The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-06-13


deroga. and WAS encampsd ., the head
OF Lake George, had sent Putnam and
Rogers 20 watch the movements Of the
victorious French. Nontcalm had sen.
Mcland Oh . similar errand toward the
English lines. The latter were ..
South Bay. an expansion Of the mar.
row head Of Lake Champlain. near the
site Of White Hall, when the English
scouts approached. but both were ignor.
ant of the presence Of the other in the
immediate neighborhood Molang
who had been apprised of the move.
ment Of the English by an Indian run
ner, Was looking for them.
When Putnsm and Rogers heard oi
Molsng at South Bay with a consider
able force Of French Canadians and
Indians, they considered it prudent to
seek safety at Fort Edward. Thei,
troops were marched in three divisions
commanded respectively BY Putnam
Rogers and Captain Dalyell At even
ing they halted on the bank OF q
clear tributary Of Wood Greek, within
. mile of Fort Anne. aud the next
morning. early. while the troops were
preparing to march. Rogers, Disregard
ing the leading maxim of ranger.
BE cautious" amused himself by firing
at target with . regular officer. The
sound Of the muskets fell pleasantly
upon the ears Of the ever vigilAnt Mo.
lang and his dasky allies. who, unknown
to the English. were encamped only a
mile distant. The firing WAS sure
guide to the searchers, and Molang in
stantly posted men in ambush along the
path which he knew tho foes would
pursue.
1t was just at sunrise On that sultry
morning, not a leaf stirring. for nature
was In deep repose, when the English
came out of . dense thicket into the
open woods, near where Molang and
his followers lay in ambush These
suddenly fell upon the English with
intense vigor Rogers. appalled, by the
suddenness and fierceness of the blow
fell back; but Putnam and Dslyell.
maintaining their position. returned
the fire with spirit. For . while the
conflict was desperate, and the result
doubtful.
Putnam was at the head Of his men
in the thickest of the 6ght. encouraging &
them by words and deeds. He was
using his musket with marked effect
until 1t missed FIRE, when the muzzle
was ouly few inches from the breast
Of powerful Indian warrior. The saw
age giant. thrusting aside the weapon,
sprang upon the Major with the
fiercehess Of . wounded tiger, made him
prisoner. bound hun to tree with
green withes, and then resumed the
battle.
The captive major. immoyably bound,
suffered the most appalling perils. He
was . part Of the time bet wcen the fire
OF the combatants. the bullets and ar
..~.~ ny:-r AZ Ill NJ
garments were riddled. but his person
untouched At one time when tho En-
glish fell back. and the Indians were
near him. young warrior amused him
self by throwing . hstchet into the
tree, as near Putnam's head - possible
without hitting it. when q brutal
Frenchman attempted to shoot him.
His weapon missed fire. when he club
bed it. and, striking the captive q
heavy blow on tho cheek. left him to
die, as he supposed. Putnam had suf-
fercd for an hour. when his Indian cap
tor, compelled to retreat, unbound him.
and he Was carried away with them.
The major was compelled to make a
long and weary march over q rough
country. uncertain OF his fate. His cap
tor. with seeming kindness, unloosened
the thongs that painfully bound his
wrists. and gave him pair Of soft moo
cassins. 1t WAS kindness soou TO be ex-
changed for dreadful torture to which
Indians then doomed their prisoners of
war. Deep in the dark forest the ma
jor was stripped naked and bound to a
sapling. and preparations were made to
burn him alive. 1t was afternoon, and
the mu.tevings of the distant thunder
were heard. The savages piled the dry
fago,s high around their victim. Then
they chanted death songs, and mingled
them with horrid yells Of exultation.
The fire WAS lighted. the flames curled
around the wood, and the captive be-
gan to feel the scorching heat, when o
heavy peal Of thunder burst over the
forest from black cloud which had
been gathering for an hour. 4 copious
shower Immediately fell and extin-
guished the Ere. and hope cheered the
captive.
That hope was Elusive. The flames
suddenly burst ou, more 6ercely than
ever, and Putnam had lost all hope,
when French officer dashed through
the Gordon Of savage spectators and cut
the thongs that bound the prisoner.
The deliverer was Molsng. lie heard
Of the horrid scene in the forest. and
flew to the rescue just in time to save
Pu,nan,'s life The suffering captive
was coAveyea tenaerly to Montcslm as
Ticondaroga. who sent him TO Mon
sreal. There he experienced the kind
ness of an opulen. fellow prisoner. who
soon af,erward procured his release by
exchange for a captive major taken by
Colonel Brsdsirees. at Fort Frontenac
Israel Putnam lived tn perform emi
nent service for his country during the
old war for independence. aud his
name ani deeds oc-upy . ecnspicaou,
! place liz our national annals