Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-10-21
seold put.n

'Irenpus," gives the following anecdotes in
a letter to the New York Observer -....
John P. Putnam is the grandson of old Put,
or more respectfully speaking of Major General
Israel Putnam the hero of Horse Neck, and o
score of fights, who shot the wolf in his den, and
lett behind character for bravery not excelled
by any of our braves. Gen. Putnam during his
lifetime, gave these pistols TO his son. the father
of John, and they were borne on the Generals
coffin to his grave when lie was buried, the pres
ent owner then q lad being present at the funer.
al. These pistols were given by his father to
John, but have never been out of his possession
or that of his father and grandfather. This is
their history up to their ownership by General
Putnam. Mr.. Putnam has often heard from his
father and his uncles, Coils. Israel and Daniel
Putnam. who were both Aids-de- Camp to the
old General, the following intensely interesting
facts: At the commencement of the war of the
American Revolution, these pistols were the
property of Major Pitcairn OF the British army.
On his retreat from Concord and Lexington to
Boston April 10, 1zF5, his horse was shot under
him and fell near party pursuing Ameri-
cans. The Major narrowly escaped capture,
leaving his horse and equipage. His pursuers
then stript the horse Of his trappings of which
these pistols formed part, bringing them into
the American camp, and few days afterwards
upon his arrival at the camp they were present.
ed to General Putnam who carried them through
the residue of his active services in the war
In the year 1927, Mr.. Putnam the present own
er, visited Lexington, taking these pistols with
him, and there made the acquaintance OF
two or three soldiers of Captain Parker's COM
pany of militia which was attacked by the Brit
ish forces at that place. One OF these men in-
formed Mr.. Putnam that he saw Maj. Pitcairn
discharge one of his pistols at their company be-
fore any other shot was fired, and he was near
enough to see the weapon and to remember the
popularity of its appearance-they are so COW
cred with polished mounting as to look at lit
tie distance like steel or solid silver weapons
and from these facts which have not been got
up to establish point, but have incidentally
turned up, there can be no reasonable doubt
that one of these pistols was the first hostile
weapon discharged in that war. That Major
Pitcairn led the vanguard of Col. Smiths de-
tachment at the battle OF Lexington, and fired
the first shot in that affair does not depend on the
traditions have now recited but is one of the
well known recorded facts of his history, as you
will find by referring to Botta's American lnde-
pendence, vol. !, page 1S2, and Morse's Revolu-
tion, page 228.
Mr.. Putnam has also in his possession Ger.
tifcate by the celebrated Aaron Burr, to the
effect that while he was Aidde-Camp to
General Putnam, during the war the General
carried brace of pistols which he believes to
be the same now in the hands of his grandson.
Mr.. Putnam relates an incident of some interest
in connection with Burr and Hamilton. He
says -:
"While Burr was with General Montgomery
lin Canada, in the first year Of the war, Gen.
Washington wrote to him and offered him sit
uation as Aid-de- Camp in his family. Burr de-
|layed his reply too long, and in the meanwhile
Washington appointed Hamilton to the place.
Burr was afterwards in my grandfather's family
as aid and | have often heard from my father
and family that my grandfather (Gen. PutnamO
had given it as his opinion that there existed IN
the mind of Burr, an implacable enmity to HAM
Iilton growing out of this matter"
Another family recollection of Old Put has
not been in print, but is well worth adding to
the tales of his eccentric daring.
On Putnam's next return home after the fa-
nous ride down the precipice at Horse Neck,
where he escaped from Tryon by the suddenness
of his terrible descent, as he sat one day on his
horse at his door, some of his neighbors on the
steps were expressing their doubts as to the fact
of his reported feat and escape. Clear the
way he said, and putting spurs to his horse
trotted into the hall and up stairs, showed his
horses head out of the window, and turned and
trotted down again with speed and safety."
Shortly after the affair at Horse Neck, Gov.
Tryon presented Gen. Putnam with new suit
of clothes as sort of peace offering, and in
compensation for the injury the bullets of his
cavalry had done to the hat and clothing of his
former friend. The clothes are still retained in
the possession of his descendants.