USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > North Brookfield > History of North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Preceded by an account of old Quabaug, Indian and English occupation, 1647-1676; Brookfield records, 1686-1783 > Part 44
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tantly set about tracing out lines in front of Roxbury, toward Boston, and various places in the vicinity, especially at Sewel's Point. It so happened that he was occupied at the latter post, when Gen. Washington and Gen. Lee first came over to examine the situation of the troops, and state of the defences on that side of Charles river. The plan of the works met the entire approbation of Gen. Washington, and Lee spoke in high terms of that on Sewel's Point, when compared with those at Cambridge, which animated and encouraged him to persevere in his efforts. All the defences at Roxbury, Dorchester and Brookline, were of his construc- tion, and especially the fort on Cobble Hill.
In the course of this campaign, at the request of Gen. Washington, he surveyed and delineated a map of the courses, distances, and relative situation of the enemy's works in Boston and Charlestown, with the American defences in Cambridge, Roxbury, etc., which must have been of great importance to him in arranging his plans for an attack on the former place. In December, he accompanied Gen. Lee to Providence and Newport, R.I., and at the latter place planned a battery that commanded the harbor ; also, a work on an elevation at Howland's ferry, which secured the communication of the island with the main land. In the new organization of the army, made in the fall of 1775, he was appointed a lieutenant-colonel in the Twenty-second Regiment, com- manded by Col. Samuel Wyllis. He, however, did not actually join that regiment, but was continued in the engineer department.
In the winter of 1776, Gen. Washington was deeply engaged in plan- ning an attack on the British army in Boston, by crossing the troops on the ice, or else to draw them out from their stronghold, by erecting works on Dorchester neck, that would not only annoy the town, but destroy their shipping in the harbor. In constructing the latter work, Col. Put- nam, with his usual modesty, and constant reliance on an overruling Power, in directing the affairs of man, thus speaks : " As soon as the ice was thought to be sufficiently strong for the army to pass over, a council of general officers was convened on the subject. What their particular opinions were I never knew, but the brigadiers were directed to consult their field officers, and they to feel the temper of the captains and subal- terns. While this was doing I was invited to dine at headquarters ; and while at dinner, Gen. Washington invited me to tarry after the com- pany had departed. When we were alone he entered into a free con- versation on the subject of storming the city of Boston. That it was much better to draw the enemy out to Dorchester, than to attack him in Boston, no one doubted ; for if we could maintain ourselves on that neck of land, our command of the town and harbor would be such as would probably compel them to leave the place. But the cold weather, which had made a bridge of ice for our passage into Boston, had also
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frozen the earth to a great depth, especially in the open country, like the hills on Dorchester neck, so that it was impossible to make a lodge- ment there in the usual way (that is, by excavating the earth.) How- ever, the general directed me to consider the matter, and if I could think of any way by which it could be done, to make a report to him immedi- ately."
