Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-11-03
Putnam's Famous Ride.

$50 this this is Puts Hill, said a
young lady as she lounged in an easy
carriage while it slowly assembled
gentle grade in the old Boston post
road where it enters Greenwich vii
lage from the east. No one would
guess from any of the present indica-
tons that here it was that gallant
Israel Putnam 'stumped'' the English
cavalry to follow him and his horse
over precipice. The young lady
whose remark is quoted must have
been a resident of the town, or else
she must have been informed by her
friends. possibly by driver with his
torical tastes. Certainly the immedi-
ate neighborhood is an unpromising
field in which to seek information.
The occupants of the cottages on Ell
Their side of the road showed lament
able ignorance of the locality when
asked for information by Tribune
correspondent, the most interested
person being an old colored cook,
who stoutly averred that cole Put
went right down ober dat rock by
dem bushes. knows the place, sab.
Its right dar.
According to the nearest neighbors,
the doughty general tumbled over the
rocks all along on both sides of the
road for a dozen rods. He must have
gone over broadside on to cover all
the ground. But of course all the
neighbors wish to claim that ne made
the great plunge for liberty on the
ground they now own or occupy. On
inquiry among older inhabitants in
the center of the town more exact in
formation was gained. Indeed Green
witch is at bottom proud of the memo
ries of Putnam, and it is a wonder
that, containing, as it does, so many
rich people, the town has not erected
a monument on the scene of Putnam s
exploit, a ride as famous as any in
history or fiction. Paul Revere, Tam
O'Shanter or John Gilpin probably
never presented a more startling
spectacle of reckless riding than did
old Putnam as, on March &c, 1873,
he tore down over the face of this
rock, guiding his horse now into a
'rs~y Cuu1 CHI. auI
so down it to the road leading to
Stamford. Bystanders said after
ward that Putnam was cursine the
British furiously as he rode.
To start at the beginning of this
famous ride, we must go westward on
Putnan-ave., perhaps a furlong, to
where stands the veritable house in
which he was surprised by the British
troops. 1t was then tavern, kept
by Israel Knapp, and in it the old
Conn. hero was pursuing the limo
cent occupation of shaving, when all
at once he saw reflected in his mirror
the advance of 900 horsemen, led
by Governor Tyron, from New York,
coming to capture him. Small won
der if he swore as he spurred for the
hillside and liberty.
The old house is now let to city
family. From its front it does not
at first betray its age. But soon one
notes the big square chimney in the
middle of the roof, the solid stone
Indian-proof, built on the
east end, and the low, quantity shap-
I'd windows in the gables that light
he attic. 1t is well-preserved old
house and deserves to have a suitable
ablet proclaiming its age and its dis
inguished history.
1t is related that Putnam had left
ONE thirteen men at the old Congre-
,ational Church on the brow of the
ill. Among them was Lieutenant
saac Weed, whose descendants, in
luding a young lady with literary
fits, now live in the town. The
teneral hastily ordered these men to
etreat and meet him at the swamps i
lrther on, where he had $50 men
nd two cannon. 1t was possibly as :
ruse to foil the British and prevent (
he capture of this force that Putnam s
len took a different path and drew /
lie British pursuit after him. He {
ent on to Stamford, hastily collect c
/ a handful of militia, and followed
lie returning British to Portchester, G
illing many and taking thirty-eight {
risoners. 1t is said that Tyron so t
realty admired the Connecticut lead L
: that he sent him new suit of q
othes to replace the ones that had
cen we'll riddled by bullets, torn by :
ees and splashed with mud in his n
retreat. a
The old stone church stood on the
'ow of the hill where now stands the !,
,ttage occupied by George P. Shell a
IN and owned by Mrs. Milbank. It's fl
emory is perpetuated in the much =
rger stone church, built further :,
est on the same street, with lofty :
one spire and open belfry, forming .
landmark for dozen miles around. !
OF only has the old church entirely
sappeared, but also the flight of
yenty stone steps up which the rev. 7, 4,
ent colonists from West Greenwich, til
Janus and Riverside toiled on Sun la
" mornings to worship. These u,
cps led up diagonally to the left 81
ON the old road which curved off =
} the bill to the right, the point of 60
vergence being about 10 the middle fe