Putnam, Israel

(1718-1790), a Revolutionary general, was born at Danvers, Ma ., and settled as a farmer in northeastern Connecticut, near Pomfret. Putnam's early life is a ociated with many romantic episodes, the wolf hunt, his service in the French and Indian War with Rogers’ Rangers, his rescue of Fort Edward, and his narrow escape from death by burning while a prisoner of the Indians, He was in command of a regiment with General Amherst in the Canadian campaign of 1760. In the stirring times following he was one of the chief ‘* Sons of Liberty.” Howat the news of Lexington he dropped his plow and rode in a day to Cambridge isa fireside story. Putnam was made commander of the Connecticut troops and a brigadier. He commanded at Bunker Hill conjointly with Colonel Pre scott. Forthwith he was appointed one of the major-generals, and had charge of the center in the siege of Boston. In the defense of Long Island he was entrusted with the works on Brooklyn Heights, and in the retreat from New York his name is often mentioned. For a short time he was Governor of Philadelphia, and was then in 1777 placed in command of the defenses in the Highlands of the Hudson. He was enyaged in the repulse of Tryon’s troops in the southwest of Conuécticut, in connection with which is related the somewhat exaggerated story of Putnam's escape on horseback down a flight of stone steps.