The Portland gazette., 1818-08-11
BY THE MAILS.
Gen. Putnam Defended !!


Testimony in jevor af The long established repa
fanon zsa,ich 7Oas 50 justly acquired oytae
] braye aud intrepid Patnum IL Tie memeras
lie battie of Bmlker's Hall EXTRACTED from
tie series ot numbers lately published N ihe
Boston Csntsnel, entitled " Revtezo u Gen
Dearbo,ss's defence ofhis anack on Gen
Putnam
The Hon. Judge Grosvenor, Of Pomfret, in
Connecticut, in his letter of April 30th, 1918,
states, that a part ofhis regiment under fut-
nam's command, with alarger number ofstroops
under Col. Prescott, were ordered on the ve-
ming before the battle Of Bunker Hill, 10 Bred $
Hill,
" Where, undsr The ir,nediate supsrinfendencs
Of Gen. Putnam, ground was broken, and re-
doubt formed. On the next day dispositions
were made to deter the advance Of the enemy.
Gen. Putnam was extremely active, and direct
ed principally the operations. All were ansna-
ted, and their General inspired confidence by his
eyan,ple.n lie then proceeds to say, $ that at-
ter the British landed, detachment of four
Lieutenants and l20 men, selected the prece-
ding day, from Gen. Putnam's regiment, under
Capt. knowlton, were BY the GeRsui ordered to
take post at arail fence on the left Of the breast
work" This is thevery spot where Dearborn's
friends claim all the hononr. lie then describes
the gallant conduct of the Connecticut troops
who opened deadly fire on the enemy, and
cotnpalled them to retire with heavy loss. He
adds that he was sustained il his retreat By two
other companies of Putnam's regiment. Out of
has ocn command OF thirty men, he had eleven
killed and wounded, among the rest, himself.
$ lie saw no other troops at the rail fence at
the time The acfaon began, nor till long affer
This agrees with Dearborn's witnesses, who in
innate, that the action began before they reach
ed the fence.
Of the officers on the ground, the most active
within my observation were Gen. Putnam, Col
Prescott, and Capt. knowlton, but no doubt
there were many more equally tTare and naerlto-
sious, who must naturally haze escaped the eye
of ons attending 10 has our anabssdiate conlasaad
THo's GRosvENoR.n
Abner Allen, Of Western, In the county Of
Worcester, having applied for a pension under
the late act, and being found to have fought at
Bunker Hill, freely gave the following aiiida-
Wit, viz:
- ABNEa ALLEN, Of Western, in the county
Of Worcester, ysoman, do testify and declare,
that enlisted as soldier in the company COM
manded by General ISRAEL PUTNAM, Of Pom
fret, in Connecticut, and THOMAS GRosvENoR
was Lieutenant, tmeaning the Hon Thomas
Grosvenor, now Judge of Probate for the county
Of Wmdham]- Il was at the battle OF Bunker
Hill went on the night before the battle, and
worked at the breast work Putnam was then
and there called General, and acted as suck, and
the company was commanded by Capt Knowl
ton, who was afterwards promoted to be Colonel,
and killed at Harlem Heig1ts, when was with
him.
6 Our company was posted at ! the rail nee
till we had orders to retire eat.-Aud 40 knop,
that Gen. Putnam was t,l thas engagement.
sau hina on horseback, riding backward and for
ward, urging the men to fight with great earnest
ness-and when some of tee men appeared to,
finch little, he used this expression" Gods
curse uou. drsre oa''. He was as much exposed
as ann man engaged Our company fought at
about the centre Of the line between the breast
work and the water, and do know that Gen.
Putnam did on that occasion all that soldier
and brave man could do.
(Sisnedl 6 ABaER ALLEN"
In the county Of Berkshire another witness
volunteered to the same oHect:--
81 JOSIAH HILL, Of Tyringham, in the coun-
ty Of Berkshire, do testify and declare, that in
May, l775, enlisted IN the company OF israel
Putnam, son of Gen. Putnam. was at the bat
tie of Bunker Hill on the 18th June Part Of
the ConnscHcut troops went on orer ,light, and
part in the morning. Iknoao that Gen. Israel
Putnam. was in that battle. was on the left
wing. ! know that he took part in the engage
ment, and uas as n,lch erp6sed as any body
in the battle. | then belonged to Coventry, IN
Connecticut.
(Signed) 9 JOSIAH HILL"
Here then are three sye-wlsnesses all engaged
in action one Of them wounded, who prove, that
the Connecticut troops were on the ground be-
fore the New-Hampshire troops that they sus-
tanned the brunt OF the battle that they suffered
loss, and that Putnam, 90 far from keeping back
has troops, galIanty led them on, and exposed
himself to thc greatest dangers.
[Tobe continued.
PHILADELPHIA, JrET 81.
On Tuesday, man driving 4 horse and cart jn