USA > Ohio > Biographical and historical memoirs of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio, with narratives of incidents and occurrences in 1775 > Part 6
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as usual, only half clothed, and entirely unprepared for a winter campaign. This was always a serious difficulty during the whole war ; our armies were never decently clad, and the poverty of the country was seen in their tattered garments and shoeless feet. When men were required by Col. Hazelet, the quarter-master-general, to open a road, he had the firmness to refuse him, on account of the inclem- ency of the weather, and the destitute condition of his men.
About this time, the 10th or 12th of February, the Marquis Lafayette, who was to command the army of invasion, arrived at Albany, with the Baron de Kalb. After a careful inspection of the troops, he confirmed the views of Col. Putnam, and the expedition was abandoned; and fortunate for the country was it that they did so, for this was not a war of offense, but of defense ; and whenever the Americans left their own soil, disaster and defeat followed their steps; but so long as they confined their operations to justice and to right, the God of armies and of justice was on their side.
In March following, he was ordered with his regiment down to West Point, where his valuable services were re- quired to lay out and superintend the construction of fortifi- cations at that important place, and Gen. McDougal, who had been appointed to the command, arrived about the same time. Of all the foreign engineers who had been sought out and employed, not one had yet been found, with the sound judgment and practical skill of this untaught American. The strong mind and calm considerate reflection of Putnam took in at once the commanding points of the positions to be fortified, and his practical skill soon accomplished what his genius had projected. He found the foreign engineers' main fort laid out on an extreme point next the river, and commanded by the adjacent high grounds. It was aban- doned for this purpose, and a simple battery placed there to annoy the enemy's shipping, should they attempt to turn the
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point and force the boom placed a little higher up As a defense against an attack by land, a chain of forts and redoubts was laid out on the high ground, bordering the plain, which forms the point that gives name to the place. The principal fort was built by Putnam's own regiment, and named by Gen. McDougal, "Fort Putnam." It stands on an elevated rocky eminence, which commands both the plain and point. This rock slopes gradually on to the plain, on one side, while to the assailants it presents a mural front of fifty feet perpendicular. It was subsequently strengthened with additional works and made a very formidable place. These defenses occupied him until June, when he joined the division of the army under Gen. Gates at Peekskill, and on the 24th of July united with the grand army under Gen. Washington, at White Plains. By his orders he reconnoi- tered the country about Fredericksburg, Quaker hill, &c., making plans and sketches for the use of the commander. On the 16th of September, the main army was broken into divisions and posted at different places. The division to which he was attached under Gen. Gates, marched to Danbury, Connecticut. While here he was directed by Gen. McDougal to examine the roads and passes from New Mil- ford, leading eastward, which service he accomplished, and made his report to him. Soon after this he received the following letter from Gen. Washington :
"HEAD QUARTERS, Oct. 9th, 1778.
SIR: I have perused your report of this day to Gen. Mc- Dougal. You will continue your examination of the differ- ent roads, &c., reconnoiter the most convenient halting places on each; allowing the interval of one day's march from one to the other, and make report of the whole to me, that I may be enabled to regulate the different routes. The road toward Litchfield offers, from your account of it, to be
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worth attention, and Col. Hall should be directed to proceed on it accordingly.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
Col. Putnam."
In answer to this letter he made a lengthy and very par- ticular report, exhibiting his tact and sound judgment in such services, for which he was naturally constituted.
Previous to making the final arrangements for winter quar- ters, he made a tour of reconnoisance with Gen. Greene, in the vicinity of the Hudson river. Late in December Nixon's brigade took up their winter station in the Highlands, on the road from Peekskill to Fishkill. Nixon left the brigade on furlough, and it was placed under Col. Putnam for the winter. Early in February the brigade was ordered to leave their quarters. Col. Putnam's regiment was directed to march to Croton river, and build a bridge across that stream, which was completed about the last of March, and was all extra service, for which no additional pay was given.
