The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-10-06
From putnams Magazine for October.
4 NEW STORY OF GENERAL PUTNAM

A NEW STORY OF GENERAL PUT NAM
The eventtul career of the sturdy, lion
hearted Putnam has ever been the especia
theme of historical interest to the American
school boy; and the romantic and unusual
incidents that color it are not likely to pass
from his memory after attaining the years
and sentiments of manhood. 1t is doubtful,
indeed, whether the whole record of Ameri-
can history, colonial, revolutionary, and fed
eral, can produce a character, who, in the
quality of rugged indomtable courage, is
entitled to be named with 'Old Put With
him this quality appears to have been an i'll
stinct, even to the point of recklessness; and
the audacious affairs of the VOLTS den the
powder-magazine and the ride at Horseneck,
seem 10 have occurred merely from the ordi-
nary exercise Of this amazing quality by the
man who, rs his tombstone truly declares,
''dared to lead where any dared to follow"
In other words, his lofty herosm was no cN-
ccptonal or erratic display; it peryadeh his
whole nature, and stood forth at once upon
any adequate call OF duty.
He was born, as is well known, in Massa-
chusetts, but removed to Connecticut early in
life, in which latter State much Of his military
service and several of his most conspicuous
acts of daring were performed.
Western New York was settled, during the
early part Of the present century, in great
part by emigration from Connecticut. Many
of the pioneers Of the Gcncssce and Niagara
are still to be seen among us, white-haired
and feeble in body, but enjoying with solid
satisfaction the substantial fruits of their ear
" industry and hardships. Going back only
one generation from them, we find ourselves
in The goodly company Of the contincntals
am Inf inOory 1,atIofS with Dutpa m,
Stark. Warren, and the rest, and very many
are the "reminiscences OF this initial period in
our national history which might be gathered
from the lips of these aged men rs they re-
ceivcd them from their fathers, of which
written history has no knowledge.
| lately met one Of these pioneers 4 vencr-
able and Intelligent farmer of nearly four
score years. who was brought by his father
from Connecticut to his new home in the
Holland Purchase" so called in his child
ilpuu. IhU i.,thor snllcr of tho Rrvo-
luton, and had served under General Put
nam in his own State. The incidents and
general recollections of his campaigns, as he
had related them TO his son. in the spirit OF
the veteran who delights to
"~houlder his crutcI and show how fields were
Won.
were deeply interesting; and none more SC
ploits.
MY father knew him WE'LL" said my in
formant, "and always spoke of him us the
bravest man in the war. He never could
mention his name without his eyes kindline
and his cheeks flushing with excitement
and he loved to talk about Putnam and his
exploits above every thing else.
propose to submit to the reader, in brief
the most interesting of the anecdotes of Put
nam that received from the source referred
to. II is 50 perfectly characteristic Of the
man. rs history paints him, and the way in
which it comes to me is so perfectly satisfac-
tory that | have no hesitation in expressing
my entire confidence in its truth. Ii will be
observed that the Indian adventure which
forms the groundwork Of the story bears con-
siderable resemblance to one Of Putnam's
adventures which is minutcly detailed in the
histories, and which in one place | find sue
cinctly stated rs follows:
The same year O75S), when returning tC
Fort Edward from an expedition to watcl
the enemy in the ncighborhood of Ticonder.
oga his corps was surprised by party of
French and Indians, and he himself captured
and bound to q tree While in this situation
a battle between his own party and the en-
cmy ragged around him for an hour The
Tree against which he was placed was part OF
the time in the hottest fire. A French officer
passing by, struck MIN in the jaw with the
butt OF his gun An Indian amused himself
for some time hurting his tomahawk into the
trunk of the tree to satisfy himself how neal
he could come TO the prisoners body, and vet
miss it. At length the party Of French and
Indians were forced to retreat, but carried
with them their captive, whom the savages
determined to roast alive. He was tied to a
tree, and the fire was already blazing furious
", when his life was saved by the intervcn-
ton Of the French commander Molangn
My informant was positive, however that
the adventure with ;he Indians which his
father related to him was an entirely differ
cnt one; and as its termination appears to
have been so unlike this, and the early OK
pcricnce of Putnam in command of a com
pany of rangers in the old French War was
unquestionably filled with hazards and es-
capes not noticed by history, it appears to
me that he is correct, and that the whole
story may be taken as q new one. For
greater convenience, | will allow the father
to speak in the first person.
There was in my company, in the Connec-
ticut regiment that l served in during the
Revolution, q soldier by the name of Pattcr-
son. He was young man, and his father
and grandfather before him had served in
Putnam's Rangers against the French and
Indians His grandfather was of course too
old to take the field in the Revolution, and
his father was laid up with rheumatism, or
something Of that kind so Rufus, my com
rade, had to sustain the honor of the family
in this war-and well he did it..
Three or four times during our campaigns,
when we happened to see General Putnam
riding by the camp, or on the march, Rufus
would say to me,
'Steven, the first good chance l get, I'm
going to speak to the General, and ask him
if he remembers my father and grandfather
in the old war twenty years ago.
I knew what he particularly had in his
mind; it was an adventure that the General,
then Captain Putnam, had with the Indians,
in company with these men, father and son.
had often heard Rufus tell it, as they told
tito him. 1t seems that Putnam was out scout
ing in the woods with only halfa dozen men,