The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-14
HISTORICAL PROOF.
The General from Connecticut
Carries OF the Honors.
The Pulpit Of Boston on the
Centennial.
Religious Aspect of the
Revolution.

are many points 10 add IN favor OF General Put
nam as the leader a. Bunker Hnl, and we viii
mention now q fact showing how Putnam was re-
Rarded In those days Immediately following the
battle OF Bunker Hlll IN the reorganization or
the army, AFTER Washlngton's arrival at Cam
bridge. II became necessary that some or the gen
eral ofrcers should be put upon lower grade than
that which they had occupied before his coming.
There we're not places IN the reconstructed army
for ell the men or this higher rank. Generals
Wooster and Spencer. or Connecticut were
among the number that were called to step
Gown a degree This was naturally an unpleasant
duty, and Il required a large measure OF character
10 90 IL gracefully. Inc officers in General
Spencers brigade were very much dissatisfied
with what had beflen their leader. 1t was not
charged By any one, so far as we know, that
Spencer ana Wooster were not both oficers OF
real merit. Their degradation 10 rank came about
only as an incident OF the reconstrucuon or the
army. In tails juncture spencer's under onicers
prepared paper 70 De sent 70 the Connecticut
Assembly, asking that body 20 use its influence TO
have spencer restored to his former rank, and,
pending this action, Spencer went home TO wait
the result. Washington. in his letter u July 10,
written from Cambridge 10 the Continental Con-
gress, says OF tais AFFAIR :-"Genera Spencer was
50 much disguised at the preference given to
General putnam that he lett the army without
any respect"
THE CONNECTICUT ASSEMBLY
upon tAis sent memorial to tue Congress at
Philadelphia asking, II 1t might be consistently
done, that Spen Ger should be restored. In this
communication there IS sentence which SHOWS
the estimate IN which Putnam Was then ned. not
only al Cambridge, but IN Connecticut. Toe pur-
port or the sentence Is that, while they regret
deeply this change In the standing OF Generals
~
bic or the singular merit OF General Putnam" IS
though they mad said, II the blow must fall any
OF the Connecticut generals, 1t IS right that It
should fal anywhere rather than upon General
Putnam Now, In the MIDST OF these proofs, drawn
from the Ofncial action OF those days in Philadel-
pnia 10 Connecticut and also IN Massachusetts,
we wish 70 introduce q sentence or two taken
from DR.. Ellis lEEle work, Just published 10
watch have before reierreol, to see whether
their tone and spirit are In harmony with
these oricial records or 1T75. Dr. ELLIS says
50 completely was ne CPusnanl Identified with the
sonsgm1g zeal Tor terrifying me hgner han m me rear
survivors r. presented him as on horse0ack bured IN
and surrounded 5y heaps q influencing toos enough
seeded the control o. eooi del erang aggmenL snd
sonaaet H. courage vas aages tioaaels hs
careful examination OF authorities and review OF
wildly diaer a. estimates and Judsnents q him oy
snsrpriss.
ana tnis Is me man. ana the only man OF tAs
four, 10 whom the wise and careful Washington
gives nis commission Of Major General, places him
near his person AZ Cambridge and lives terms or
close intimacy wiER aim rom month 70 month as the
siege progresses This Is the man whom Washing
Ton inv Cd once a week 70 dine ~ his own table
Ia Cambridge, and who once week received
the Commander-m-C Chief at his table In return.
This Is tne man respecting whom the Connections
Assembly cannot Dgg be sensible VI ''his singular
merit
a. to General Putnam's passion FOR Tor flying
Bunker Hil as rarying polnt In the retreat
from Breeds Ill., n that must come, Il indicates,
s. Il seems 70 ~, his superior wisdom rather
tnan hs Jolly. Dr. Ellis seemed 70 forget 10 pen ning
tnat paragraph, what he himself had said IN
earlier part or bis work. on page 2, wners ne
describes tue long consultation The night OF
June ls he says:-'4Is was concluded even then
not 10 accordance win the judgment or eli the
advisers 70 construct the works upon Breeds Hll.
II seems tnat The compromise, while allowing the
occupancy and defence OF the lover summit 70
nave the priority carried vita Il purpose TO for
tify Bunker nm as soon as posi- lie afterward."
And again on page 24:-"ProDablY both sum
nits could have been simultaneously intrsncBed
and defended BY oops well supplied wish am
munntioA and artillery the Proviaclals migat
have maintained their ground.n
'cossuESG ZEAL FOB FoRrTYYSG.r
mat a exactly what Putnam tsonght and that
was whst gave hlm ths consuming zeal Tor for
uylng' Aad LOOKING back 90 the whole scene,
over tue lapse OF one hundred years, II seems
proBabts that II Putnam could have had time TO
construct that oTbsI rsdoubt or line 81 intrench.
ments on Bunker Hin, where reserved force
could have been placed az tae outset, md which
would nave served a. . raging point 10 the re-
reat Il i quite doubtful whether the British, ex
nausted ~ tRoJ we're tnat dAy. would ever nave
undertaken 70 carry that second line o. defence.
A twas ;hey had 10 heart for tue pursuit. Con
seqnenty w. arc quite unable 70 see The ridiculous
III Pura2mis desire % complete another lfne o. IN
tfencnmen's. By Dr Eliis' own concession y was
rObaBly . part or the general plan adopted the
nignt before. And IN the hxnt u facts already
considered we vlsh now % place few more sen
fences from Dr. Els beck AIDE ~ side, 70 see
whether they are 10 harmony with history Or
even Win each other
General Putnam, burning With zea aud inireridiy
80, egaTsng ihEoes he Whole day gysT nearly y, ihs
ID nIxht III tee earlg morning. he was mounted
sud uafrators mo we're u " nsar The scfon when
seeing nm IL . many places shAt he would appear p
have been well 81 ubiquitous
ne was Commandments then you viii saT
a. matter Or course. BIZ ths description. OIL.
mol for ne quote thts agl-er0agRt passage PC
lore Ne hnisn the work.
ne midnight leader and quart t1e morning senInei
eetss.t ~ ~ ~ wjoi ssrss s wei s ~ osys
u ne exact distance aud ne point ~ aim y vheh
VII g bright eve ana steady read duty
when conduct skIll ana courage could DO more
Re vas te merciui delyeFer q nc remnant Prescott
isshm T. IL ehsPtsiS. Waoss sssss other ihan 'h rs
o9 ses = 9s msnu. ri. sSmm beside HS' ee
Now, taEe still another brlel sentence IRE re-
doubt had been carried aHd the Britisn we're IN
IOssessiOn:-
While sucn is'ue A ne r,doubt u, I,G wing
f0AnAMi &t490 ~ H1fhN ftillar8efAents, WNtNN