PUTNAM, ISRAEL. 1718-90; b. Mass.; had a limited education, but in his youth was. noted for physical strength and courage. In 1739, removing to Pomfret, Conn., he became a farmer and wool-grower. The farmers having long suffered greatly from the depredations of a she-wolf and her whelps, and made fruitless efforts to drive her out of • her den by burning brushwood, straw, and sulphur, Putnam entered the cavern by a nar row opening at midnight with a torch in one hand and musket in thq other, and shot her as she was on the point of springing upon him. The next 12 years he spent on his farm. In the French war in 1755 he commanded a company of troops at Crown Point; in 175T received from the legislature the commission of major; saved during this year the powder magazine of fort Edward at the burning of the barracks; in 1758, his corps being sur prised by a party of French and Indians, he was captured, tied to a tree, and for an hour exposed to the fire of friend and foe, but escaped unhurt. The enemy being forced to retire, carried their captive with them, and at night the fire was kindled to burn him. alive. He was tied to a tree, and the fire vas already blazing, when he was rescued by the interposition of Molang, the French officer. He was taken to Ticonderoga, then to Montreal, where through the influence of col. Peter Schuyler, himself a prisoner, he was, exchanged. In 1759 he was promoted to the rank of lieut.col. From that year to 1773 he was engaged either in various expeditions or on hisfarm. In April, 1775, tidings of the battle of Lexington reaching him while plowing; he left his plow in the field,. turned his oxen loose, and mounting his horse rode to Cambridge in one day, a distance of 68 miles. Returning lie was made brig.gen. by the legislature, of which be wasa mem ber, organized and drilled a regiment, and in a week was on his way back with. his men to Cambridge. On his arrival offers of money and a commission as maj.gen. in the.
royal army were made him by the British officers, which he spurned. In May of that. year he led a battalion of 300 men to Noddle's island, burnt a British schooner, captured a sloop, killed and wounded many of the enemy. By his advice it was decided to for tify Bunker hill. At that battle he displayed great energy and bravery. On the arrival of Washington at the camp to take command in Jnly, 1775, he brought commissions from congress for four maj.generals, one of whom wa;Putnam. On the evacuation of Boston he was placed in command of New York, took part in the battle of Long Island, and on the evacuation of New York was sent to Philadelphia to fortify that city; was afterwards stationed at Crosswick and Princeton; in 1777 was ordered to take command in the Highlands of New York. In. the summer of that year he was removed from his command in the Highlands on account of the surprise and loss of forts Mont. gomery and Clinton, though acquitted of blame by a court of inquiry, and restored to his command. He selected West Point as the site for a fortification. In 1779, when sta tioned in Connecticut, Horseneck, one of his outposts, guarded by 150 men and 2 cannon, was attacked by Tryon with 1500 men. Putnam. being closely, pursued while on his way with his men to a swamp, dashed down a steep hill and escaped, receiving a ball through his hat. Riding to Stamford and collecting the militia, he formed a junction with his troops, pursued Tryonin his retreat, and took 50 prisoners. In the summer of 1779 ha had command of the troops in the highlands, and completed the fortifications at West Point. The army going into winter-quarters he returned home, and on setting out again for camp, was stricken with paralysis. The inscription on his tombstone is, "He dared to lead where any dared to follow."