name, were perpetrated, at the discription of which, the bosom, not fro- zen to apathy, must glow with a mixture of pity and indignation. To prevent the OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. 53 predatory incursions from below, and to , repiesenled the heniouscrime ofcondemn- cover the county ot' West Chester, Gene- | ing a man commissioned by his majesty, ral Putnam detached from his head quarr and threatened vengeance in case he should ters, at Peek's-Kil!, Meigs's regiment, \ be executed. General Putnam wrote the which, in the course of the campaign, ' following jiithy reply. • .struck several partizan strokes, and achie- ; .^ ^ ved the objects for which it was sent. He ^ ,, >.t >" ' n i t- likewise took measures, without noise or , . ^^^^'^^ ^^^'''''^ f Lieutenant in your o.stentation, to secure himself from being ^'"§ « service, was taken u. my camp as a surprised and carried wiihin the British 'p-^? ^^'^^ ''"'^'^ ''''' '^'^-^^ ^«« ^«"- lines by the tories, who had formed a plan ^emned as yP^-^nd you may restassur- for the purpose. The information of this I ^^^' '^'^ ^'^^ f ^'^ ^f ^/^"S"'^ ^\^ "W- intended enterprise, conveyed to him) ' I have the honor to be &c., through several channels, was corrobora- ' ,, .-r. „ „ ^ srael utnam. ted by that obtai led and transmitted by the \ ^^'' Excellency Governor Tryox. commander-in-chief. I " P. S. — Afternoon. He is hanged." It was not wonderful that many ol these ) Important tran-sactions soc n occurred, tories were able, undiscoverd, to penetrate ^ Not long after the ,two brigades had far into the country, and even to go with } marched from Peek's Kill to Pennsylvania, letters of message from one British army ) a re-enforcement arrived at N. York from to another. The inhabitants who were | Europe. Appearances indicated that olTen- well affected to the royal cause, aflbrded I; sive operations would follow. GeneialPut- them every possible support, and their own ) nam having been reduced in force to a sin- knowledge of the different routes gave { gle brigade in the field, and a single regi- them a farther facility in performing their / ment in garris m at Fort Montgomery, peregrinations. Sometimes the most ac- ; repeatedly intbrmed the commander-in- tive loyalists, as the tories wished to de- 1 chief, that the posts committed to his charge nominate themselves, who had gone into \ must, in all probability, be lost, in case an the British posts, and received promises of ^ attempt should be made upon them; and commissions upon enlisting a certain num- ( that, circumstanced as he was, he could her of soldiers, came back again secretly ) not be responsible for the consequences, with recruiting instructions. Sometimes > His .situation was certainly to be lamented; thes>e, and others who came tVom the ene- \ but it was not in the power of the com- my, witliin the verge of our camps, were ; mander-in-chief to alter it, except by au- detected, and coudemned to death, in con- ) thorizing him to call upon the militia for formity to the usages of war. But the } aid — an aid always precarious, and often British Generals, who had an unlimited ( so tardy, as, when obtained, to be of no supply of money at their command, were ' utility. able to pay with so much liberality, that , On the fifth of October, Sir Henry emissaries could always be found. Still, Clinton came up the North River with it is thought that the intelligence of the \ three thousand men. After making many American commanders was, ai least, equal- \ feints to mislead the attention, he landed, ly accurate, notwithstanding the poverty y the next mornitjg, at Stony Point, and of iheir military chest, and the inability of commenced his march over the mountains rewarding mercenary agents, for secret { to Fort Montgomery. Governor Clinton, services, in proportion to their risk and ) an active, resolute, and intelligent offiiier. merit. I who commanded the garrison, upon being A person, by the name of Palmer, who / apprised of the movement, despatc hed a was a lieuteaant in the tory new levies, ) letter, by express, to General Putnam, for was detected in the camp at Peek's Kill. { siiccor. By the treachery of the messen- Governor Tryon, who commanded the new ) ger, the letter miscarried. General Put- {evies, reclaimed him as a British officer, nam, astonished at hearing nothing respec- 64 LIFE, ANECDOTES. AND HEROIC EXPLOITS ting the enemv, rode, with General Par- cover of the thick smoke and darkness that sons, and Colonel Root, his adjutanl-gen- ^ svuldenly jirevailcd. The capture of this era], to reconnoitre them at King's Ferry. S fort by Sir Henry Clinton, logetlier with In the meantime, at five o'clock in the af- < the consequent removal of the chains and ternoon, Sir Henry Clinton's columns hav- ') booms that obstructed the navigation, open- ing surmounted the obstacles and barriers ^ ed a passage to Albany, and seemed to fa-_ of nature, descended from the Thunder / vor a junction of his force with that of Hill, through thickets, impassible but for S General Burgoyne. But the latter having light troops, and attacked* the different re-? been compelled to capitulate a few days doubts. The garrison, inspired by the ) after this event, ano great numbers of mi- conduct of their leaders, defended the ^ litia having arrived from New England, works with distinguished valor. But, as nhe successful army returned to New York; the post had been designed principally to I yet not before a detachment from it, under prevent the passing of ships, and as an as- } the orders of General Vaughan, had burnt sault in rear had not been expected, the ^ the defenceless town of Esopus, and seve- works on the land side were incomplete ^ ral scattering buildings on the banks of the and untenable. In the dusk of twilight, ^ r.ver. the British entered with their bayonets fix- ? Notwithstanding the array in the High- ed. Their loss was inconsiderable. Nor ) \g,nds had been so much weakened, for the was that of the garrison great. Governor ^ ggj^g gf strengthening the armies in other Clinton, his brother. General James Clin- ,j quarters, as to have occasioned the loss of ton, Colonel Dubois, and most of the offi- \ port iMontgomery, yet that loss was pro- cers and men, effected their escape under ^ductive of no consequences. Our main ^ army in Pennsylvania, after having con- ^The author of these memoirs, then major of J tended with superior force in two indeci- brigade to the first Connecticut brigade, was alone f sive battles, still held the enemy in check; at head-quarters when the firinp began. He has- { while the splendid success which attended tened to Colonel Wyilys, (he senior officer in J ^ur arms at the northward, gave a more camp, and advised him to despach all the men not ) .