He then describes the events which he calls providential, and may evidently be referred to Him who created, as well as rules the destiny of man, but which thoughtless and blind mortals attribute to the freaks of chance. " Il eft headquarters in company with another gentleman, and on the way came by those of Gen. Heath. I had no thought of calling until I came against his door when I said, let us call on Gen. Heath, to which the gentleman agreed. I had no other motive than to pay my respects to the general. While there I cast my eye on a book which lay on the table, lettered on the back Muller's Field Engineer. Immediately I requested the general to lend it to me. He denied me. I repeated my request. He again refused, saying, he never lent his books. I then told him that he must recollect, that he was one, who at Roxbury, in a manner compelled me to undertake a business on which, at the time, I confessed I had never read a word, and that he must let me have the book. After a few more excuses on his part, and pressing on mine, I obtained the loan of it." He arrived at his quarters about dark, but was so much engaged in receiving reports of the progress of the works until a late hour, that he did not examine Muller until morning. On looking over the contents of the book, he came to the word " chande- lier." This was a new phrase to him, but on turning to the page where the article was described, and reading it carefully over, he was soon ready to report a plan for making a lodgement on Dorchester heights. In a few minutes after he had decided on the feasibility of the plan, Col. Gridly, who had planned the works at Cambridge, and Col. Knox of the artillery, who had been directed to consult with Col. Putnam on this difficult subject, entered his room and acquiesced in his plan. The report was approved by Gen. Washington, and preparations immediately made to carry it into operation. The chandeliers were made of stout timbers, ten feet long, into which were framed posts, five feet high and five feet apart, placed on the ground in parallel lines, and the open spaces fitted in with bundles of facines, strongly picketed together ; thus forming a movable parapet of wood, instead of earth, as heretofore done. The men were immediately set to work in the adjacent apple orchard and woodlands, cutting and bundling up the facines, and carry- ing them with the chandeliers on to the ground selected for the work on the night of the 4th of March, and on the morning of the 5th, the British troops were astonished to see a formidable battery, erected by
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their industrious Yankee foes in one night, where the evening before no appearance of such a defence was to be seen. The ground was so deeply frozen that the intrenching tools made no more impression on it than on a solid rock, and their old mode of excavating trenches, and throwing up parapets of earth, was utterly at a nonplus.
The providential visit of Col. Putnam at Gen. Heath's quarters, was both the remote and immediate cause of the sudden withdrawal of the British troops from Boston. On the first sight of this barrier, mounted with artillery and frowning defiance, Gen. Howe decided on landing troops and carrying it by storm, and there would have probably been another Bunker hill adventure or something worse. The ice broke way soon after, and his boats being dispersed by a gale of wind, when the troops had embarked, he gave up the design, and sent word to Gen. Washington that he would leave the town with his army unharmed, if he would not molest the shipping while the men and stores were removing. The evacuation of the place, and the relief of the inhabitants from British thraldom and abuse, being all that Washington sought, the terms were complied with, and this desirable object accomplished without blood- shed.
On the last day of March, 1776, he was ordered by Gen. Washington to proceed to New York, by way of Providence, Rhode Island, to aid Gov. Cook with his advice and assistance, in constructing works for the defence of that town. While on this tour of duty, he again visited Newport, and made additional defences there. On the 6th of April he had an interview with Washington, at Providence, who felt a deep interest in his welfare, not only for his successful efforts on Dorchester heights, but also for the integrity, uprightness, and straightforward patriotism of the man ; and not only during the war, but during his whole life, treated him with marked respect and friendship. He reached New York about the 20th of April, and was immediately authorized as chief engineer, to lay out and oversee the works of defence during that campaign at New York, Long Island, and their dependencies, with Fort Washington, Fort Lee, Kingsbridge, &c., the larger portion of which appears in the plan of New York island, attached to Marshall's Life of Washington. This was a service of great fatigue, as it occupied all his time from daylight in the morning until night, and sometimes all night.
On the 10th of July, Gen. Washington, in a letter to Congress, notices the services of Col. Putnam: "Gen. Mercer is now in the Jerseys, for the purpose of receiving and ordering the militia coming for the flying camp, and I have sent over our chief engineer to view the ground in the neighborhood of Amboy, and to lay out some necessary works for the encampment, and such as may be proper at the different passes in Bergen Neck and other places."
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In August, Congress appointed him engineer, which was announced by Gen. Washington to him, as follows :
"New York, August 11, 1776. Col. Putnam.
Sir : I have the pleasure to inform you that Congress have appointed you an engineer, with the rank of colonel, and pay of sixty dollars a month. I beg of you to hasten the sinking of vessels and other obstruc- tions in the river at Fort Washington, as fast as possible. Advise Gen. Putnam constantly of the kind of vessels you want and other things, that no delay that can possibly be avoided may happen. I am sir, your assured friend and servant
G. Washington.
P.S. Congress have just sent two French gentlemen here as engineers. Will either of them be of use at Fort Washington or Kingsbridge ? "
On the 8th of September, 1776, a council of general officers had de- termined on holding possession of the city of New York. On the 12th, by order of Gen. Washington, Col. Putnam went out with Gen. Mifflin to reconnoitre between Kingsbridge and Morrisania, and on their return Washington met them near Harlem heights, where they made their re- port. This led to a council of general officers, in which it was decided to abandon the city, and this measure was based on their report, being the means of saving the army from total destruction.
