The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-10-06

the Pattcrson5 escaped by flight; but Put
nam, for some reason, was taken prisone
with the wounded men. The savages imme
diately proceeded to their horrible work o
torture Lying on the ground, unarmed
bound, and HELPLESS Putnam saw his unfor
tunate comrades taken one by one from hi
side, stripped, bound to q tree, and slowl,
tortured with devilish ingenuity. the detail
of which are too shocking to repeat. Whel
death had mercifully relieved the last o
them from his torments, Putnam was himsel
tied to the tree. and the Indians began thei1
caperings about him, brandshne theil
knives and tomahawks in his face. anC
shouting their exultation. The captive wa,
fortilying his soul for the horrors Of the fate
that seemed to have overtaken him, and had
abandoned all hope OF earthly salvation
when it reached him in most unexpected
manner. The report OF two rifles were heard
close to the ring of dancing Indians, and two
of them fell dead. Two others We're wound
ed by the same balls; and the savages, panic
struck at the suddennesss of the attack, and
prol ably thinking that a urge rescuing party
was at hand, took to figA and disappeared
he reseuers, howeveM were only the
two Pattersons, who, finding that they had
effected their own escape by their 1lcetness,
concluded that they could nov leave theil
captain and comrades in the hands Of the In
dlans without some attempt to deliver them
With a daring characteristic of the scout,
they made their way in the darkness to q
shelter within 4 few feet of the tree selected
for the sacrifice, reaching the place Just as
Putnam was dragged up. The boldness and
desperation of their attack insured its success.
A few strokes of the knife released the cap
tive, ,and the three fastened with all speed from
the scene of their peril. After proceeding a
few miles through the forest Putnam halted,
and told his companions that he had been
without sleep for thirty hours, and that, as 4
long and difficult flight lay before them to
the nearest place Of safety, he proposed to
take Just five minutes rest
''Only five minutes, mind !" he said giving
to the elder Patterson his silvcr-cased watch.
''We can spare that much time, and the sleep
will do me wonderful goodn
He lay down on the ground and instantly
fell into sound sumbcr, while his humble
companions watched over him. So sound
and refreshing was his sleep that they hcsitat-
ed to wake him us he had cnjoinod; and full
fifteen minutes had passed before they arous-
ed him. lie sprang up and looked at the
and discovering what time had
passed, he flew into q rage, and rcprimande(
the men. who had just saved his life in the
severest terms, and not without few round
oaths, for venturing to disobcv his orders
They received it, on their part, without an
ger, rs they perfectly knew the man, and I'M
derstood that he was Il generous friend as
we'll as q Jealous disciplinarian. From this
point the escape of the trio to the nearest set
tlement was prosecuted without further re-
markable peril
Rufus Patterson frequently told me that
since the disbandment OF the colonial forces
at the close of the French War, his father
and grandfather had never met Putnam
inferred, indeed, from all that he said-and
he naturally liked to talk of the subect-that
after this adventure they were detailed upon
such service that neither Of them was brought
particularly to the notice Of the Captain
again. They heard, in common with their
neighbors, that Congress had made him a
major general. and they learned with eager
interest, rs the war went on, Of the valiant
service which their FORMER Captain was civ
in4 MS county Ill MS high position; but be
ing very poor as well as very humble. and,
since the intirmites Of the one and the lame
ness OF the other never travelling beyond
their little garden, no opportunity had Offer
ed since the beginning OF the war for 4 meet
ing with the General, Ny comralc, in tell
ing me this, always concluded by declaring
that before u great while he should seek out
General Putnam and ask him if he rcmcnl-
bered the Pattersons.
"Of course | wouldn't ask nor take any
reward he would add ''but the General is
4 great man now, and | should, be proud to
tell him that am the son of one Of the men
that saved him from torture and death by
the Indians, and the grandson of the other.''
Ills opportunity came in the Spring of
l1l3, think; certainly, Just before the Brit
ish under Tyron invaded the State, 1t so
happened that 4 brigade Of Contincntals was
stationed within half q mile Of the Pattersons'
house; and change in the divisions brought
our regiment into that brigade, much to the
delight of my comradc The morning we
reached this place, and before Rufus had OBJ
tanned leave to visit his home, we received
an order to be ready for muster and inspec-
ton ut two o'clock. when General Putnam
would review the brigade
"Now is your time, Rutus,' | remarked,
rs we were Furnishing our accoutrements
But Rufus was a shy, bashful fellow, al
though good soldier; and | anticipated
that he would never summon the courage to
address the General on this OF any other sub
iect- As it happened, he was saved the
effort.
The General rode on the ground very
early, the orderly's call had been sounded,
and the companies We're forming for roll
call. 1t was twenty minutes, at least, before
the time for forming brigade-line, and the
General spent the interval in riding about
through the camps, looking at the men and
the quarters. He passed around among our
tents accompanied BY the colonel and two or
three other officers. all mounted perfectly
remember how he appeared rs he rode along
in front Of our company and looked sharply
at us lie was middlc-sized, neither tall nor
short, strongly built, with 4 full, round face,
tlord complexion. and eyes rs keen rs a
hawks. lie wore his full uniform OF major
general, and altogether made an imposing
figure | noticed also the horse that he rode
1t was the same that atterward carried him
safely on his wonderful ride down the de-
clvity at Horsencck; n powerful, strong
limbcd animal, black and handsome. and
with Il mettlesomc eye and action.
Just as this horse and his rider reached
the front of our company, the orderly ser
geant came to the name Of Patterson on his
roll and called it aloud The attention of
the General was instantly attracted He
reigned in his horse.
patterson Patterson - he exclaimed.
''Is there a man of that name in this COM
pany?"
'Yes, sir" answered the sergeant
'Lct him step out here
Rufus took three PAGES to the front, and