Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-03-22
(From the N. Y. Courier and Enquirer)
TIE BATTLE
PUTS ROCK, LAKE CHAMPLAIN.
From the forthcoming work entitled LEAvEs
FROM THE WARS, Or NORTHERN New YORK.

In the VOLTS den-at the athletic games Of
the CulOnists,-as reaper or ploughman in the
feld,-as a woodman with his axe in the for
est, a ranger with the rifle and tomahawk,
hunting the enemy through the mountain passes
on their snow clad tops, or wherever their steal
thy track in the Northern wids might be found,
Israel Putnam was a character, and made his
mark wherever he went. lie wGs equally nc
ted in the peril of navigating, in the trail bark
canoe, the fearful rapids high up the Hudson,
escaping the rifle aim of the red man there, or
at the stornling of Ell Moro FL Ponto, Havana
Now three years in that war costing its mil
lions and which finally lost to France and
gained 10 England vast country, in service
romantic, in battles singular and unequallcd,
Putnam, daring as crafty, and cunning in eco
nomising the lives Of his companions was well
suited TO the times. Fascinated by those early
dawnines of free principles, now, though grud.
gngiy, shining from the court Of George the
Second, the Coonst for the Campaign of l75S
eagerly responded TO the call of William Pitt,
and Putnam had new ambtions.-A news
paper Of the day says" Ills Majesty in order
to have the best discipline observed in his troops
in America has ordered five commissions of
8rigadier Generals to be sent TO America and
ten commissions for the Coils of Foot, to be dis
be commander-in chief in that country to the
most worthy and deserving persons and that all
the officers are to rise in rank and seniority ac.
cording to their courage and merit without the
admirable custom of purchasing what they are
so Justly entitled to-"
| Putnam was raised to the rank of Major and
joining that division of the army destined for the
conquest OF Northern New York and its Lakes
was now under the immediate command o
Abercrombe at Fort Edward Now at The age
of forty, in the fall vigor of his physical power
! singuarly skilled as IA scout, his ready pcrcep
ton and intellect in their strength, and familiar
with all the passas TO the vicinity of the strong
holds Of the French, and withal anurcd to hard
ships and prvations of no common kind, he wa
fit to be one of the master spirits in watching
the movements of the French, repusc their in
vasious while tie main army was in prepara
ton for its splendid embarkation on Lake
George, and the stormng Of Ticonderuga.
To bring information of the dongs of the
French at their strong entrenchment at Iicon
deroga, if possible capture prisoners or to deiea
the same designs on their part TO learn anythin!
of the main body of the English and Colonia
army, a strong scout was ordered at least as ia
as the mouth of Wood Creek and South Bay
Putnam advised in this order and selected tn,
of sixty from the brave Robert DurEee to all Ih
high privates who was not charact + in him
self Alternately three led the van in this lit
lie army OF trappers, now rangers--the three il
this kind of ranging service were usually In
dians and called runners, but Putnam made thi
service alternate so that all might become he
roes and leaders and well skliei in the geo
graphy of tie country.
The forrest then densly thick almost to dark
ness was to be penetrated With the sama cauto
to avoid surprise Of the enemy which was tn
habit OF the Colonst in their hunts of the deer
The double march of the van guard or runner
made the distance actually marched from Fol
! Edward to kah-cho-quash-na, great iishn
4. ground, (now Whitehal) more than fifty miles
, although their route was near the track an
INT '''ln elevated 4 th" left of the Saratoga an
- \, n,,ruai IA, 4ludd winch Is but twcnty-tw
i miles. think now see the eagle eye Of o
= Put moment in sight from behind these prm