Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-03-03
From the Illustrated Family Friend.
GENERAL PUTNAM

W.
Israel Putnam was born in Salem.
Massachusetts, in January, l7l8. He was
destined to the humble occupation of a
farmer. He received only the education
offered IN the common schools of the dav
reading, writing and arithmetic-and
had therefore to rely upon his own gen.
lus and force to succeed in life. He ear
" exhibited that resolute courage which
formed the most striking trait in his char
acter. On his first visit to Boston-then
a lad he fogged boy twice his size,
tor daring to insult him as an ignorant
rustic. At the age of twenty, he mar
rled Miss Pope, of Salem, where he be-
came farmer.
AT thirty-six years of.age, he received
the command of company, which, &C.
ting as rangers, made the life OF Putnam
| one OF constant activity and danger
On one occasion, he was sentfrom Fort
Edward with some light troops, to re-
connoltEee Crown Point He proceeded
Then, sSnss fsaifaf hi' sf sssssgR s.eev.9sd
concealed his men behind some bushes,
and with Major Rogers, advanced to-
ward the enemy. In making their in
vestigations, however, :hey tarried too
long for the sun, rising over the hill
tops, flooded the fields with light, which
were also soon covered with soldiers,
hurrying out of the fort. The two young
officers dared not attempt TO cross the
open ground, and so lay concealed, trus-
| ting to good fortune to give them a chance
of escape. After couple of hours, a
soldier stumbled upon Rogers, who lay
short distance from Putnam, and i'm
mediately attacked him, calling at the
same time upon his companions to come
to his help. Putnam seeing the danger
Of his comla ade, and fearing to fire, lest
he should bring the whole guard on him
leaped up, and striking the Frenchman
a blow with his gun, laid him dead at his
feet. The two friends then took to their
heels, and succeeded in reaching their
party in safety.
His known boldness and enterprise
caused him to be employed frequently
on missions requiring courage, resolution
and promptness. Having been sent on
one occasion to reconnoitre the enemy
at place called the Ovens. he took with
him Lieutenant Durkee-who was after
wards burned at the stake, in the mas
sacre of Wyoming-and set out for the
French camp. Deceived by the watch
fires, which were placed in the centre,
instead of along the outer lines, they kept
advancing until they suddenly found
themselves in the very heart of the ene-
mys camp. Being discovered, show
er OF bullets was rained upon them, one
of which struck Durkee in the thigh
The two friends made off at the top OF
their speed, though hundred muskets
blazed in their path. Putnam was ahead,
and going at furious rate, when he
pitched head-foremost into clay-pit,
followed close by Durkee. The former.
finding himself overlaid in the darkness
by strange man. was on the point OF
, stabbing him, when Dulkee spoke.
Lifting themselves out of this dilem-
ma as they best could, they pushed on
amid the random bullets, which were
E falling like hail-stones about them. A
: length, coming TO log, they threw them
selves behind it, to wait for morning. The
hours passing YEARLY, Putnam though
4 drink from his canteen would not be
: disagreeble SO twisting it around, he
S raised it to his mouth. To his surprise
e he found it dry and on examination
g discovered that bullet had passed di
l. rectly through it, and emptied the con
" tents. Here he remained until daylight
II when, on examining his outer person, h,
a found fourteen bulIet-holes through hi
blanket.
IT During the winter of 1776, he wa
er stationed on an island near Fort Edwar
is when the barracks of the Fort on shor
lie took fire. The magazine, containin
~ three hundred barrels Of powder, stoo