Col. Putnam remarks that his appointment by Congress as engineer, was wholly unexpected. That his first attempts in that department arose from pure necessity, in place of a better man, and that his continuance in that service was more out of respect to Gen. Washington, than a sense of his own qualifications. After his arrival at New York he had greatly improved his knowledge, by the study of writers on that subject ; and his daily practice in that profound art for more than a year, had now made him a much more skilful engineer, yet his natural modesty had never led him once to think of being appointed to the first post in a corps of engineers. His observations on the deficiencies and difficulties which attended that department, led him, in September, to draw up a plan for a distinct engineering corps, which was presented to Gen. Washington, and by him laid before Congress, with the following letter, of November 5 :
" I have taken the liberty to transmit a plan for establishing a corps of engineers, artificers, &c., sketched out by Col. Putnam, and which is proposed for the consideration of Congress. How far they may incline to adopt it, or whether they may choose to proceed on such an exten- sive scale, they will be pleased to determine. However, I conceive it a matter well worthy of their consideration, being convinced from experi-
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ence, and from reasons suggested by Col. Putnam, who has acted with great diligence and reputation in the business, that some establishment of the sort is highly necessary, and will be productive of the most benefi- cial consequences."
On the 19th of October the enemy landed their army on Pells point, and some skirmishing took place between a part of Glover's brigade and the advance of the British troops, near East Chester. The following morning Gen. Washington directed Col. Putnam to reconnoitre their posi- tion. For this purpose he left Kingsbridge, in company with Col. Reid, the adjutant-general, and a foot-guard of twenty men. From the heights of East Chester they saw a small body of the enemy near the church, but could learn nothing from the inhabitants, as the houses were all de- serted. Col. Reid now left him to attend to other duties, and Col. Put- nam requested him to take back the guard, as he thought he could better succeed in reconnoitring by himself. He then disguised his appearance as an officer, and set out for White Plains, a place he had never visited, nor did he know the road which led to that place. Directly a highway turned off to the right, which he followed a short distance, and came to a house, where a woman informed him that the road he was now on led to New Rochelle ; that the enemy were there, and had posted a guard at a house then in sight. He now turned his course, and proceeded to- ward White Plains, approaching within three or four miles of the place, when he discovered a house a little ahead with men about it. Before advancing, he carefully examined their appearance with his spy-glass, and ascertained that they were not British soldiers. He then advanced and entered the house, which was a tavern ; calling for some oats for his horse, and sitting quietly down, listened to their conversation. He soon discovered that they were Whigs, and ascertained the following valuable facts, viz., that the main army of the British were lying near New Rochelle, distant from White Plains about nine miles, with good roads and an open level country between, and that at the latter place was a large quantity of American stores under the guard of about three hundred militia. That a detachment of the enemy was posted at Mamaronec, only six miles from the Plains, while on the other side was the Hudson river, in which lay five or six of the enemy's armed vessels at a distance of only five miles, so that the main depot of provisions for the American army, which Gen. Washington had ordered here as a place of safety, was enclosed on three sides by his adversaries. Col. Putnam saw at a glance their hazardous position, and hastened back with his all important dis- coveries. The road from Ward's tavern where he then was, led across the Braux, and was the most direct route for his return, but it passed so near the positions occupied by the enemy that it required great watch- fulness to avoid detection. As he approached the highland west of the