^.la- a- ■ on duty. 10 Fort Monlgomery. without waiting for > favorable aspect to the American affairs, orders. About five hundred men marched in- ( at the close of the campaign, than they stantlv, under Colonel Meigs; and the author, ^, J^gj ever before assumed, with Dr. Beardsley a surgeon in the brigade ^ ^, ^\,^^^^^y f^]^ b^ck to New York rode, at full speed, through a bye-path, to let the / r m i ■ . c ^u garrison know that a re-enforcement was on its ( by water, we followed them a part ol the march. Notwithstanding all the haste these offi- ^ way by land. Colonel .MeigS, with a dc- cers made to and over the river, the fort was so ^^ tachment from the several regiments in comnletelv invested on their arrival, that it was ; ^ , p, > i • j u • ,„,i« ^"" ' , ,- ; „ ,, , Ti,«v won* nn Knarfi tiiA ) Gcucra Parsons s brigade, having made impossible to enter. lliey went on Doaid tne < % i -nr new frigate which lay near" the fortress, and had < a forced march from Crompond to West the misfortune to be idle though not unconcerned, ^ Chester, surprised, and broke up for a spectators of the storm. They saw the minutest ; ^j^^g ^j,g k,^„^ of freebooters, of whom actions distinctly when the works were carried. ( , , , «• /:r* * *! ..,uu r>,o„„ The frigate, after receiving several platoons, slip- \ he brought off fifty, together With many ped her cable, and proceeded a little way up the \ cattle and hoFses which they had recently river; but the wind and tide becoming adverse, the ) stolen, crew set her on fire, to prevent her falling into the ) g^^'^^ ^^^^^ ^^-^^ enterprise. General Put- hands of the enemv. whose ships wore approach- ( f^ , '„ . . , ,. ing. The lowering darkness of the night, the J "am advanced towards the British lines, profound stillness that reigned, the interrupted ) As he had received intelligence that small flashes of the flames that illumined the waters, ) bodies of the enemy were out, with orders the long shadows of the cliffs that now and then ^ Governor Tryon to burn Wright's were seen, the explosion ol the cannon which S i • i j • ■ X. were left loaded in the .ship, and the reverberating j mills, he prevented it by detaching three echo which resounded, at intervals, between the } parties, of one hundred men in each. One stupendous mountains on both sides of the river, / ^f (jjgg^, parties fell in with and captured composed an awful night-piece for persons pre- S ,, • . ^ "^ , „,,t,^, r ,♦„ «f «Vin naw pared by the precedingsceae, to contemplate Tub- S thirty-five, and another forty, of the new jccts of horrid sublimity. levies. But as he could not prevent a OF MAJOR-G: NERAL PUTNAM. 55 violent cold, which ended in consump- tion. It finished a life without a spot — and a career of sufferings commenced and continued without a fault. Sitrhts of wretchedness always touched ihird hostile party from burning the house ■ ken away, — that they had frequently been of Mr. Van Tassel, a noted whig, and as plundered of their wearing apparel and committee-man, who was forced to go ) furniture, she believed by both parties — along with tliem, naked and barefoot, on / that they had little more to lose — and that ihe icy ground, in a freezing night, he, S she knew not where to procure bread for for the professed purpose of retaliation, ( the dear little ones, who had no father to sent Captain Buchanan, in a whale-boat, ) provide for them" — no mother — she was to burn the house of General Oliver De- ) sointj to have said — but a torent of tears lancy, on York Island. Buchanan effec- ( choked articulation. In coming to that ted his object, and by this expedition put ? part of the country again, after some cam- a period, for the present, to that unmean- ) paigns hid elapsed, I found the habita- ing and wanton species of destruction. { tion desolate, and the garden overgrown While General Putnam quartered at I with weeds. Upon inquiry, I learnt, that New Rochelle, a scouting party, which ) as soon as we left the place, some ruifians had been sent to West-Farms, below West '; broke into the house while she lay in bed, Chester, surrounded the house in which \ in the latter part of the nighl; and that, Colonel James Delancy lodged, and, not- ) hiving been terrified by their rudeness, withstanding he crept under the bed, the ) she ran, half naked, into a neighboring better to be concealed, brought him to \ swamp, where she continued until the Head Quarters before morning. This \ morning — there the poor girl caught a officer was exchanged by the British gen- eral without delay, and placed at the head i' of the cow-boys, a licentious corps of ir- . regulars, who in the sequel, committed unheard of depredations r.nd excesses. It was distressing to seR so beautiful a \ with commiseration the feelings of Gene- part of the country so barbarously wasted, ) ral Putnam, and prompted his generous and often to witness some peculiar scenes soul to succor the afflicted. But the in- of female misery: for most of the female i^ dulgence which he showed, whenever it inhabitants had been obliged to fiy within ) did not militate against his duty, towards the lines possessed by one array or the |) the deserted and suffering families of the other. Near our quarters was an affect- \ tories in the State of New York, was the ing instance of human vicissitude. Mr. ^ cause of his becoming unpopular with no William Sutton, of Mamaroneck, an in- ) inconsiderable class of people in that offensive man, a merchant by profession, ^ State. On the other side, he had con- who lived in a decent fashion, and whose ^ ceived an unconquerable aversion to many family had as happy prespects as almost ^ of the persons who were intrusted with any in the country, upon some imputation \ the disposal of tory property, because he of toryism, went to the enemy. His wife, < believed them to have been guilty of pe- oppressed with grief, in the disagreeable / culations and other infamous practices, state of dereliction, did not long survive.;! But, although the enmity between him Betsey Sutton, their eldest daughter, was ^^ and the sequestrators was acrimonious as a modest and lovely young woman of mutual, yet he lived in habits of amity about fifteen years old, when, at the death ) with the most respectable characters in of her mother, the care of five or six <) public departments, as well as in private younger children devolved upon her. She \ life. was discreet and provident beyond her '> His character was also respected by the year.