USA > Ohio > Biographical and historical memoirs of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio, with narratives of incidents and occurrences in 1775 > Part 7
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Being tired and disgusted with much of the treatment he had received in regard to promotion in the Massachusetts line, which had not been made in accordance with common usage in such matters, especially as to the brigadiers, two of which were vacant and neither of them filled, viz: Gen. Learned's in 1777, and Nixon's in 1780, added to which the desire he felt to be with his family which greatly needed his presence, he concluded to quit the service, and made an ar- rangement with Lieut. Col. Brooks, the youngest commander of a regiment in the line, and would of course be deranged in the reduction, to remain, and let Col. Putnam retire, a. a mode of exchange heretofore practiced. Under these cir- cumstances he did not return to the army until the receipt of the following letter from Gen. Washington, who had been informed of his intentions by some of his friends.
" HEAD QUARTERS, NEWBURG, Dec. 2, 1782.
SIR: I am informed you have had thoughts of retiring from service, upon the arrangement which is to take place on the 1st of January. But as there will be no opening for it, unless your reasons should be very urgent indeed ; and as there are some prospects which may perhaps make your continuing more eligible than was expected, I have thought proper to mention the circumstances, in expectation they : might have some influence in inducing you to remain in the
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army. Col. Shepherd having retired and Brig. Gen. Pat- terson being appointed to the command of the first brigade, you will of consequence be the second colonel in the line and have the command of a brigade, while the troops con- tinue brigaded as at present. Besides I consider it expedi- ent you should be acquainted, that the question is yet before Congress, whether there shall be two brigadiers appointed in the Massachusetts line. Should you continue you will be a candidate for this promotion. The secretary at war is of opinion the promotion will soon take place-whether it will or not, I am not able to determine, and, therefore, I would not flatter you too much with expectations, which it is not in my power to gratify - but if upon a view of these circumstances and prospects, the state of your affairs will permit you to con- tinue in the present arrangement, (which must be completed immediately,) it will be very agreeable to
Sir, your most obedient servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
Col. Putnam."
On the receipt of this letter, and one from Gen. Potter, he repaired immediately to camp; but being determined not to remain in a situation approaching disgrace, as some of his senior officers had done, when Congress neglected to pro- mote them to actual vacancies, on his arrival he wrote a very interesting letter to Gen. Washington, explaining all his views and thanking him for the interest he took in his welfare, but is too lengthy for insertion here. On the 8th of January following, he was commissioned as a brigadier- general in the army of the United States, and then left without any excuse to leave the service until the declaration of peace, which happily took place on the 9th of April, 1783.
In June the Massachusetts line was reduced to two regi- ments of which, Gen. Patterson or the oldest officer took the
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command, and the officers and soldiers retired on furlough, and were finally discharged in November.
During his continuance in the army, he shared largely in the confidence of Gen. Washington, who continued his friendship during his political life, appointing him to various posts of honor and profit, as will appear in the progress of this biography.
During this year he was consulted by Gen. Washington, as to the best plan of arranging " a military peace establish- ment," for the United States. Into this subject he entered quite largely, drafting a system embracing about thirty manuscript pages, giving in detail the whole arrangement, and must have been quite useful to the commander-in-chief, in forming his final report to Congress. In it is embraced, besides the regular troops, a plan for twenty-four regiments of continental militia, selected from the several states, of- ficered and armed like the standing troops, and ready to be called into service when needed. Also a plan for a chain of military posts, or forts for the defense of the frontiers, in the west, one of which is at the mouth of the Muskingum and was established in 1785. And, as in case of war with Great Britain, they would probably have the ascendancy on the northern lakes, he points out the most eligible routes for supplying the posts with provisions. It is an elaborate work and displays the genius of a great and calculating mind : the original draft of which is now among his manu- script papers.
In June, 1783, before the final reduction of the army took place at New Windsor, the officers of the army, to the num- ber of two hundred and eighty-three belonging chiefly to the northern states, petitioned Congress for a grant of land in the western country, and Gen. Putnam, in their behalf, ad- dressed a letter to Gen. Washington on the subject, request- ing his influence with Congress in the matter. It explains
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the views and expectations of the officers, and the good results that would accrue to the United States, in a clear and masterly manner, and being now a rare document is given in full as justly due to his character and name.
"NEW WINDSOR, June 16th, 1783.
