The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-17
Confusion

into the hands OF the Americans. Confusion
spread through their rangs.
MAJOR Pitcairn was wounded ana unhorsed. Inc
horse, having lost his rider, ran over the lelos,
till
CAPTURED BY ONE or THE MINUTE MEN
and taken back - Concord. rae animal and the
accout emsnts were subsequently, sold IN mat
town az aactiOn. CaLain Nathan Barrett, VINO
commansed one OF the militia companles 0 Com
cord al the Old Norm Bridge purchased the hols-
teIs and pistols. and offered them 70 General
Washington, then IN command Of the prOvlncalS
around Boston. ne declined them. Cantain Bar
rett then presented them 10 General Israel Put
ham.
Israel Putnam. the hero OF the wolf den and
HOrseneck HIl., who had won nonors IN the Frencn
war and nad been made brigadler general at a
spec al meeting OF the Connecticut Legislature
having heard or the explosion at LEXINGTON I'M
yoked the team with which ne was plouching and
rode on horseback slxtY-hve miles IN one dav 10
Cambridge, Mass, and put himself immediately
inro contact with the American Leaders. 10 him
was assigned the command OF the militia, anu bis
dash, daring and SKIN. as displayed al Bunker
Hlll two months alterward. form brilliant pas
sages IN the early history OF ne war IL was very
proper tnal Tue pls ois wnlch pelongeo 70 Major
Pitcaifn should De committed 10 his hands.
his grandson was Mr. Jonn Z. Pufnam, q gradu-
OF Cambridge, Washington county, N. u. Ynlcn
was aitcrward divided into three towns, OF winch
White eek was one he WAS gentleman OF
great culture ana WORTH ana very special trlend
oil my cndnood. He had IN his possession, and
received rom MS lather and grandfather Genrr raj
Putnlm brace oil pistols, which he preserved
with he greatest care and exhibited TO MS iriends
as interesting relics OF tue Revolutionary war.
They are nos the property OF his widow. ana
she mas very kindly acceded 10 Or. Pnme's re.
quest 10 pefmit them TO 90 70 Lexington u b. ex.
hblted there at the approaching Centennl ii.
Tney were undoubtedly the pistols used by Ma or
Pitcairn IN giving the command 10 The brlfls
soldiers TO fire upon the Americans on rne morn :
ing vi Apil 10, IT75. aud one tlem Is therefore,
the first weapon discharged In the War of the
American Revolution. the follow1ng certificate
by Joan p. Putnam rectes tae facts and The evi-
dence that these are the pistols tnat were In the
hands Of MAJOR Pitcairn on tlas day.
am grandson OF the late Major General Israel Put
more more than sStytree years NJ inst rscoo S 81
was cling them on the diapery Of the Generals
propeTy OF my ia.her-a SIT o. his aiher-snd have
from ms nncics. Colonel Israel Putnam Colonel
General, and from my father. | have often heard the
@ent Of the WAR Of tac american Revonson ese
pistols wera the property Of Major Pitcairn. OF the
Lexington 10 Boston on the 10Th Of April I77S horse
n aat h t nao s niqG % pufa
iea'og his morse and e9mpage pgr sripped
part, and
and few Giys aiter on D lis a Arrival camp hey
presented to General Putnam, wnn carried them Through
the residue ot has active service In said war"
And do further certy that, IN wear 1877 spent
and was there introduced 10 three Of tb insmbers d
Sapian parSers company q militia that was attacked
Mr. Monroe think stated it "a his firm belief, fron
that he "a one d these o thai morning IL hS
OF the commander Of the detacnment who ne aiie ward
before any other shot was nred al sal 4 company
JOHN p. PUTNAM.
WHITE CREEK, n. y, Dec g. lS5l
CERTIFICATE OF COLONEL AARON nuRR.
GsTg o% sG ION q 9 John Of
nam and this day shown 70 me by him, believe hem
10 he The pistols which were carried and by
MAJOR General Israel Putnam in the war OF the keFou
lion That was the aile-de eamp 70 General Putnam
and believe oftsp saw said pistols in his
:. BURR.
SEPTEMBER 80 1875.
Witness present. ALEXANDER s. TuTStE-
Not the least part of the extraordinary interest
at TINS time attaching to these weapons is con-
trlbuted by TIE document bearing the slgnaiu e
OF Aaron Burr, whoa original paper was ex-
hlpited 10 the writer by II lrlme