The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-08-18

the most depraved oil the siies VINO Wtii dS-
knowledge himself destitute of it. Par.ctdes,
to be sure, have been produced and wretch
es have been known to SANDER their parents ;
but even they would suffer no other to STAY
their fathers, or traduce their memories. This
indignation is increased, as the character SLAM
dered is more pure excuse then the warmth
I feel at your SANDER of ISRAEL PUTNAM.
At the time addressed brief letter to
you. in May last, + had seen no defence Of
my venerated grandfather memory from your
barbarous attack but derived real conso-
laion from the reflection, that it needed none
Soon after, however. Twas grati6ed at seeing
the most respectable Gazettes, conducted by
gentlemen of different political parties, repel-
ling, in the most elegant and energetic man.
ner, your base and foul SANDER. knew that
General Putnam had surviving son-him-
self patriotic young officer in the army of
the revolution-aid to his father--and distin
guished by WAsHIS0roN as accomplished Of
fcer-Col. DANIEL PuTsAx. To him
knew belonged the duty OF defending the
memory of his father after death, as he had
guarded bis body when in life. knew him
the tittest of all persons living TO do it and |
feel proud satisfaction in knowing, that,
when necessary. he can WELD the pen of a
scholar as well asthe sword of gentleman.
A Pamphlet, containing your attack, and bis
defence, has lately been sent me.
Nothing but your outrage against the COM
mon principles Of humanity-nothing but
your presumptuous violation of the sanctuary
of sleeping hero, could have called him from
the delightful retirement in which be lives,
or have induced him TO offer himself to the
public. The mandate of nature and the Law
of Sinai pledged him. to the sacred. duty, and
the sacred pledge he has redeemed. Take
this brief and lucid detail into your Closet
examine Il with care. IT'S not like the hand
writing upon the wall, unintellgible /; but.
like that, it must shake your frame, and dis
turb your soul. The majestic spirit of WASH
INeroN would there upbsaid you for profaning
the tomb of his earliest friend and first officer,
in the war Of the revolution. Read the evi. |
dence OF has strong, of his lasting attachment
to ISRAEL PUTNAM, and blush at your own in-
Justice. Examine the clear and conclusive
testimony OF an unspotted patriot ot The rev
olution, whose blood flowed upon Bunker
Hill, but who yet survives 10 defend ;he mem
Org OF bis commando. hlofe than three
score and ten years hare rolled over the head
of Col. THOMAS GRosvENoR, of Pomphret i
but additional years can never render his hear
unmoyed at the SANDER OF Putnam, nor pre-
vent nis tongue from telling the ruth. he
entered the army your inferior in rank, and
left it your superior in every quality which
constitutes the officer, the man and the pat
riot. Turn then TO the evidence Of The Am |
erican Raphael, Col. JogS TRuMBULL, aud
sink into that shade ia which his unrvaled |
pencil has placed you, when deliheating and |
painting this battle. A PUTNAM is seen--a |
GRoSyEEoR i. seen-a SMALL is seen but a |
is not"
If, after reading this explicit testimony,
which completely destroys your account"
you bad, as in duty bound, retracted your
declarations in regard TO Gen. Putnam, the
world would have been disposed to extend
its charity to'you. But your grchndess and |
refuted statement, you attempt TO support by |
vague and underlined evidence. No doubt YOU
can obtain the aflidavits of fifteen sixteenths of
The people Of Suffolk, .Eaddleser and Eswr
counties, who will say they did no. see Gen.
Putnam, on the 18th Of June, l775, upon
Bunker Hill and could not from personal
snoaiedgs, contradict your account.--Whas
kind Of evidence call you this, and before
what forum would you adduce it Let me tell
you. sir, the Grand Inquest ofthe American
people, before whom you have put yourself
upon trial, will weigh this evidence and will
decide, that the testimony of an hundred thou.
sand men, however respectable, who did ros
zee Gen. Putnam in the battle Of Bunker hill,
and cannot contradict your account, viii be
ike the light dust of the balance against the
evidence Of a few heroes who De.
clare that they DID see him there, Id the ar
dent discharge Of his duty, and that your ac-
count cannot Re true
After all, General, TIE descendants osfsRA-
IL PrTsAh are indebted to you. You have
rendered the character of that hero more CON-
spicuous and more endcared to Americans .byi
attempting TO ruin il. Enthe ordinary course
OF nature, you must shortly follow Putnam to |
the tomb; and should your memory be as
sailed as you have assailed that Of my grand |
father, may generous public allow, and an |
posterity defend, the reputation YOU
deserve, and--no more.
S. PUTNAM WALDO.