-i; but when we saw her, she looked \ enemy. He had been acquainted with to be feeble in health — broken in spirit — \ many of the principal officers in a former wan, melancholy and dejected. She said ) war. As flags frequently passed between "that their last cow, which furnished < the out-posts, during his continuance on milk for the children, had lately been ta- the lines, it was a common practice to for- 58 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEilROIC EXPLOITS ward newspapers by them; and as those ^ printed by Rivington, the Royal printer; in New York, were infamous for the false- ) hood with which they abounded, General \ Putnam once sent a packet to his old \ friend, General Robertson, with this billet: ') '•Major General Putnam presents his com- ) pliments to Major General Robertson, and ? sends him some American newspapers for / his perusal: when General Robertson) shall have done with them, it is requested j they be given to Rivington, in order that; he may print some truth." ) Late in the year we left the lines and ( repaired to the Highlands; for upon the/ loss of Fort Montgomery, the commander-) in-chief determined to build another forti- ficatioa for the defence of the river. His \ Excellency, accordingly, wrote General Putnam to fix upon the spot. After re- connoitiing all the different places pro- posed, and revolving in his own mind their relative advantages for offence on the water, and defence on the land, he fixed upon West Point. It is no vulgar praise to say, that to him belongs the glory of' having chosen this rock of our military salvation. The position for water-batte- ries, which might sweep the channel where the river formed a right angle, made it the most proper of any for com- manding the navigation; while the rocky ridges that rose in awful sublimity behmd each other, rendered it impregnable, and even incapable of being invested with less than twenty thousand men. The British, who considered this post as a sort of American Gibraltar, never attempted it but by the treachery of an American officer. All the world knows that this project failed, and that West Point con- trnues to be the receptacle of everything valuable, in military preparations, to the present day. In the month of January, 1778, when a snow, two feet deep, lay on the earth, General I'arsons's brigade went to West Point and broke ground. Want of cover- ing for the troops, together with want of tools and materials for the works, made the prospect! truly gloomy and discourag- ing. It was necessary ihat means should be found, though our currency was depre- ciated, and our treasury exhausted. The estimates and requisitions of Colonel la Radiere, the engineer who laid out the works, altogether disproportioned to our circumstances, served only to put us ir» mind of our poverty, and, as it were, to satirize our resources. Hi.« petulent be- havior, and unaccomodnting disposition, added farther embarrassments. It was then that the patriotism of Governor Clin- ton shone in full lustre. His exertions to furnish supplies can nevi r be too much commended. His influence, arising from his popularity, was unlimited: yet he hes- itated not to put all his popularity at risk, whenever the federal interests demanded. Notwithstanding the impediuients that op- posed our progress, with his aid, before the opening of the campaign; the works were in great forwardness. According to a resolution of Congress, an incjuiry was to be made into the causes of military disasters. Major General M'-r Dougall; Brigadier General Huntington, and Colonel Wigglesworth composed ihe Court of Inquiry on the lo^s of Fort Montgomery. Upon Mi knowledge and mature deliberation of facts on the spot, they reported the loss to have been occa- sioned by want of men, and not by any fault in the commanders. General Putnam, who during the inves- tigation was relieved from duty, as soon as Congress had approved the report, took command of the right wing of the grand army, under the orders of the General- in-chief. This was just after the battle of Monmouth, when the three armies, which had last year acted separately, join- ed at the White Plains. Our effective force, in one canjp, was at no other time so respectable as at this juncture. The army consisted of sixty regular regiments of foot, formed into fifteen brigades, four battalions of artillery, four regiments of horse, and several corps of State troops. But as the enemy kept close within their lines on York Island, nothing could be attempted. Towards the end of autumn we broke up the camp, and went first to >■ i ^ i l i . _ ! - H tL l i MJ i L.. ' - f .UM ft< OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. S7 Fredericksburgh, and thence to winter- quarters. In order to cover the country adjoining to the Sound, and to support the garrison of West Point, in case of an attack, Ma- jor General Putnam, was stationed, for the winter, at Heading, in Connecticut. He had under his orders, the brigade of New Hampshire, the two brigades of Connecti- cut, the corps of infantry commanded by Hazen, and that of cavalry by Sheldon. The troops, who had been l)adly fed. badly clothe d, and worse paid, by brood- ing over their grievances in the leisure and inactivity of winter quarters, began to think them intolerable. The Connec- ticut brigades formed the design of march- ing to Hartford, where the general assem- bly were in session, and of demanding re dress at the point of the bayonet. -VVord liaviug been brought to Genera! Putnam, that ihe second brigade was undar arms for this purpose, he mounted his horse, galloped to the cantonment, and thus ad- dressed them: " My brave lads, whither are you going? Do you intend to desert your officers, and to invite the enemy to follow you into the country? Whose cause have you been fighting and suffer- ing so long in? — is it not your own? Have you no property, no parents, wives or children? You have behaved like men so