The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-19
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him Tram carrying the attack to the
remain in Harlem and had to retreat
to White Plains. He had to give up
Fort Washington and Fort Lee and
then to retreat to the Jerseys. Put
nam was placed in command at Phil
adelphia. and busted himself in throw
ing up defenses for that city. tor the
British fleet was expected there. Those
| were dismal days for the patriot army.
| The first ray Of sunshine came that
Christmas morning. when Washing
ton fell upon the Hessians at Trenton
and then stirred CORVALLIS with the
affair at Princeton.
Washington then sent him to take
command in the Hudson Highlands.
This was position of too much re-
sponsbility for the forest ranger. To
the northward BurSoyne was coming
down from Canada: to the southward
the whole British force, under Howe
and Clinton, was assembling for an
expedition. Putnam was sure that 1t
was to ascend the Hudson and to join
Burgoyne. and was fearful of the re-
suit. He urged Wa shington to send
him reinorcements. Washington. calm
err cooler, clearer m inded, believed that
Philadelphia or Boston was Howe's OBJ
jective When Howe finally departed
for Philadelphia. Washington RACED
| across New Jersey to meet him. order
ing Putnam meanwhile to detach var
! ious regiments to support the main
army. Putnam did not think that he
had enough men for himself and hesi-
| tated.
When Sir Henry Clinton came up the
Hudson Putnam defended Fort Mont
| gomery and Fort Clinton to the best
OF his ability. keeping theyBritish busy
and doing really excellent work.
Even after the surrender Of Burgoyne,
when 1t was evident that the British
plan for piercing New York and cut
ting the Colonies In twain had failed.
Putnam did not send relnforcements
| to Washington. It was only when
Alexander Hamilton, the aid de camp
of the commander-in -chtef, went to
Putnam and peremptorily ordered him,
1 threatening him with court martial
that he obeyed. Putnam had his own
4 plan and thought 1t was a good one.
i He believed that with few men he
could make dash down the Hudson
to New Yorl& City and capture that
1 stronghold. That would be glorious
and something spectacular. but unfor-
tunately New York was not worth a
| 2-cent piece to the American army so
| long as the British fleet was on the
( waters. Putnam would have had to
! evacuate the city within ten days. That
| did not make any difference to the
| stubborn old fighter. He would have
made the attempt just for the moral
! effect. Washington. patient kindly.
| considerable, fully aware Of all Put
nam's shortcomings. did not complain.
He pointed out to him repeatedly how
vain were his projects.
| The trouble that arose from this
matter finally led Putnam to ask for a.
court of inquiry and also for leave OF
absence. His wife. who had accompanied
him on his campaigns, had died in
camp and he was heart broken. He
was relieved OF all blame for the loss
OF Forts Montgomery and Clinton. and
4 was asked to employ his leave by re-
4 cruitlng in Connecticut He was SO
4 Wonderfully successful at this that
4 Washington wished him to continue.
A but the old man perslster in his re-
quest for active service, and was sent
back to the Hudson Highlands again.
The following winter the British be-
gan troubling the Connecticut country.
and Putnam was sent thlther, 1t was
then that he met with the famous adj
i venture by which he is best knownlt ia
the American people. his escape from
the british by his Wild ride down
i Breakneck Hill near Greenwich. Conn
Putnam was shaving in the house o!
a Captain Hobby When force OF about
1000 British approached, Putnam did
not have over 100 men near by. With
tho lather still on his face he rushed
out and jumped on his horse and hur-
ried his men to bit Of rising ground
to give battle to the British. The
Provincials held the English for a
} while but had to give way, Putnam
4 started for reinforcements and was
pursued by a party OF British officers
llPutnam weighed something like aoG