Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-17

also, for Yankee ingenuity. n colonial
newspaper relates an incident illustrative
OF this. The British general was sorely
perplexed by the presence of French
an-of-war commanding piece of wafer
which it was necessary for him TO cross.
"General," said Putnam, THAT ship must
be taken"
"Aye," replied the general, ~ would
give the world IL she was taken."
al will take her." said Putnam.
"How9" asked the general.
"Give me some wedges, beetle, aud
few men of my own choice.'
When night came, Putnam rowed under
the vessels stern, and drove tho wedges
between the rudder and the ship. In the
morning she was seen with her sails flap-
ping helpless in the middle of the lake, and
she was soon afler blown ashore, and cap
tured.
Among other adventures, Putnam was
taken prisoner by the Indians, and carried
10 his grave great scars of the wounds in
flicted by the savages. He served TO the
very end OF the war, pursuing the enemy
even into the tropics, and assisting at the
capture of Havana. He returned home,
after nine years of almost continuous SER
vice, with the rank of colonel, and such a
reputation az made him the hero of Con-
necticut, as Washington was the hero OF
Virginia, at the close OF the same war. At
any time of public danger requiring re-
sort TO arms, he would be naturally looked
TO by the people of Connecticut to take the
command.
Eleven peaceful years he now spent al
home. His wife died, leaving an infant
year old. He joined the church he mar
ried again he cultivated his farm he told
his war stories. The stamp.act excitement
occurred in l765, when Putnam Joined the
Sons of Liberty, and called upon the gov
ernor of the county as a deputy from them.
"What shall do" asked the governor,
III the stamped paper should be sent to me
by the kings authority?"
"Lock ii up" said Putnam, "until we
visit you again"
"And what will you do with ?'
1--WE shall expect you TO give up tho key
of the room where it is deposited; and, If
you think fit, in order 10 screen yourself
from blame, you may forewarn US upon
| our peril mol 10 enter tue TOOIn.
"And what will you do al(erwards?"
"Send it safely back again."
"But IL l should refuse you admission ?"
"Your house will be level with the dust
| in five minutes"
Fortunately the stamped paper never
reached Connecticut, and the act was re-
pealed soon after.
The evcntiul year, IVA, arrived. Put
nam was finy-six yearso OF age, a somewhat
porty parsonage, weighing two hundred
| pounds, with round, full countenance,
adorned by curly locks now turning gray
the very picture Of hale, hearty,
good -humored, upright aud downright
country gentleman. News came that the
port of Boston was closed, lis business sus-
pended, lis people likely 10 be in want OF
food. The farmers of the neighborhood
contributed a hundred aud twenty-five
sheep, which Putnam himself drove 10
Boston, sixty miles of, where he had a
cordial reception by the people, and was
visited by great numbers of them at the
house of DR.. Warren, where he lived. The
polite people OF Boston were delighted with
the SCARED old hero, and were pleased to
tell anecdotes Of his homely ways and fer
vent, honest zeal. He mingled freely, too,
with the British officers, who chaffed him,
as the modern saying is, about his coming
down TO Boston TO fight. They told him
that twenty great ships and twenty regl-
ments would come unless the people sub
mitted.
ar they come" said Putnaal, ~ an
ready to treat them as enemies"
One day in the following spring, April 20
while he was ploughing in one of his fields
with yoke of oxen, driven by his son
Daniel, boy of fifteen, an express reached
him giving the news of the battle OF Lex
iDgtou, which bad occurred the day before
Daniel Putnam has len a record of wha
his father did on this occasion.
"He loitered not" wrote Daniel; "bu
left me, the driver of his team, 10 unyoke i
in the furrow, and not many days afler Il
follow him to camp"
Colonel Putnam mounted a horse, ant
set off instantly 10 alarm the officers of mil
lila in the neighboring towns. Returnin;
home few hours after, he found hundred
of minute men assembled, armed anC
equipped, who had chosen him for theil
commander. He accepted the command
aud giving them orders to follow, he pushet
on without dismounting, rode the sam
horse all night, and reached Cambridge th
next morning at sunrise, still wearing tn
checked shirt he had on when ploughini
in his field. AS Mr.. Bancroft remarks, h
brought to his country's service au un
daunted courage and devoted. heart. Hi
! services during the Revolution are know
to almost every reader. Every one seem
10 have liked him, for he had very haT
: py turn for humor, sang good song, an
was a very cheerful old gentleman.
In 1879, afler four years of vigorous an
: useful service, too arduous for his age, h
: suffered paralytic stroke, which oblige
: him to leave the army. He lived, however
to see his country free and prosperous, sui
j viVing to the year 1890, when he died, age
: seventy-three. 1 saw his commission q
8 major-general hanging in the house of on
a of his grandsons, Colonel A. p. Putnam
i Nashville, some years ago. He has d.
y scendants in every State.-James Pdrtoi
b in N. Y. Ledger.
n A snake Show at Calcutta.
mi. 81 A