At this time he had a furlough to visit his family, where he had not been since December, 1777. This was an in- convenience under which the most useful officers labored ; they could not be spared from the service, while the less valuable procured leave of absence more readily. The families of many of the New England officers, high in com- mand, were in poor circumstances, and required all the in- dustry and foresight of their calculating wives to keep their families in comfortable circumstances during their absence. Mrs. Putnam and the children, the oldest not more than twelve or fourteen years, lived on a small farm of fifty acres of rather sterile land ; while so poor and uncertain was the pay of the soldier, and in 1779, so depreciated in value, that had it not been for the assiduous application of the needle
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by this patriotic woman, her children would sometimes have been very poorly supplied with food. It was common in those days, which tried the souls of women as well as of men, for females in some of the best families, to make gar- ments gratuitously for the soldiers sent from their vicinity, while many of them made also for their neighbors less skilled in the art, for which they received produce or conti- nental paper in exchange. Mrs. Putnam was one of this class; and let it be remembered to her honor and praise, that she labored diligently with her hands, both at the distaff and needle, like the virtuous woman of old, for the support of her household, while he who should have been their pro- vider was absent, devoting his time to the cause of freedom, and fighting the battles of his country. Many interesting anecdotes are yet remembered and related by the family, of the frugality and industry practiced during this cruel war, for their support.
During his absence, Fort Fayette, on Verplank's Point, was taken by the British. It was commanded by Capt. Armstrong, and surrendered to overwhelming numbers.
Toward the last of June, Col. Putnam returned to camp, and in a few days received the following order from Gen. Heath :
"HIGHLANDS, DANFORTH'S HOUSE, June 29, 1779.
SIR: I am very desirous, if possible, to obtain the exact situation of the enemy on Verplank's Point, and of the ves- sels in the river. As you are well acquainted with the ground on both sides of the river, I would request that you would, to-morrow, reconnoiter the enemy with due precau- tion, and make such remarks as you may think proper. You will take a part, or the whole of your own light infantry company as a guard. Your knowledge of the country, and abilities, render particular instructions unnecessary.
Yours, &c.,
Col. Putnam."
WM. HEATH.
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To execute this order, he had to march through the moun- tains about twenty miles, by an unfrequented route, and to prevent discovery, conceal his men in the woods. This duty was successfully performed ; but the report is mislaid. Soon after his return, he received the following note from his ex- cellency, the commander-in-chief :
" Col. Putnam has permission to take as many men as he chooses, of his own regiment, or any other, for special ser- vice, and to pass all guards.
July 9, 1779."
G. WASHINGTON.
The " special service" here intended, was to reconnoiter the posts on Verplank's and Stony Points, previous to the meditated assault on those places. For this purpose, Col. Putnam left Constitution island, opposite to West Point, in the afternoon of the 10th, with fifty men, and landed at Continental village about sunset. Soon after dark, he pro- ceeded, by a back road, to a point near the scene of his intended observations, and concealed his men, as before, in the woods. In a short time it began to rain, and continued all the next day, a part of which time they lay in a barn. On the 12th it was fair, but their ammunition was all wet, and he retired a little distance, to a deserted house, built a fire, and dried their powder, which occupied nearly all day, leaving the party, had they been attacked, entirely de- fenseless. That evening he approached nearer the works, concealed his men, and commenced reconnoitering their condition. With one or two soldiers, who were familiar with the location, he continued his labor until near morn- ing, creeping on his hands and knees, to avoid detection by the sentries, when very near the works. He ascertained the time of night by the aid of fire-flies, which are abundant at that season, and whose phosphorescent light enabled him to distinguish the hours on his watch. By the approach of