far — all the world is full of your prais- es — and posterity will stand astonished at your deeds: but not if you spoil all at last. Don't you consider how much the coun- try is distressed by the war, and that your officers have not been paid any better than yourselves? But we all expect bet- ter times, and that the country will do us ample justice. Let us all stand by one another, then, and fight it out like brave soldiers. Think what a shame it would be for Connecticut men to run away from their officers." After the several regi- ments had received the General, as he rode along the line, with drums beating, and presented arms, the .sergeants, who had then the command, brought the men to an order, in which position they con- tinued while he was speaking. When he had done, he directed the acting major of brigade to give the word for them to shoul- der, niarc';i to their regimental parades, and loage arms; all which they executed with promptitude and apparent good hu- mor. One soldier, only, who had been the most active, was confined in the quar- ter-guard; from whence, at night, he at- tempted to make his escape. But (he sentinel, who had also been in the mutiny, shot him dead on the spot, and thus the affair subsided. About the middle of winter, while Gen- eral Putnam wi's on a visit to his out-post ar. Horse Neck, he found Governor Tryon advancing rpon that town with a C)rp3 of fifteen hundred men. To oppose these, General Putnam had only a picket of one hundred and fifty men, and two iron fiehS pieces, without horses or drag-ropes. He, however, planted his cannon on the hiorh ground, by the meeting-house, and retar- ded their approach by firing several times, until, preceiving the horse (supported by the infantry) about to charge, he ordered the picket to provide for their safety, by retiring to a swamp, inaccessible to horse, and secured his own, by plunging down the steep precipice, at the church, upon a full trot. This precipice is so steep, where he descended, as to have artificial stairs, composed of nearly one hundred stone steps, for the accommodation of foot pas- sengers. There, the dragoons, who were but a sword's length from him, stopped short; for the declivity was so abrupt, that they ventured not to follow; and, before they could gain the valley, by going round the brow of the hill, in the ordinary road, he was fir enough beyond their reach. lie continued his route, unmolested, to Stamford ; whence, having strengthened his picket by the junction of some militia, he came back again, and in turn, pursued Governor Tryon in his retreat.* As he rode down the precipice, one ball, of the ''In this reti-eat, though with a very inferior force, General Putnam made about fifty prisoners, part of whom were wounded, and the whol- were the next day sent, under the escort of an officer's rruard, to tho British lines, for exchange, it was for the humanity and kindne.ss of Putnam to tho wounded prisoners, lliat Governor Tryon coinpH ■ moiited him with the "suit of clothes." 58 LIFE, ANECDOTES, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS many fired at him, went through his bea-j powers of memory are not weakened, it ver : but Governor Tryon, by way of / ought to be observed, that he has lately compensation for spoiling his hat, sent ^ repeated, from recollection, all the adven- him. soon afterwards: as a present, a com- < tures of his life, which are here recorded, plete suit of clothes. ^ and which had formerly been communi- In the campaign of 1771), which ter- | cated to the compiler in detached conver- minated the career of General Putnam's ^ sations. services, he commanded the Maryland^ In patient, yet fearless expectation of line, posted at Buttermilk falls, about two; the approach of the King of Terrors, miles below West t'oint. He was happy I whom he hath full often faced in the field in possessing the friendship of the officers < of blood, the Christian hero now enjoys, of that line, and in living on terms of / in domestic retirement, the fruit of his hospitality with them. Indeed there was ^ early industry. Having in youth provi- no family in the army that lived better { struggled for the preservation and estab- that impossible, a temporary dejection, ( lishinent of the i^(5"/i<5, /.,?6er/iVs, and Zfi- disguised, however, under a veil o( i\s-/^ drpmdrnce of our Countri/ sumed cheerfulness, succeeded. Hut) "Your congratulations on the happy reason, philosofdiy, and religion, soon re- v prospects of peace and independent secu- concileil him to his fate. In that situa- Wity, with their attendant blessings to the tion he h;is constantly remnined, favored) United Statks, 1 receive with great sat- with such a portion of bodily activity as ^ isfaction ; and beg that you will accept a enables him to widk and to ride moder- ? return of my gratulations to you on this ati^iy ; and letaining, unimpaired, his rel- ) auspicious event — an event in which, tsh for enjtiyment, his love of pleasantry. \ great as it is in itself and glorious as it his strength of memory, and all the facul-/ will probably be in its consequences, you ties of his mind. As a proof that the S have a right to participate largely, from OF MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM. 59 the distinguished part you have contribu- ted towards its attainment. " But while I contemplate the greatness of the object for vvhicli we have contend- ed, and felicitate you on the happy issue of our toils and labors, which have ter- minated with such general ."satisfaction, I lament that you should feel the ungrate- ful returns of a country, in whose service you have exhausted your bodily strength, and expended the vigor of a youthful con- stitution. 1 wish, however, that your ex- pectations of returning liberality may be verified. 