The sun., 1897-06-13
SIDE LIGHTS OF HISTORY.
"OLD PUT0 CHARG ED TITH COW
ARDICE, ,EIHANALLEN WITH Fraud.
Gep. Dearborn SAYS That Putnam skuiLed nt
Banker Hni-Brother Levi says That Col
Ethan nId Him on n Lane Trnnsa elton.


Ethan DId Him n Lane Transaction.
Probably the judicial historian gets a better
view OF events than the man who takes part in
them; but not seldom tho views OF tho man
present when an event is In process of manu-.
fncturc arc interesting and, after the historians
decision has been accepted, they may become
novel. All OF the Revolutionary men were not
always heroes to the soldiers they commanded;
some Of them, in civil affairs, said to bo no
better than thcy ought to be. Ethan Aliens
brother accused the doughty Colonel OF defraud-
ing him out OF money, and treating him other
wise in most unbrotherly manner. Probably,
however. this was duo to some error on the Colo
nels part; one can't bother with private mat
ters when one is busy State building.
But Major Gen. Henry Dearborn. U. 9. A..who
was present as Captain at the battle OF Bunker
Hill, puts couple OF Revolutionary notabilities
in bad light, which, however, the judicial his
torian II no has seen, has decided was false; for
certainly no history admits that Gen. Putnam
was ever anything but brave and gallant Off
Ger. Yet Gen. Dearborn calls him coward.
Nearly eighty years ago Gen. Dearborn wrote
a description of the battle of Bunker Hill. En-
tirely apart from its attack on Putnam his
story is interesting. Dearborn was n Captain in
Col. Stark's regiment. each man Of which re-
ceivcd on the day of the baltic gill cup of pow
der. fifteen bullets. and one flint. The regiment
consisted Of thirteen companies. As soon as the
ammunition had been served out the mon were
dismissed in order that they might cut down
the bullets to fit their muskcts; then, at clock
on June IL, 1775. the regiment assembled and
started from Medford for Bunker Hill.
At Charlcstown Neck we found two regi-
ments halted in consequence Of heavy enflad-
ing fire thrown across II OF round, bar, and
chain shot from the Lively frgate and floating
hat In, rlc nd
ing battery laying in the River Mystic. Major
McClary went forward and observed to the COM
manders IL they did not intend to move on he
wished them to open and let our regiment pass.
The latter was Immediately done. My company
being in front, marched by the side OF Col.
Stark. who, moving at very deliberate pace,
suggested the propriety OF quickening the
, march OF the regiment, that 1t might sooner be
relieved from the CALLING cross fire Of the enemy.
With a look peculiar to himself he fixed his eye
upon me and observed with great composure:
Dearborn. one fresh man in action is worth ten
fatigued ones. and continued to advance in tho
same cool and collected manner" Col. Stark's
cpigrammatic remark is good. but it is dollars to
doughnuts that the look that Col. Stark gave
was not absolutely peculiar to himself.
Having got the regiment at the battlefield,
Stark uttered few well.chosen words" and
led his men down to rail fence. which ran
| from the left corner of the redoubt down to the
| Mystic River The grass had been cut recently.
and lay around the field. Another fenco was
taken up-the rails pushed through the one In
| front, and the hay, mown in the vicinity. sus-
| pended upon them from the bottom to the top
which had the appearance OF a breastwork. but
was. in fact. no real cover to the men. 1t, how
ever, served as a deception on the enemy"
| The British advanced in column until within
| so or 100 yards, when they dcploycd like troops
on parade and opened fire by platoons. Our
Americans returned the fire with interest Two
several attempts were made to take the Ameri-
can position; then the British received rein
| forcements, and the Americans. with their am
munition used up. had to retire from Breed to
| Bunker Hill.
There" says Dearborn. I'VE found Gen.
! Putnam with nearly many men had been
/ engaged in the battle. Notwithstanding which no
measures had been taken for reinforcing US, nor
| was there a shot fired to cover our retreat. or
any movement made to check the advance Of the
| enemy to this height. but on the contrary Gen.
| Putnam rode of with a number OF spades and
| pickaxes in his hands and the troops that had
! remained with him inactive during the whole OF
the action, though within few hundred yards
OF the battle ground, and no obstacle to impede
| their movement save musket balls.
Il heard the gallant Col Prescott tvho com.
| mandcd the redoubt, observe after the war at
the table OF his Exccllcncy James Bowdoin.
then Governor Of this Commonwealth. that ne
sent three messengers 10 Gen. Putnam request.
ing him to come forward and take the command.
there being no general officer present. and the
relative rank OF the Colonel not having been
settled: but that he received no answer, and his
whole conduct was such both during the action
and the retreat, that he ought 10 have been
shot. Dearborn remarks that Putnam's COM
panion. Col. Gcrrish. was tried by courtmartinl
for cowardicc and cashiercd. while not II word
was said against the conduct OF Gen. Putnam.
whose extraordinary popularity alone saved
him not only from trial. but even from ccnsurc. q
at that time" continues Gen. Dearborn. I" Gen.
Ward then Commandcr-nChicf remained Mt
no interest or part in the work Of the day
1t Is only fair to Gen. Putnam's reputation to
say that the judicial historian does not agree
Now as to Col. Ethan Allen. In June, l779
the Connecticut Courdnt published long letter
from Levi Allen, the Coloncl's brother. asking
for susnension Of opinion as to his own char
sctcr aud offering an explanation of q charge OF
d!sloyalty made against him. He writes:
Know then that some time since my brot hel
Col Ethan m Allen IL he mcr,ls that tttlel cor
that gave him my obligation to Civ" him q
Deed OF the same. provided he paid me the
which he elapsed. That lately, from what ' prin
cipe the world will Judge, he pretended to make
tender OF the nominal sum in bills and to insis'
upon the Deed: this thought tit to refuse hin
upon the old ma X i'm. he that would have equity
must do equity, The consequence was, in my
absence, without delay OF Law or Equity which
II hardly mature in the new district, he con
. trived the sure and convenient remedy Of conhs
tNttlltnt INSTITUTION LOT DOOmlnL
Statc!" Brother Levi says that Brother Ethar
accused him Of being disloyal, and that tn,
Commi ssioncr Of Sequestration fixed day fo
trial when he Levi was out of the state; tina
he heard of this and appeared with counsel anC
Witnesses. at the place and date. TO find M
Court Commissioner. Jury or Witnesses"
lis it possihel Can this be the man TO
whom so many wcr' ready to drop n tear Will
he endured chains and captivity for his opprcss
. ed country T. he continues. "Or, Is he no soone
NJ liberty than unmindful OF his benefacto or
like the serpent in the fable, he would sting hin
To the heart Can he forget my voyage to Hall
fax. aferward to New York. and the insult
iinprisOnments and sufrerings sustained and t.
cash advanced merely 10 restore lin to hi
country and friends }"
: Then follow tho afiidavits Of Mr.. Levi Allen
witnesses 10 his loyalty. Major Bczaleel Bebe
dcposed: That viii the neponent was prison
erin New York and sick with the smallpox, Nj
| Levi Allen came to his quarters and sparo
neither pains nor money IN relieving him am
| other .\mcricausl; that to his cert ain knowlcig
the said Mr.. Allen at one time took near twont
. American prisoners out Of the mos itlthy gaol.
stript them Of their old lousy rags. and Mt hi
own expense clopthod and fed them and 20
them into private lodgings. that he snw n
| ll,.l, hK- mi, t,Lk. .,,t,p i,t a.,