The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-02-11
GALLOPED DOWN STEEP EN-
BANKMENT TO ESCAPE CAP
TURE BY BRITISH.
GUARD WAS A BIT TARDY
Clinton Sent Compliments With a
New Hat to Replace one Torn
BY Bullet.

won for him the respect of every
body, and in no way was this better
displayed than in his famous ride
down the hundred steps when pur'
sued by British dragons at West
Greenwich in 1873.
The daring act of the Yankee com.
mander has been one of the moot
points of the anecdotal history of the
American revolution. The feat was
however, recorded by a revolutionary
soldier, who shortly after the dash
examined the hoof prints of Put
MANS horse on the soft earth of the
hillside and later interviewed one
of the pursuers.
The following story is a verbatim
copy of the diary of Jeremiah Selk-
rig, of Derby Narrows, Conn.,, a sol
der in the Continental army, who
made the investigation which he re-
cords:
General Putnam was in the neigh
borhood of West Greenwich in Feb
ruary or March of 1879. was there
the first week of April, and heard
the story of Putnam's ride and went
to see the traces of the horses foot
steps. The horses hind feet struck
about foot to the right of the top
of the hundred stone steps. His first
leap was about twenty feet, when
he struck and made another jump
of six feet, and made the second
leap of nearly thirty feet and was
down the hill. His pursuers stopped
on the top Of the hill"
He then relates how the escape
was made. Putnam was made aware
of the presence of the British. He
visited Tory family who lived near
the place to gain information. He
hitched his old black horse at the
post near the door of the Tory and
walked in. The old man was out, but
to his wife Putnam said: ~
81 have heard that General Gin
ton was coming this way" said Put.
AS 1 was once acquainted with him
in the old French war should like
to see him."
1.-THE old Tory saw the horse at
the post and ran to General Gin
toms house with the information
that General Putnam was at his
farm. Sergeant Servant. Of Clinton's
staff, was given orders to take six
men and run to the house and plant
sentinel at every door and window
and let no man go in or out of the
house. He did as he was ordered,
and stood himself by Puts horse.
Putnam looked out and saw the SER
geant standing by the horse and, be-
low a troop coming up.
"Landlady, please lend me a great
coat said Putnam. 1 am little chill
ly.' He took down the loop of his
cooked hat. 4 believe l see him COM
ing. 1 think I'll go out and meet him,
referring to Clinton.
He opened the door. Good morn
ing, sergeant, said he.
Good morning. said the sergeant,
please your honor
Pray what company is that COM
| ing I'D the road there?"
"Tis his excellency, General Clin-
ton, and his STAFF answered the
sergeant.
/" Ah,' said he, 4 have been wait
ing some time to see the genl. !
was acquainted with him in the last
French war. think will mount my
horse and meet the genI.'
| Sergeant Servant said Putnam
bounded onto his horse. which stood
with his head down, his ears lop-
ped forward, but the moment he was
astride his horses ears were up.
With one bound he was in the road.
The house-guards of Gen'l Clinton
were within ten rods. They started,
and before Puts horse got under
way they were within two rods of
him. He pulled for the steps, they
fired upon him and shot through his
hat as he went off the steps. The
steps were about the descent of a
steep staircase. The bank was loose
and gravelly and about 100 feet
down. The guards went back to the
house. The genl, in conversation.
said to Sergeant Servant. Who went
from the house?'
II do not know and please your
exceliency. supposed 1t to have
been one of our guides said the
sergeant.
at is the very man I sent you
here to keep. Pray, what were your
orders?" demanded Clinton.
"Ah. gen'l. remember now, but
" was confident that he was one Of