Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-30

near Danbury. The territory between
Greenwich and New York was debata-
Die ground, n occasionally Putnam
came to Greenwich in order to inspect
the post and keep watch on the move
Iments of the enemy. AT this time Feb
ruary 1873, several regiments of British
soldiers were camped at K~ingsbridge
On the vening of February Is a de-
tachment under Governor Tryron, esti-
mated at from 1,400 to 1900 men, set out
from Kingsbridge on n of those ma
rauding expeditions for which Governor
ITryon was noted. Putnam CHANGED to
be at Greenwich, toward which place
Tryon was advancing. 1t is aid that
on this particular evening Putnam at
tended a ball, taking a woman from Cos
Cob with him on his horse. The British
column was discovered at New Rochelle
BY a recommending party Of 30 patriots
from Greenwich. These retired, defend
Ing themselves as lest they could, tax
ing up he bridge over he, Byram river,
at Port Chester, behind them.
1t was about 8 o'clock on the morning
or February rs when the British troops
reached Greenwich or Horseneck, as
the place was called then. Putnam or
dered such troops as were in the village,
IA mere handful. to form on the Boston
post road, on the eminence near the
meeting house, about half a mile from
the famous hill. Two old field pieces
We're fired once or twice at the APP
preaching enemy, anu then Putnam
gave the order to retire and form on a
while he proceeded to Stamford and col
lected a body Of militia and a few Con-
tinental troops which were there.
In his report the general generously
says h a the officer misunderstood his
orders. The troops retired miles, too
Tar to be OF further service Putnam set
out along the Post road for Stamford,
five miles distant. He was discovered
hy NJ vonn NJ -, @N,.r,- 1911 .-LA. -. ..A
van Of Tryon's rces, and was pursued.
At the brow of the hill, near the old
Episcopal chapel. he boldly struck down
through the brush, bull.ets whistling
past him, ONE Of which, tradition saws,
passed through the brim of his hat. Re
gaining the highway below the preci-
pice he took his way to Stamford where
Ire secured endorsements. Returning
IN the afternoon, he harassed the re-
tlrlng enemy successfully. Tyron's men
had burned houses n a schooner, de-
stroyed stores and murdered a leaf Wo-
man while in the village. The Ameri-
cans We're able to recover a considerable
portion of the captured stores and take
3S prisoners.
The hill has changed since Putnam
rode down 1t in 1779. The main road, as
1T was h called, which ran through
the village, took a zigzag course down
the cliff. 1t ben northerly along the
precipice for about 800 feet and then,
curving shortly to the south, took its
across the face of the hill with a
steep inclination to a point about 80 feet
south of the present causeway. Then
bending to the east, it led off toward
In order to cut off the detour
of the road, pedestrians We're in the nab
it of climbing directly up the bluff by
means of a crude stairway, made of
rough slabs of stones set in the hillside
for the urpos 1t ia, supposed that
rode down through a driftway
in the brush near these rude steps.
No longer does the highway creep
the hill in a zigzag fashion. 1t
boldly over, following nearly the
one which Putnam probably follwed in
his descent. The grade has been eased
by a cut 10 or Is feet deep at the brow
of the hill and the erection Of a cause
at the base. The hill is considered
one of the %stiffest straight bicycle climbs
in that section of Fairfield county, and
more han one wheel has met with dis
aster in it's descent. On the little emil
hence where the American troops first
now stands the stone edifice of
the Second Congregational church and
a soldiers monument Midway between
the church and the hilltop tands the old
reputed to be Putnam's head
at the time.