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early dawn, he had completed his observations, and returned undiscovered to camp, on the 13th. The following day, a full and very intelligent report of the service was made to Gen. Washington; a copy of which is now among his manu- scripts, and no doubt contributed greatly to the success of the attack on Stony Point, which immediately followed. In relation to the statement made by Marshall, that "two brig- ades under the command of Gen. McDougal, had been or- dered to approach the enemy on the east side of the river, &c.,"-he doubts whether such an order was ever given, for the reason, that McDougal commanded the post of West Point, and would not be allowed to leave so important a station. He further says, that when he waited on Gen. Washington, to make his report of the reconnoisance on the 14th, he told him that he had relinquished the plan of an actual attack on Verplank's, simultaneously with that on Stony Point, but intended only to make a feint; and for that purpose had ordered Nixon's brigade to march, that day, to Continental village. He then instructed Col. Putnam to take as many men from the brigade as he thought proper, and make arrangements to be on the ground, ready to fire on the enemy at Verplank's, the moment he discovered that Wayne had begun his attack on Stony Point. At the same time, he told him that no one was aware of the intended attack, but those who were intrusted with its execution, and that but one of his own family was in the secret. From some error in the orders, Nixon's brigade did not march as expected; but on the evening of the 15th, Col. Putnam left Continental village, with Lieut. Col. Smith, and a detach- ment of men, for Verplank's, and made the feigned attack, by firing on the outer block-house and the guard stationed at the creek, which alarmed the garrison of Fort Fayette for their own safety, and prevented their turning their guns on the Americans in their attack on Stony Point. This was
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all that was intended to be done on that night. On the morning of the 16th, he remained in full view of the enemy until eight or nine o'clock, and then returned to Continental village. In the course of that day, Nixon's and Patterson's brigades arrived at the village, but without field pieces, ar- tillery men, axes, or tools. About ten o'clock at night, Gen. Howe arrived, and took the command. He called on Col. Putnam for information, who told him of the need of artil- lery, &c., to attack the block-house in advance of the main works, and that they could not cross the creek without re- building the bridge, which had been destroyed. On the 17th, two twelve pounders arrived; but before any attack was made, the approach of a numerous body of the enemy, for the relief the post, caused the Americans to retreat, and Fort Fayette remained in the hands of the British. Stony Point was also abandoned in a short time, and fell into their possession; so that no advantage was gained, but the cap- ture of six hundred prisoners, and the glory of the victory. It infused fresh spirits into the country, and convinced their enemies that no danger was too great, or achievement too difficult for them to overcome.
In a short time after these events, Col. Putnam was ap- pointed to the command of a regiment of light infantry, in the brigade of Gen. Wayne, composed of four regiments. This body of men was the elite of the army, and the officers selected by the advice of Gen. Wayne, composing as effi- cient a corps as the world ever saw. He continued in ser- vice this year, until the army had generally gone into winter quarters, and did not reach the station in the Highlands, where his regiment was cantoned, until January, 1780; marching through the ice and snow from near Newark, in New Jersey, being a very tedious and fatiguing journey. During 1779, he was ordered on extra service, to erect a battery on the ground of old Fort Montgomery, for the
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annoyance of the enemy's ships on the Hudson ; and again, in December, by order of Gen. Wayne, he reconnoitered the position of a British fleet at South Amboy, accompanied by eight dragoons, to learn the time of their sailing. This was promptly performed amidst the cold and inclemency of December weather, and returned to camp by the way of New Brunswick. A number of letters from Gen. Wayne are on his file.
The latter part of the winter 1780, he had leave of ab- sence to visit his family, and returned to camp in April. As early as the 6th of May he was on command with an ad- vanced detachment on Croton river, watching the movements of the enemy. This was a fatiguing, hazardous duty, re- quiring the utmost vigilance in the commanding officer, and is only intrusted to men of tried courage and cautious watchfulness. It is considered an honorable post, and the officer selected by special appointment of the commanding general. During the early years of the war the Americans suffered severe losses in their detachments on this service, not only at Paoli, but at various other places, from the light dragoons under Tarlton and De Lancy, who acquired great honor by their surprisals of our advanced posts, although it was not a little lessened by their cruelty. The constant watchfulness of Col. Putnam saved him from any disaster of this kind, as may be seen in his correspondence with Gen. Howe, which is full, minute, and voluminous, and sometimes accompanied with plans and drafts, showing the positions of the different detachments of the enemy. The following letter will serve as a specimen of his style and manner in this line :
" CALLABURG,* July 1, 1780.
DEAR GENERAL : By an officer returned from scout last
* This was a station on the east of the Hudson, near the Highlands.