1 have a hope that they may — but should they not, your case will not be a singular one. Ingratitude has been experienced in all ages, and retublics in particular have ever been famed for the exercise of that unnatural ana sordid VICE. "The wSecrktary at War who is now here, informs me that you have ever been considered as entitled to full pay since your absence from the field, and that you will be considered in that light until the vilose of the war; at which peri- od you will be equally entitled to the same emoluments of halfpay or commutation as other officers of your rank. The same opinion is also given by the pay-master- general, who is now with the army, em- powered by Mr. Morris for the settlement of all their accounts, and who will attend to your's whenever jou shall think proper to send on for the purpose, which it will probably be best for you to do in a short time. " I anticipate, with pleasure, the day, and that, I trust, not far off, when I shall quit the busy scenes of a military employ- ment, and retire to the more tranquil walks of dom(;stic life. In that, or what- ever other situation Providence may dis- . pose of my future days, the remem- URANCE OF THE MANY FRIENDSHIPS AND CONNEXIONS I HAVE HAD THE HAPPINESS TO CONTRACT WITH THE GENTLEMEN OF THE ARMY, WILL BE ONE OF MY MOST GRATEFUL REFLECTIONS. Under this contemplation, and impressed with the sen- timents of benevolence and regard, I com- mend you. my dear sir, my other friends, and with them, the interests and happi- ?iess of mir dear rountry, to the keeping AND PROTECTION OF AlMIGHTY GoD. " 1 have the honor to be, &c. " George Washington. '' To the Hon. Maj. Gen. Putnam " The remainder of the life of General Putnam was passed in quiet retirement with his family. He experienced k\\ in- ) terruptions in his bodily health, (except the paralytic debility with which he was afflicted,) retained full possession of his mental faculties, and enjoyed the society of his friends until the 17th of May, 1790, when he was violently attacked with an inflammatory disease. Satisfied that it would prove mortal, he was calm and re- signed, and welcomed the approach of death with joy, as a messenger sent to call him from a life of toil to everlasting rest. On the 19th of May, 1700, he end- ed a life which he had spent in cultivating and defending the soil of his birth. Much of his life bad been spent in I arms, and the military of the neighbor- hood were desirous that the rite of sepul- ture should be accompanied with martial honors: they felt that this last tribute of respect was due to a soldier, who, from a patriotic love of country, had devoted the best part of his life to the defence of her rights, and the establishment of her independence — and who, through long and trying services, was never once re- pro. iched for misconduct as an officer ; but when the disease compelled him to retire from service, left it beloved and re- spected by the army and his chief, and with high claims to the grateful remem- brance of his country. Under these impressions, the grenadiers of the llth regiment, the independent corps of artillerists, and the militia com- panies in the neighborhood, asembled each at their appointed rendezvous, early on the morning of the 21st, and having repaired to the late dwelling of the de- ceased, a suitable escort was formed, at- ^ tended by a procession of the masonic ( brethren present, and a large concourse \ of respectable citizens, which moved to 60 LIFE, AXaJDOrtiS, AND HEROIC EXPLOITS the congregational meeting house in < Brooklyn; and, after divine service per- l! formed by the ilev. Dr. Whitney, all that ( was earthly of a patriot and hero waslaid ' in the silent tomb, under the discharge of- vollies from the infantry, and minute guns ) from the artillery. < Th'' foUowlnv culo'^iuni roas pronounced ■' at thu granc of General Putnam by i Dr. A Waldo. ,' " Those venerable relics ! once delight- '. ed in the endearing domestic virtues, , which constitute the excellent neighbor — ' husband — parent — and worthy brother ! liberal and substantial in his friendship ; — unsuspicious — open — and generous ; — just and sincere in dealing ; a benevolent / citizen of the world— he concentrated in ^ his bosom, the noble qualities of an iion- / EST MAN. { " Born a hero — whom nature tauwht (' and cherished in the lap of innumerable ^ toils and dangers, he was terrible in bat- ( tie! But, from the amiableness of his ^' heart — when carnage ceased, his human- s ity spread over the Jicld^ like the refresh- ) ing zephyrs of a summer's evening ! — The ■ prisoner wounded — the sick — the forlorn) — experienced the delicate sympathy of^ //« General Pomeroy expressed his slrona at Roxbury, and his genera! disposition of the troops about Boston, was sanctioned by the approbation of the Commander-in- chief. From extreme ill health, he re- signed his commission in April, 1776; but notwithstanding his resignation was accepted, at the earnest request of Con sense of the blindness of rortune,that, of the two volunteer Generals in the battle, War-' ren, the young and chivalrous soldier, the eloquent and enlightened legislator should fall, and he escape, old and useless, un- hurt. From age he declined the honora- be appointment of Brigadier-General of o-ress and General Washington, he con- ] the United States army, and retired from tinned in command, near Boston, until the ^ service. But like the veteran war-horse, 2Uth of i\Iarch, 1777. fie was after- '; when the echoes of his majestic Connec- wards a rnetnber of Congress under the ^ ticut rang with the clarion of battle, he old confederation and present constitu- tion, and died in 180O, aged seventy-three. The veteran General Poraeroy heard the pealing artillery, which seemed to in- vite him to battle ; he was a soldier too brave, and a patriot too ardent, to resist a spurned the peaceful retreat which his long life and long services had demanded. Fie preferred even a regiment to inaction, and, as a Colonel, marched to join the kindred spirit who composed our army m the Jerseys. His exposures produced a summons so airceeable. He requested a I pleurisy, which proved fatal at Peekskill, horse of General Ward, to carry him to ) in New-York, where his country owes him the field , delighted at an aid so important, ) a monument, and bravery and patriotism it was instantly supplied. With his mus- 'perennial fame. to the General Th ket and cartridges, he repaired Thomas was appointed first Neck ; inquiring of a sentry posted there, / Brigadier-General under the United States, and viewing the ground and the tremen- { in 177G was appointed Major-General, and duous fire across, he was alarmed, not for '{ on the death of Montgomery, repaired to himself, but for the horse he had borrow- ; C'anada, to command the American forces ed ; he delivered him to the sentry, and ; before Quebec. Their situatioJi was coolly marched across. He advanced to ■ nearly desperate; but he was too adven- the rail fence on the left. His