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little river Braux, he saw it was already occupied by armed men, but on applying his spy-glass, ascertained they were American troops, and on his arrival found it to be Lord Stirling's division, who had taken a position there since he passed in the morning. He announced his dis- coveries to the general, refreshed himself and horse, and set out for head- quarters, ten miles distant, by the mouth of the Saw-mill river, a road he had never travelled before, leading through a noted Tory settlement. It was now dark, but he dare not inquire the way, lest he should be arrested. An overruling Providence guided his steps, and he arrived in safety at Gen. Washington's quarters, near Kingsbridge, about nine o'clock. He found him alone, and ready to receive his report, with a sketch of the country, which he hastily made, showing the relative positions of the different British detachments, and the stores at White Plains. This, like the clew of the labyrinth, at once led him to see the difficulties and dangers of his position, and the path by which he could be extricated. Gen. Washington complained very feelingly of the gentlemen of New York, from whom he had never been able to obtain a plan of the country : that it was by their advice he had ordered the stores to White Plains, as a place of safety. This was a serious difficulty under which he labored through the first years of the war, the lack of correct topographical de scriptions of the country in which he was acting, often leading him into the toils of the enemy, when he thought he was escaping or out of danger. Such a man as Putnam was then an invaluable treasure ; who was fearless, but cautious in scanning the positions of the foe, and could delineate on paper, what he had seen with his eyes, making his descrip- tions both intelligent and practical. Washington immediately sent a messenger for Gen. Greene and Gen. George Clinton, since Vice-Presi- dent of the United States. When the latter entered, Putnam's sketch and report were laid before him, and the question asked as to the correctness of the topographical sketch. He confirmed its accuracy. In a short time he was charged with a letter to Lord Stirling, and orders to proceed immediately to his camp, which he reached by the same route, about two o'clock in the morning. Before daylight his division was in motion, in full march for White Plains, where they arrived about nine o'clock on the morning of the 21st of October, "and thus was the American army saved by an interposition of Providence, from a probable total destruc- tion."
It was as late as the 29th, before the enemy advanced in front of the American lines at White Plains. About 10 o'clock A.M., Col. Putnam had arrived on Chatterton hill, intending to throw up some defences, just as they came in sight. As soon as they discovered the Americans, they opened a severe cannonade, but without much effect. Gen. McDougal now arrived with his brigade, and seeing the enemy crossing
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the Braux below in large bodies, placed his men in an advantageous position behind the stone walls and fences to receive them. They were twice repulsed with great loss ; but by bringing up fresh detachments, they so greatly outnumbered the Americans as to turn their right flank, and cause them to retreat. Our loss was great, but it was afterward ascertained that the British loss was much greater ; they receiving the same pay as at Bunker hill. After the battle of the 29th, Col. Putnam was employed in examining the topography of the country in the rear of White Plains, toward North Castle, Croton river, etc., with a view to military operations, when, on the 5th of November, he received the following letter from Gen. Washington :
" Head Quarters, White Plains, Nov. 5, 1776.
Sir : You are directed to repair to Wright's mills, and lay out any work there you conceive to be necessary, in case it is not already done. From thence you are to proceed toward Croton bridge, and post the two regi- ments of militia in the most advantageous manner, so as to obstruct the enemy's passage to that quarter. You are also to give what directions you think proper to those regiments, respecting the breaking up the roads leading from the North river eastward. After this you are to go up to Peekskill, and direct Lasher's detachment to break up the roads there ; you are likewise to lay out what works will be advisable there, and order them to be set about.
Given under my hand, Geo. Washington. To Col. Putnam, engineer."
On the 11th of November, Gen. Washington visited Peekskill, and Col. Putnam accompanied him to Fort Washington. On the following day he crossed the North river, instructing him to ascertain the topogra- phy of the country, with the roads and passes through the Highlands, which report he soon after made. A copy of this report is among his papers, and gives a minute description of the different passes ; pointing out such as would need protection, with a skeleton map, containing valuable information for the defence of the passes in the Highlands of the Hudson, a point so important in the contest with Great Britain. On the 8th of December, he addressed a letter to the commander-in-chief, informing him that he had accepted the command of a regiment in the Massachusetts line, of the continental army, with his reasons for so doing, assuring him at the same time of his attachment and readiness to execute any service he should be ordered on. The following is an extract from his answer :
" Bucks County, near Cayell's Ferry, Dec. 17, 1776. Dear Sir : Your letter of the 8th, from Peekskill, came duly to hand.