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evening, and other intelligence, I am informed that the enemy some day this week advanced in force by land from New York, and are now encamped, having their left on the North river, one mile above Phillips', and their right on the road from Stephen Wards to Elberts. By this position their right and left wings are about five miles distant, and from the nature and situation of the country, their camps are detached or separated; their left division being on Phillips' hill between North river and Saw-Mill river; their center division on Valentine's hill, between Saw-Mill river and the Braux ; and their right division between the Braux and East Chester. A sketch of the country which I sent you, and what I have said, will give you a correct idea of their position. It is said, and I believe it to be a fact, that a number of wagons, with scythes for cutting forage, came out yesterday. I think if it be true that a French fleet is really in the way, Mr. Clinton has come out to give his troops an airing, after their fatigue and other sufferings in a southern climate; and at the same time, has a design to secure or destroy all the forage in his power, which might otherwise be of advantage to us ; and I should not be surprised if he attempted a general ravage of the country as far as Salem or Danbury.
I am, dear general, with respect, your humble servant,
RUFUS PUTNAM.
To Gen. Howe."
During the campaign of 1780, no great battle was fought in the northern department. The events along the North river were mostly skirmishes. An invasion of New Jersey was made in June, by Gen. Knyphausen, in which he was so valiantly opposed by the American troops, that he retired without accomplishing much but the destruction of buildings and the murder of Mrs. Caldwell, the wife of a clergyman, which foul deed was done by some of the Tory troops of
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Gov. Tryon, who was in the expedition. Early in July, Sir Henry Clinton returned with his army from the conquest of Charleston, S. C., and made demonstrations of an attack on West Point, but nothing was accomplished.
In September, the foul treason of Arnold took place, by which the enemy thought to obtain possession of this im- portant post, in a more easy way than by hard fighting, but not half so honorable. A kind Providence, which over- looked and directed the American affairs, caused this wicked plan to be discovered in time to prevent its execution ; and the country was thus saved from threatened ruin. Soon after this affair, Col. Putnam had leave of absence, and re- turned to camp early in December. On the 6th of July, 1781, the French army, which had been sent to aid us, formed a junction with the Americans near Dobb's Ferry, preparatory to marching for Virginia.
On the 21st of July, Col. Putnam was ordered by Gen. Heath to take the command of a detachment of three hun- dred light infantry, Col. Sheldon's legionary corps, with two companies of the New York levies, and one piece of light artillery, with which to cover that part of the country. On this duty he was continued until the last of October, and thus did not witness the surrender of Cornwallis at York- town. While here employed, he received the following let- ter from Gen. Waterbury, of Connecticut :
" HORSE NECK, September 13, 1781.
SIR: After my compliments, I would inform you that I have received orders from his excellency, Gov. Trumbull, to build some places of security for my troops to winter in, and, at the same time, to ask the favor of your assistance, in counseling with me where to build, &c."
This service he performed as requested. In November, he joined his regiment at West Point, and on the 14th of that month, received the following order from Gen. McDougal : 6
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"SIR: Gen. McDougal requests you to repair to Stony and Verplank's Points, and examine minutely into their state in every respect. The sentry boxes at those advanced works should be destroyed ; every building within cannon range of either of those posts, and any cover that would afford a lodgment for the enemy, must be taken down, and removed before you leave the ground. You will please to have the garrisons paraded, and note every person, and the regiments they belong to, unfit for this service, &c."
This duty was faithfully performed, and was about the last of his military labors; as after this period, hostilities, in a manner, closed between the two nations, in the northern states. The capture of Lord Cornwallis, and the victories of Gen. Greene in South Carolina, discouraged Great Brit- ain from further attempts at the subjugation of the United States. He was, however, still busily employed, as agent for his brother officers, in interceding with Congress and the Legislature of Massachusetts, for a redress of their griev- ances, which had become very serious. For this duty, his stern integrity, candor, honesty of purpose, and well known character for usefulness in the service of the country, emi- nently fitted him. His first employment of this kind was in 1778, and on the following occasion :
"At a meeting of the field and other officers of Gen. Nix- on's brigade, September 9, 1778, Col. Rufus Putnam was unanimously chosen representative, to meet in a general convention of the army, to state our grievances to the hon- orable Continental Congress, and endeavor to obtain redress of the same.
