The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-19
RUE1x4v,REaCyzER N/zzZAj1F
up by the aeet. The siege of Havana

up by the feet. The Siege OF Havana
cost more lives through disease than
b. bullets, nearly one-third of the Eng
fish force dying from smallpox or yell
low fever before the surrender of the
city. There never was an ernptier and
poorer victory. for Great Britain gave
up Cuba soon after the taking of Ha-
vana.
Putnam returned to Connecticut poor
err than when he departed. but that did
not prevent him from promptly enlist
ing for service in the Pontiac War. He
spent nearly two years In this. most OF
the time In the neighborhood Of De-
troit. Then followed period of peace.
Once he led a party of Adventures to
the Mississippi. going by sloop from
New York to Cuba, thence to Pensa-
cola, and from there to New Orleans.
Putnam planned to establish big set
Element on the Mississippi, to take up
a large tract of land and become the
lord OF the Southwest. But the Natchez
Indians made 1t uncomfortable for the
Adventures, and neither the British
King nor the Spanish King had any use
for such an enterprise. so Putnam and
his party returned to the North with
nothing but experience to show for
nearly year of labor.
Wars wild alarms Swere under way
when Putnam reached home. It was
the beginning of the acute stage in the
| train of events that brought on the
Revolution. Putnam. by reason Of his
experience in the French and Indian
wars in the siege Of Havana. in the
Pontiac War, and by his vigorous,
lquick ways, was looked upon as the
military leader of Connecticut.
There was a report OF a massacre in
Boston This turned out to be false.
but Putnam gave an evidence of how
many men he could bring into service
within short time by gathering near
~ 10000 within four days. The assem-
Eblage Of this big force SO alarmed Gem
eral Gage at Boston that he began re-
Ipairing the defenses Of that port with
the utmost activity.
| In those raw days of the Revolution
Putnam showed his strength and his
weakness quite as much as he ever did.
He never stopped to reason; he was
guided altogether by Impulse. He was
extremely good natured, kindly and
| considerate.
The news of the battle of Lexington
Twas the big event for which Putnam
had been waiting. He hurried toSthe
front at once. AT the battle OF Bunker
Hill there was noTcommander. General
| Ward was old and oyeranXtous. AL
Though Putnam was nearly sixty he
was fiery spirited and as impetuons as a
boy of-siXteen. DR.. Warren tried to
keep the balance between these two
4 men. There is no doubt that Putnam
did better service at the battle of Bum
.|ker Hill than he did at any other place
lin the Revolutionary War, and that the
4 great result accomplished by the raw
4 Troops that day in holding the British
Regulars was owing to his inspiring eN-
j ample and great courage He was tht
foremost Agure, too, in the work follow
ling that engagement. He was 80 rest
less and active, so energetic that he
never let the men remain idle; he KEEP,
i them intrenching, kept them stirred an"
I busy morning. noon and night. He was
ever sraady for a fight, Els was just
the spirit6to keep alive the Intense feel
ling Of that day. 1.-The had not been ge,