7
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Your acceptance of a regiment, to be raised on continental establish- ment, by the state of Massachusetts bay, is quite agreeable to me, and I sincerely wish you success in recruiting, and much honor in command- ing it.
Your professions of attachment are extremely gratifying to, dear sir, your most obedient servant,
Geo. Washington."
In a letter to Congress, of December 20th, he thus speaks of Col. Put- nam : " I have also to mention, that for want of some establishment in the department of engineers, agreeable to the plan laid before Congress in October last, Col. Putnam, who was at the head of it, has quitted, and taken a regiment in the state of Massachusetts. I know of no other man tolerably well qualified for the conducting of that business. None of the French gentlemen whom I have seen with appointments in that way, appear to know any thing of the matter. There is one in Philadelphia who I am told is clever, but him I have not seen."
After closing his accounts as engineer, in January, 1777, he returned to Massachusetts to recruit and fill up his regiment. In this he was quite successful. As early as May, three companies were filled, and marched from Worcester to Peekskill ; and in June were ordered up the North river to Fort Ann. On the 3d of July, Col. Putnam followed with the rest of the regiment, and joined his brigade, at a point four miles above Fort Edward. This gave him an opportunity to examine the condition of the old fort, which he had so often visited and worked on in the former war. He found that in the last seventeen years, it had greatly decayed, and was quite untenable as a work of defence; nevertheless it was shortly after occupied by the troops of Gen. Burgoyne for a few days, probably the last time the British flag will ever float near its walls.
The campaign of 1777, was big with events deeply interesting to the United States. Burgoyne with a large army had invaded New York from the north, pursuing the old route so often traversed in former years by the hostile bands of France and Great Britain. The hordes of savages which accompanied his army made the resemblance still more striking. A numerous body of men and shipping, under Clinton, assailed the same state on the south, by the way of the North river, intending to unite the invading armies at Albany, and thus divide the eastern from the middle and southern states. Ticonderoga, considered the key to the northern portion of the Union, had fallen into the hands of the enemy ; but the lives and the liberty of the army which occupied it, were saved from the hands of the conqueror, by the good sense of Gens. St. Clair and Schuyler, who thought it useless to defend an untenable post, and thus served as a nucleus, around which to rally the militia and continen-
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tals, who hastened from all parts to arrest the progress of the enemy. New England was electrified at the threatened danger, and poured forth the thousands of her hardy yeomanry from her granite hills, to meet the coming storm.
Col. Putnam, with his brave Massachusetts men, again traversed the grounds he had so often visited in the "old French war ; " familiar with every part from Fort Edward to Stillwater, while few if any of his officers or men had seen this part of the country before. Although he was busily engaged in all the military operations of September, in the contests with Burgoyne, his regiment being the earliest on the ground, yet he has left no record of these events, except to correct some misstatements made by the historians of that period, in relation to the storming the works of the German reserve, on the 7th of October, and a few other matters. In front of those works was an open field, bounded by a wood, at the dis- tance of one hundred and twenty yards. In the skirt of this wood Col. Putnam was posted with the fifth and sixth regiments of the Massachu- setts line, under his command. Both the right and left of their works were covered by a thin, open wood, and the rear by a thick wood. The moment that orders were given to storm, he moved rapidly across the open field, amidst a murderous fire of grape and musketry, and entered the works in front, at the same moment that Learned's brigade, in which Jackson's regiment was stationed, entered on the left and rear. Col. Putnam immediately formed his two regiments, and moved out of the works, which were not enclosed in the rear, and advanced into the woods, toward the enemy's enclosed redoubts, on the right flank of their main encampment. Gen. Learned, as soon as he had secured and sent off the plunder taken in the German camp, withdrew all the other troops, without notifying Col. Putnam of his design, leaving him unprotected in the occupancy of the wood. Here he remained until toward morning, when he was re-inforced with three regiments from the right wing of the army, under Gen. Glover.
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