The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-12

1rlRate; 7, Somerset; broken 0fncer, and 9, Cen
readings, shows entirely to our satisfaction how
the men of 1875 understood history. The only per-
son mentioned by name is General Putnam, and
he Is seated on a horse, with mis- sword drawn,
and Ia that picture ne # most Enthusiastically
in some un iortunate way, got into Mr. Frothing.
hams book, who is the CHIEF OF all writer's on the
PRESCOTT side.
And in the matter OF pictures we have still
more important proof, and such ~ rises almost
10 the dignity OF documentary evidence. Wnen
picture OF the BATTLE or Bunker Hill" In l7se,
only three years alter the close Of the war, he
Consider who this John TrumSuli was, and what
were mis- opportunities for knowledge. He was
necticut, who stands next TO Washington In the
services he rendered to the country during that
eight years struggle. brake, IN his ',Biographi-
He was considered the wing leader in New England
while the Adsmses and Hancock wsre IN cCngress and
Of his main pillars of support The phrase some
tunes used By him Let US see what Brother jonathan
frequently applied to the United States
Mr.. Drake had no need to make the qualification
he does. For though the Adamses and Hancock
may nave done more TO rouse the people 10 resist
ance, their services during the war cannot well be
COMPARED to those OF Governor Trumbun. BY the
peculiar charter OF Connecticut Trumbun was q
patriot Governor elected BY the people, and the
British governments mad no yelo on their
as By his rare virtues as calm strong Christian
man, he was truly the right hand man OF Wash
was his son. AT Inis household in Lebanon,
Conn.,, every important event OF the war re-
ported itself as soon as messengers could carry
the news. Moreover, this son was at Cambridge
as sdJutant OF the First Connecticut regiment
soon AFTER the battle OF Lexington. He afterward
became aid to Washington in that very sumner.
II any man had access to the facts OF those
times John ITum6ull, We painter, had such
the nature or the case study his subject and give
continued ana thoughtful attention to his group
ings, and no one. SO lar as we are aware ever
accused Trumbull of attempting TO perpetrate an
historical lie when he painted that picture. AS
he wrought at his toll ne was breathing the very
air OF contemporary history. The men were alive
all about him VINO had taken part in that battle,
ana when his picture is finished Putnam rises out
OF that tumutuous crowd at the very moment OF
storming the redoubt, as the commander. DIR.
Ellis, in note appended to- mis- history or the
battle say that the painter. Trumbull, IA. Judge
Prescotts lson OF Colonel Prescott dinner table,
expressed mis- sincere regret at The error he had
it," We Know not how long after the battle this
scene at the dinner table took place or how much
OF distinguished guest toward 3 distinguished
host, and we have never heard that the painter
matter were carefully proDed, that the mistake
which the painter may have admitted was
merely technical ene-yiz that OF placing Put
even In TINS he was not very far from historical
truth, for Mr.. rockingham himself is authority
for the following words:-"The redouDt had been
carried and the rout begun.
GENERAL PUTNAM HERE RODE
to the rear or tine retreatinR troops, and, regard
less OF the balls dying about him, with Ills sword
drawn, and still undaunted In his bearing, urged
them to renew the ngnt In the unfinished worKs.n
Bot " hat Ii he was not exactly In or az the re.
doubt at the moment when the British broke ini
A painters canvas is very limited Held on which
TO paint battle scene aud the artist must have
liberty In his groupings IN order to bring the chief
figures within o small compass. Is there any
own Ui name, Trumbul has Jertae6 that he made
mistake IN painting Putnam as commander at
Bunker HnlY
Trumbull dIed in ls4s at the age OF eighty seven,
and Judge Prescott died in 1874 at the age OF
eiphty-two. PROBABLE thirty OF forty years had
Concession, whatever II was was made; and we
should set a far higher value upon that evidence
as was broneht 70 his notice by an eminent legal
gentleman Ia case or special family pleading,
many years aitsrward. And besides, II soma can
Le good witnesses, and can settle such questions
as these, Colonel Daniel Putnam, son OF General
Putnam, and who was with his father in the same
has lett on public record ms Testimony.
he had as strong belief that his
nass eSaa posy Ssve a. G
father commanded there. And the advantage In
this case must certainly rest with the son OF Gen.
sral Putnam, for he was an eye witness, at Cam
bridge. through the whole excitement, as Judge
Prescott was not
OTHER PROOFS ron PUTNAM
Let us 90 on now TO other Items Of proof The
fact that General Putnam was the only of1cer that
rode on horse that day Is not an nnimportant
item OF evidence In this connection. This fact
marked his superior rank and position. But q
little transaction, OF which we Ind the record In
gress will help 10 confirm what has gone before
lAmerican Archives, Atm series, vol H., page
1.43Sl -
OF report which has prevailed 10 The army that there
has been treaenery in some OF the oeeFs beg leave 70
waited upon the General IGenersl ward and made him
miitce that General Putnam had made complaint Of an
10 oSs H Was DS AZ NJ Sb IT h' % sf
Putnam other officers, who were the heat OF the
Putnam US Sat IN TAG late se6
oer " ne rSE drawing h Cannon down s mst
haste lie ordered the officer % stop and back lie
Sa%ined h boHcs ana found
O. aS s ene whGR ~ 5 SscE ne
diate death upon which he returned up the Hill again
General T Putnam declared your committee, a. hi,
opinion that ne desat that Gay was owing 70 the N
d deaf OH' '-''s '''''''' '' : " ''''H'' ~"
The evidence in the foregoing transaction lies
not so much In the fact that the committee are
sent by General Ward 10 General Putnam as the
IN At undispuIed right to command vested IN GEN
eral Putnam, by which he was about to inlet upon
an artillery onicer summary execution Tor disobe-
die nee and n the man mad not cowed and returned
he would doubtless nave executed that threat.
This looks little ike man HAVING authority"
that DAY, and this evidence comes directly from
the records OF the Massachusetts, Congress only a
few days after the battle.
THE FRIENDS or PRESCOTT
make point That Putnam was not at toe redcuot
during the day. But we have caught one glimpse
or him there, ~ leaSt, and ne seemed az the time
to be In command On the other hand, and with
stilI more pertlnence, we ask for evidence that
Prescott was out OF the redoubt, engaged in any
general superintenaence on the neld, that day.
He seems by some OF the accounts 20 have made
q lying visit TO Cambridge during the forenoon,
but otherwise he appears TO have remained iatth-
fully at the TedouDt, as it was his duty TO do.
Those that take up so strongly FOR Prescott and
themselves also under law Of influence.
by which they are Inclined 10 magnify
overmuch the importance OF what was done
At the redoubt We nave no disposition to under.
value the services there performed. As Putnam
told warren, "that was the enemy's obect;r Dut
they thought IN the frst place, 20 secure that OBJ
lect Dy what they thought an easy and round.
about war, ana there tney made their great mis-
take. The earliest and heaviest losses were not
inflicted on the British troops from the redouDt
put from behind the fence, where the New Hamp-
shire and Connecticut troops were stationed
(chicny New Bampshrel. IL was on the ri ht
wing OF the British army under Howe where the
most terrible destruction fell at tne nTst. That
blow infiicted cnIeny by the New Hampshire
marksmen, under Colonies stark and Read, and the
fewer Connecticut men under Captain knOwlton.
They were the first 10 show heroic qualities, be-
cause they received the onset OF the first attack q
nwta~ a 10 Al