approach ^ turous to relinquish the enterprise without gave new confidence to the men ; they \ one attempt to secure the favors of for- received hirn with the highest exultation, \ tune. He endeavored to burn the ene- and the name of General Pomeroy rang ) my's naval force before the city by a fire- through the line. In early life he had I ship, intending to attack the place during been an ingenious mechanic, and many a ( the conflagration; but the fire-ship mis- soldier was supplied with arms of his ' carried, and the General was compelled 6^ APPENDIX. to order a fetrfeat, during vVhich he died of s general itl the army, and throughout thg the small pox at Chamblee. \ country ; a scrutiny, most severe and un- The veteran Colonel Joseph F^rye, who ) relenting, Was instituted into the Conduct b.ad served in the war of 175'j, was at the ^ of every one, to bring condign punishment siege of Louisbourg, and taketi prisoner > on those whose misconduct had caused in Fort William Henry, immediately after ( the final issue. ]i.ven Colonel Bridge, the battle thti 21st June, wis appointed ^ notwithstanding the severity of his labors, MiijorGeneral by the Provincial Con- > and the dangerous and honorable wounds gress. He served some time in the revo- ' he received, had to pass thii ordeal of a lut onary war, and lived to a very advanced / court martial. age, at Fryebiirgh, which received its; Notwithstanding this inquisitorial re- uiime from his family. '^ search, we are happy to add, out of neat" Colonel Gardner lived a few d lys after ( three thousand, who, at different stages of the battle, and on being asked if he was '} the battle, nlust have been engaged in it^ well enough to see his son ; "yes," an- ; and most of them for the first lime, four swered the hero, •' if he has done his du- ) only were discovered guilty of miscon- ty." I'eing informed that he had distin- • duCt. Of these, Majoi* Gridley Was tried guished himself, he saw him, and died for neglect of duty. Brigadier-Qeneral with the rrlorious consolation of leavinii; ; Green beins: president of the court, which the invaluable legacy of his own fame and ^ " find him guilty of breach of orders, and his country's gratitude to a son worthy to ' therefore dismiss him from the Massachu-" support the honors of his name. / setts service : but on account of his inex- The brave Knowlton, from the first • perience and youth, and the great confu- moment of the battle to the latest period ( sion which attended that day's transaction of the retreat, showed himself worthy the ^ in general, they do not consider him inca^ distinguished honor of beino- selected as !> nable of a Continental commission, should the first among the Connecticut Cap- the genera! officers recommend him to his tains (Excellency." He afterwards received the commission ^ Colonel Mansfield was obviously guilty of Lieutenant-Colonel, and at the battle Sof an error, arrising only from inexperi- of Haarlem Heights, was sent by Wash- ^ ence. Two only were found guilty of ington to attack the enemy's rear; a (cowardice; of these Colonel Gerish was bloody action ensued; Knowlton and his /certainly guilty of a want of military ar- men fought the whole force of the enemy, Wlor and activity, but this was a constitu^ of vastly superior numbers, before the tional defect. He was not accused before Americans could attack in front, and got ahe committee of Congress by General the better of them. He restored by this ^ Putnam, and, in the opinion of the very gallant affair a glorious moral force tothe ^ respectable judge advocate who tried hinlj army nearly extinguished by disasters; (he was far too harshly treated, but it was at the expense of many brave ( The only officer apparently guilty of men in the unequal contest; his assistant ^ cowardice. Captain Callender, is a glori- officer, Major Loitch, was slain, with three ^ ous instance of the buoyancy of real New balls through him, and he himself reaped ( England heroism and there deeming effica- itnmor»al honor and immortal life together, cy of a pure conscience, a mind conscious Washington paid due honors to his Mif rectitude. The furious denunciation memory, in general orders, and declared, \o? Putnam, the condemnation of the courtj " he had died a glorious death, which ev- <, and thundering prescription of Washing- ery soldier ought to wish for, and would -^ton, would have crushed any one forever, have been an honor to any country on ; who was armed with panoply less divine, earth." i A committee of Congress was appoint- The same indignation felt by Colonel ( ed to inquire into the truth of a Prescott, at the loss of the battle, was report, that some officers of the army had haen gn'xUy of mi>conduct; they report,^' irJortai passage of the Alps by Hannibal that they had made inquiry of Generals He was Major of a battalion of light in- Putnam and other officers, who were in ) fantry, at Saratoga, and his services were the hottest of the battle, and that the^ acknowledged by Gates, in the highest General charged Captain Callender and) terms of approbation. Cilley's regiment, another artillery officer, with infamous^ of which he was Lieutenant Colonel was cowardice, one of the principal causes of\ the most distinguished corps in the battle the defeat, and informed them that he s of Monmouth, and the salvation of the army would quit the service if these officers) was owing to their heroic courage. Gen-* were not made an example of, and that^ era] Washington acknowledged the ser- one of them ought to be shot. The court ^ vice, and sent to inquire what regiment it martial condemned Captain Callender, ^ was. "Full blooded yankees, by ...