Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-10-04
From the Litchf eld Republican
& EN-. ISRAEL PUTNAM.

Nothing connected with the General
Assembly of 1854 has given greater pleas
ure than the appropriation of $4,000 for
the erection of monument to commem.
crate the services of Putnam The speech
of John Cotton Smith. in favor of the
resolution. is one of the most beautiful
tributes that has ever been paid to the
memory of that great man, and is worthy
of decendent of the last Governor un-
der the Charter. 1t carries us back ito
the glorious foretime" of the Republic
1t is pleasant sometimes to vary the
dull routine of legislation by the intro
duction OF subject that scars above the
party strlfes aud petty interests of the
present, aud carries US back to the heroic
age of the Republic There is no State
III the Union, and | know not any in the
world says the American Gibbon. in
speaking of Connecticut, sin whose histo-
ry. if | were citizen, could fad IN re
OF which to be proud and less that could
! wish to blot 1t is matter of concratu-
latlon that her annals are soon to be Civ
en- to the world, written by one of her
most talented sons, whose soul is full of
her glorious foretime, and who has devo-
ted years OF toll to this labor of love
Most true, 1t Is, that ever since God first
planted the three vines in the Wilderness
In every CONT bat for either liberty or hon
or, her sacred standard has waved in tri-
umph, in front Of the battle, or been
drenchea with the blood of the brave
From the storming of the Pequod fort to
the capture of Mexico, no desperate foe
has lived that ever stayed for the onset
of Connecticut valor Three times had
the gallant little Republic, while yet in
the cradle, dared to provoke the wrath
and brave the power of the mighty mon
arch of England, and as often has the
dagger of tyranny broken the breast of
her undaunted resolution. Unlike her
sister colonies, no stamps were ever sold
within her borders. She threw them back
with scorn into the face of king and parl-
lament Our State went into the revolu
tlon under peculiar advantages. Her civ
| IL organization of townships, each one
little compact, self lfsupporting democracy,
a well trained citizen soldiery, accustom-
ed to the use of arms, patriot clergy
! laundering resistance from everyspulpt
no royal governor to eject, nor court in
Huence to distract, all fitted her to await
| the crisis,
'Firm rock of the ocean that braves
"A thousanl wild waves the shuro'
| "In April, l775, before the revolution
could be generally regared ascer
tanned fact, number of patriotic citi
Zens of Connecticut assembled at Hart
! ford, perceiving the immense advantage
that would accrue to the cause of liberty
from the capture and possession of the
northern fortresses that commanded Lake
| Champ plain-Ticonderog and Crown Point
determined to seize them by a surprise
of the British garrisons. The daring
enterprise was committed to Seth War
ner and Ethan Allen, both natives Of the
county of Litchfeld 1t was conducted
with characteristic energy and determin-
alton; and the bold undertaking was
most emInently successful. ore than
two hundred cannon were captured the
same that were afterwards dragged across
the mountains to Boston, drove Lord
Howe from the city, and thundered
againt the British lines during the whole
course of the war Connecticut alone
! pro- jected and executed this most impor-
taut movement, and her treasury footed
the bills. In the meanwhile, the first
| blood was shed at Lexington, and its re
|
| pile as with the shock of an earthquake
Putnam left his plough in the furrow
the troops of eastern Connecticut poured
after their gallant hero The battle of
Bunker Hill soon followed, and opened
the seven years drama with a blaze of
glory. No achievement of modern story
rivals in interest or results this memora-
bic conflict. A few hundred provincial
farmers, in the ordinary costume of their
calling, without cannon or bayonets. oc-
cupied small breast work erected By
the unremitted toll of the previous night
On the left Of the breast work and on
the open ground stretching beyond its
point to the waterside. are placed the
men of Connecticut under Clark of Leb
anon. Chester of Wethersfeld, Colt of
London, and knowlton of Ashford. The
The eagle eye and lion heart of Putnam
is busy watching and experimenting the
whole On came the flower of the Eng
lish army. to the attack, moving slowly
and steadily, in all the pomp and pride of
war, cheered by the bursts of martial mu
Sic and the rolling thunder of the cannon
All is quiet and still in the ranks of Free
dom's little phalanx, save the clarion voice
of Putnam ringing in their ears-"Don't
fire until you see the whites of their
eyes,
"A moment more and the foe had almost
reached them. They thought to crush
the rebels without blow-when at once
they are met by sheet of fire, and fall !
before the tempest of death, as the leaves |
of the forest are scattered by the storm
blasts of autumn A second and third /
attack are attempted with the same results. |
when failure of ammunition induces the |
patriots reluctantly to retire. Their re-
treat is protected by the Connecticut !
force on the left, with siuewy arms and |
dubbed muskets, and the courage of their |
dauntless chieftan covers the retiring |
column like the seven fold shield of Ajax |
There strides bold Putnsm ard from all the plains,
Cal g tried host the tardy su-tains;
Aud 'nIdsI The whizz ceahs thar FL the air.
Waves back sword and dares the fol wing war
l. l. L. Il y