Per order of the meeting :
THOS. NIXON, Col., Moderator."
In the winter of 1778-9, the sufferings of the officers and men had become so intolerable, from the want of pay, clothing, and provisions, that the patience and patriotism of
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even the Massachusetts men, was put to so severe a trial, that they had well nigh failed under it. Gen. Nixon's brig- ade, then in winter quarters in the Highlands, had formed articles of mutiny, by which, on a certain day, they were to march off in a body. A copy of those articles was some- how obtained by Col. Putnam, and transmitted to Mr. Davis, a member of the Legislature, and an influential man in Boston. Finding his own personal efforts, and those few who assisted him, unavailing in checking this disgraceful design, Col. Putnam made a confidential communication to Gen. McDougal, of their intentions, and requested him to order the several regiments composing the brigade, to sepa- rate, and occupy distant and distinct posts, toward New York. This the general immediately complied with, and thus put it out of their power to execute the plan they had formed, or at least not so readily as they could have done, when all in a body; and thus, by the integrity and faithful- ness of this honest and upright man, was this sad calamity averted ; and a foul blot on the fair escutcheon of his native state prevented.
In the winter of 1780, while on a furlough, the larger por- tion of his time was spent in Boston, soliciting the General Court, or Legislature of Massachusetts, for relief in aid of their troops, and especially for the officers who were prisoners on Long island. For the latter a small sum was obtained, for which he received their thanks in a letter of acknowledg- ment, through Col. Thompson, dated May 1st, 1780. While for the officers of the line no provision was made. For this reason, at the close of the year, a committee was appointed to repair to Boston and lay their claims before the Legisla- ture, with the following instructions, which are given, in part, that posterity may judge of the justice of their cause.
After stating a number of their grievances, as to the man- ner of their pay, clothing, small stores, &c., under three
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distinct heads, they say, " You will pointedly represent to the Legislature, the great inconveniences and losses, accrued and accruing to great part, nay almost the whole, of both offi- cers and soldiers, from the notes we received the last year, not being negotiable in any manner for any kind of property, on which account many were, for want of almost every kind of clothing, obliged to sell their notes at a very great dis- count, from their nominal value when given; and by this representation you will endeavor to procure an act that will make the notes already, and those that shall be given, a tender for the 'confiscated estates when sold ; or that will in some way be equally beneficial to the army and state-make them of such value that those who wish it may convert them into current money without loss."
The whole of these instructions fill two or three pages, and seem to have been signed by all the officers of the Mas- sachusetts line. It is dated West Point, January 1st, 1781. The names of the committee were as follows : Brig. Gen. Glover, Col. Putnam, Lieut. Col. E. Brooks, Col. H. Jackson, Col. J. Graton, Maj. Samuel Darbey, S. Larned and T. Edwards.
To fulfill this embassy the committee left West Point early in January and passed two or thee months in Boston, prose- cuting their claims. On their arrival, the recent alarm grow- ing out of the mutiny of the Pennsylvania and Jersey lines had created such an alarm in the minds of the General As- sembly, that they listened favorably to the committee and actually sent on two months' pay in specie to their line of the army, which was about the result of their efforts. It relieved their most pressing wants and pacified the distressed soldiers for a time, and the favorable prospects of a speedy termina- tion of the war closed any further serious difficulties with the Massachusetts men.
In February, 1782, the state of New York having applied
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to Congress for remuneration for the forage consumed by the allied army in West Chester county, while encamped near Dobb's Ferry in 1781, he was appointed by Gen. Heath and Gov. Clinton one of the commissioners for set- tling the claim. It was a difficult and troublesome affair, but was closed in July, and shows the confidence of those eminent men in his character, for sound judgment and love of justice. After this, he obtained leave of absence for a short time, and while on furlough, heard of the intention of Congress to reduce the army.
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