« and General Washington approved the^ sir," was the ansvvej' by Dearbon. He was judgment, " not only from the particular) afterwards secretary of war, appointed by guilt of Captain Callender, but the fatal S Mr. Jefferson; and during the last war consequence of such a conduct to the af-( was the first Major-General and senior of- my, and the cause to America in general. ) ficer of the American army. Notwithstanding this, our hero resolved > Porter, the promising artillerist, who to compel the world to acknowledge by; stood by his piece and his Captam to the his future conduct, that his past had been j last, has since then risen through every mistaken. He continued with his corps ^ grade of office to the rank of E^rigadier- as a volunteer, and desperately exposed) General in the army, to which he has ever himself in every action. The brave and since belonged ; and has maintained an beneficent General Knox, extended to him '; uniform and distinguished reputation as his friendship. ^ one of the first artillery officers in service. At the battle on Long Island the (!ap-) The important post of Norfolk was in- tain and Lieutenant of the company of i trusted to his command the last war, and artillery, with which he served, were shot; ) h^ is now stationed at Boston, in com- be assumed the command, and fought the S| mand of the very district which he so^ pieces to the last; refused to retreat, and, bravely contributed to defend in 1T75. the bayonets of the soldiers were jusi) Immediately after the battle of Bunker upon him. when a British officer, admir-) Hill, the rank of Majer-General was con- ing his chivalrous and desperate courage, ^ ferred on Colonel Gridley. interfered and saved his life. ) America commenced her revolution General Washington expresssed his ) with but four pieces of cannon, and to high approbation of his conduct, gave him ' his mechanical science and ingenuity she his hand with his most cordial thanks ; , was indebted for the iirst mortars and ordered the sentence of the court martial • cannon ever cast in the country, condemning him, to be erased from the ) After being confined some months by orderly book, and restored to him his com- ) his wound, he repaired to Cambridge, and mission. He held his commission during \ superintended the fortifications erecting the war, and left the service at the peace, ( round Boston. On the 4th March, 1776, with the highest honor and reputation. ) he was again engaged in erecting Tortifi- Captain Dearborn was afterwards high- ^ cations in the night, and the address, sci- ly distinguished during the revolutionary ^ ence, and prodigies of labor, displayed at War, for his bravery and enterprise. Fie ) Dorchester Heights, were perhaps never volunteered at the head of a company of ^exceeded, except on Breed's Hill. These men, selected from the regiment to ac- ) works expelled the enemy from Boston. Company Arnold in the winter of 1775, j, General Gridley fortified the heights of through the trackless wilds, to Quebec ; ( thi.s place and the islands in the harbor, anenterprise, which, in daring, hardihood, ) and General Washington urged him to and courage, is not surpassed by the im- i accompany the army, but his advanced V:4 APPENDIX. age forbade. He retired on h If pay. In seats, John Pigeon and Enoch Preemartj 1795 he a!?sisted in iiying the cornpr s?ldom present, and Joseph Warren, chair- stone of the state house, as he had in 1775 ': in^in, Benjamin 'Jhurch, Benjamin White, lo lay the corner .stone of the State, and J Joseph Palmer, Abraham Watson, Samn- lived in remnr'cable health to the age of el Holien. Azor Orne, Nathan Gushing, tighty-six. a model of courtliness, benefi- > and Richard Dsvens. They were em- cence, and hospitality, as well as all the' powered generally to watch over the safe- high perfections of a soldier. ty of the commonwealth, and advise Con' Colonel Stark will be recognised as the ( gress of such measures as they thought hero of Bennington, but it is not so gen- beneficial ; and expressly commissioned: erally knoivn th it lie employed an ingen- J " To assemble such and so many of the ious and successful expedient to strike a militia, and them to dispose and place panic into the enemy, and assist him in where and detain so long as said commit- achieving his glorious victory. He had tee shall judge necessary, and discharge one iron cannon, but neith.^r powder suffi- ) said militia when the safety of the colony ^sient to employ it, nor balls; h2 ordered (will admit. And the officers of the said an officer, however, to charge it, who ob) militia are enjoined to obey the orders jected the want of balls ; '' no matler," ^ and directions of said Committee of Safe- said the Colonel, '■ load it with blank car- ( ty. And also to direct the army of this tndge, and let the discharge be the signal ' colony to be stationed where said for all the troops to rush on the enemy." ^Committee of Safety shall judge most The Hessians were panic struck at the ^ conducive to the defence and ser- Ihundering report, his troops rushed on with ^ vice of this colony; and ths Gener- loud hurras, and the victory was complete. ^, al and other officers of the army are Honorable James Winthrop, and James requested to render strict obedience to Swan. Esquire, accompanied the rein- ! such orders of said committee ; but Gon- forcements to Breed's Hill, with their ^ gress have power to control any order of muskets, as volunteers ; fought valiantly, ^ the Committee of Safety. Alsotonomin- and the former was wounded. ^ ate persons to Congress to he commission- But five days after the battle of Bunker ed officers m the army, and to give enlist- Hill, General Ward writes Congress, that, / ing orders to such persons as they think unless enlisting orders be immediately ( proper. And if any officers be ready to furnished him, he shall be left entirely ^ be commissioned agreeable to the resolve nlone The day before, however, that (of this Congress, during the recess of the body resolved, that an army of thirty (game, the committee shall fill up and de- thousand was necessary, that Massachu- f liver to them commissions to be furnished setts would raise thirteen thousand six said Committee in blank for that purpose." hundrfd, and that the other New hmgland i This committee distributed beating or States should have notice given them, and ^enlisting orders throughout the State to be requested to furnish their proportions. , those whom they thought qualified to raise But the battle of l,exington was a beacon recruits. The number of a company was fire to the neighboring States. The har- ^reduced from one hundred to fifty-nine; dy yeomen, whom rage supplied with ; and he who could enlist this number was arms, did not wait to he summoned by the > entitled to a Captain's commission, and tardy process of legislation ; they seized ^one who procured ten captain with com- iheir hunting pieces, and flew to join their (panics to serve under him commanded the brethren at the scene of danger. ) regiment. The Congress of Massahu- The Committee of Safety, elected anew, ) setts issued an eloquent address to the by Congress at every session, were the re- ! people, which would do honor to any le- al executive of Massachusetts. The ^gislature on earth. The recrui,ts came in ■members were now John Hancock and /with spirit, and by the middle of June the Benjamin Greenleaf, who never took their "^ New England arnay of citizen soldiers APPENDIX. 65 enlisted for a few months amounted to ; lonel Wyman, and Major M'Clary, their about fifteen hundred troops. ( leaders. About ten thousand of these were of > Their Colonel was worthy to command Massachusetts; animated with the same Uhis formidable band ; he had been a dis- love of liberty which inspired the whole, Uinguished Captain of Provincial Rangers they were most confident in the rectitude ) received into the service of the crown; of their cause, in which they were thor- ) was at (Quebec, under General Wolfe, and oughly instructed by James Otis, who led ;> enjoyed half pay, as a British officer, an the forlorn hope of the revolution, John goffering he made with other sacrifices, for Adams, (iuincy, Hancock, Samuel Ad- ij the good of his country. ams, and other enlightened patriots. And ^ Their Major also was a favorite oflicer. they were fighting battles more peculiarly ) Six feet and a half in height, with a Her- their own, in defence of their wives, chil- ^culean form in perfect proportions, a voice dren, and homes. But the more anima- ^ like Stentor, and strength of Ajax ; ever ting consideration to them as soldiers, was ^unequalled in athletic exercises, and un- the chivalrous reputation of their ances- |) subdued in single combat ; whole bodies tors and themselves, who had been in con- sof men had been overcome by him ; and stant battle and constant victory against ^ he seemed totally unconscious that he was their formidable savage foe and had more <; not equally unconquerable at the cannon's recently proved at Nova Scotia and Louis- ; mouth. His mind and character were of burgh that they were equally formidable Uhe same grand and energetic cast with against the civilized troops of Europe. <, his person ; and though deficient in the The regiment of artillery was organ- / advantages of finished education, he had ized under Colonel Richard Gridley, Lieu- ) been a member of the State legislature, and tenant-Colonel William Burbeck. Majors ; his mercantile concerns were extensive. David Mason and Scarborough Gridley, ( These troops were followed by another and ten Captains, with one six, two brass } regiment from New Hampshire, which four, and six iron three pound cannon. ) arrived on the fifteenth of June, under Rhode Island had sent a regiment to ^ Colonel Reed, Lieutenant-Colonel Gil- Massachusetts, imbued with the deter- \ man, and Major Hale, mined spirit of civil and religious liberty, ) Connecticut, essentially and undevia- whicli the founder of their State main- ;tingly republican, was behind none of the tained through every peril. Colonel ; provinces in her determined hostility to Green was their commander, one of the (the usurpation and encroachments of the most prcunising heroes of the revolution. ? throne. To her antipathy to royalty the 'JMie elements of a soldier were so mixed > proscribed judges of Charles the First in him, that the wise already foresaw his ^ had owed their inviolable asylum in her elevated rank among warriors the most (territory. Religious as well as civil lib- distinguished. Under him were Lieuten- ^erty was in jeoparcjy, and the former with ant-Colonel OIny and Major Boxan, expe- ; her was paramount to all earthly consid- rienced soldirs. Two field pieces were derations. In her vocabulary the British attached to the corps. Uroops were the Philistines, and Putnam, The hardy yeomanry of New Hamp- /the American Samson, a chosen instru- shire, beneath whose ponderous strokes ; ment to defeat the foe; and fortunately the formidable forests, and the savages ) she inspired her own confidence into all who inhabited them, had been leveled^ her sister States. with the ground, who had been used to) With their usual sagacity, however, little control but what the God of Nature uhcse troops, notwithstanding a confident imposed, were moved with indignation at S reliance on supernatural aid, did not neg- approaching tyranny. They flocked as hect all human means to secure it. Their volunteers to the neighborhood of Boston, ) State government, constitution, and es- and chose (!olonel Stark, Lieutenant-Co- Ntab)lshments,continued unchanged. Their 66 APPENDIX. troops were better armed, better disciplin- ed and provisioned, than any troops in the New England army. General Ward was a gentleman of lib- eral education, vigorous understanding, and distinguished probity. He had been a member of the council, speaker of the assembly, and chief justice of one of the courts in Massachusetts. He professed the rigid tenets of New England religion, and his rank and character commanded an extensive influence in the country. He had also served with reputation in the war of 1756, was a Lieutenant-Colonel at the storming of Ticonderoga, under Gen- eral Abercrombie, and soon after com- manded the regiment. He had also been a Colonel in the militia, an office from which Governor Hutchinson relieved him on account of his being too true a patriot. General Thomas received the appoint- ment of Lieutenant-General, which he accepted on the 37th of May. His supe- rior talents, cultivated by a liberal educa- tion, his gallantry, activity, and vigilance as a soldier, purity as a patriot, and hon- or as a man, commanded the entire confi- dence of all who knew him. He had served in the former war with reputation, and had already distinguished himself in this. Being in command at Roxbury, with a feeble force, General Gage had de- termined to drive him from that important post. But his vigilance detected the de- sign, and defeased it. On the day fixed for the attack, all his troops were paraded, marching them round the hill on which he was encamped, in view of Boston, and returning those in front by a short rout again to the rear, they wore the appearance of a long col- umn of troops. Being without uniform, the deception was perfect, and General Gage, alarmed with the show of force, relinquished the enterprise. WHOLESALE BOOK STORE. ^' n % f^^:^ lliiUiJ' ii- If iiiiili' M. C. YOUNGLOVE & COMPANY, NO. 46 SUPERIOR STREET, CLEVELAND. 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