SIR : As it is very uncertain how long it may be before the honorable Congress may take the petition of the officers of the army, for lands between the Ohio river and Lake Erie, into consideration, or be in a situation to decide thereon, the going to Philadelphia to negotiate the business with any of its members, or committee to whom the petition may be referred, is a measure, none of the petitioners will think of undertaking. The part I have taken in promoting the peti- tion is well known, and, therefore, needs no apology, when I inform you, that the signers expect that I will pursue measures to have it laid before Congress. Under these circumstances I beg leave to put the petition in your excellency's, hands, and ask with the greatest assurance your patronage of it. That Congress may not be wholly unacquainted with the motives of the petitioners, I beg your indulgence while I make a few observations on the policy and propriety of granting the prayer of it, and making such arrangements of garrisons in the western quarter, as shall give effectual protection to the settlers and encourage emigration to the new government, which, if they meet your approbation, and the favor not too great, I must request your excellency will give them your support, and cause them to be forwarded with the petition, to the President of Congress, in order that when the petition is taken up, Congress or their committee, may be informed on what principles the petition is grounded. I am, sir, among those who consider the cession of so great a tract of territory to the United States, in the western world, as a very happy circumstance, and of great conse- quence to the American empire. Nor have I the least doubt
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but Congress will pay an early attention to securing the allegiance of the natives, as well as provide for the defense of the country, in case of a war with Great Britain or Spain. One great means of securing the allegiance of the natives I take to be, the furnishing them with such necessaries as they shall stand in need of, and in exchange receiving their furs and skins. They have become so accustomed to the use of fire-arms, that I doubt if they could gain a subsis- tence without them, at least they will be very sorry to be reduced to the disagreeable necessity of using the bow and arrow as the only means for killing their game; and so habituated are they to the woolen blanket, &c., &c., that absolute necessity alone will prevent their making use of them.
This consideration alone is I think, sufficient to prove the necessity of establishing such factories as may furnish an ample supply to these wretched creatures : for unless they are furnished by the subjects of the United States, they will undoubtedly seek elsewhere, and like all other people, form their attachment where they have their com- merce ; and then in case of war, will always be certain to aid our enemies. Therefore if there were no advantages in view but that of attaching them to our interest, I think good policy will dictate the measure of carrying on a com- merce with these people ; but when we add to this the con- sideration of the profit arising from the Indian trade in general, there cannot, I presume, be a doubt that it is the interest of the United States to make as early provision for the encouragement and protection of it as possible. For these, and many other obvious reasons, Congress will no doubt find it necessary to establish garrisons at Oswego, Niagara, Detroit, Michilimackinac, Illinois, and many other places in the western world.
The Illinois, and all the posts that shall be established
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on the Mississippi, may undoubtedly be furnished by way of the Ohio, with provisions at all times, and with goods whenever a war shall interrupt the trade with New Or- leans. But in case of a war with Great Britain, unless a communication is open between the river Ohio and Lake Erie, Niagara, Detroit, and all the posts seated on the great lakes, will inevitably be lost without such communication ; for a naval superiority on Lake- Ontario, or the seizing on Niagara, will subject the whole country bordering on the lakes to the will of the enemy. Such a misfortune will put it out of the power of the United States to furnish the na- tives, and necessity will again oblige them to take an active part against us.
Where and how this communication is to be opened, shall next be considered. If Capt. Hutchins and a number of other map-makers are not out of their calculations, provis- ions may be sent from the settlements on the south side of the Ohio, by the Muskingum or the Scioto, to Detroit, or even to Niagara, at a less expense than from Albany by the Mo- hawk, to those places. To secure such communication, (by the Scioto, all circumstances considered, will be the best,) let a chain of forts be established : these forts should be built on the bank of the river, if the ground will admit, and about twenty miles distant from each other : and on this plan the Scioto communication will require ten or eleven stockaded forts, flanked by block-houses; and one company of men will be a sufficient garrison for each, except the one at the portage, which will require more attention in the construction, and a larger number of men to garrison it. But besides the supplying the garrisons on the great lakes with provisions, &c., we ought to take into consideration the protection that such an arrangement will give to the front- iers of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. I say New York, as we shall undoubtedly extend our settlements and
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. garrisons from the Hudson to Oswego. This done, and a garrison posted at Niagara, whoever will inspect the map must be convinced that all the Indians living on the waters of the Mohawk, Oswego, Susquehanna, and Alleghany rivers, and in all the country south of the lakes Ontario and Erie, will be encircled in such a manner as will effectually secure their allegiance, and keep them quiet, or oblige them to quit their country.
Nor will such an arrangement of posts, from the Ohio to Lake Erie, be any additional expense ; for, unless this gap is shut, notwithstanding the garrisons on the lakes, and from Oswego to the Hudson, yet the frontier settlers on the Ohio, by Fort Pitt to the Susquehanna, and all the country south of the Mohawk, will be exposed to savage insult, un- less protected by a chain of garrisons, which will be far more expensive than the arrangement proposed, and at the same time the protection given to these states, will be much less complete ; besides, we should not confine our protec- tion to the present settlements, but carry the idea of extend- ing them at least as far as the lakes Ontario and Erie.
These lakes form such a natural barrier, that when con- nected with the Hudson and Ohio by the garrisons pro- posed, settlements in every part of the state of New York and Pennsylvania, may be made with the utmost safety; so that these states must be deeply interested in the measure, as well as Virginia, who will, by the same arrangement, have a great part of its frontier secured, and the rest much strengthened; nor is there a state in the Union, but will be greatly benefited by the measure, considered in any other point of view ; for, without any expense except a small allowance of purchase-money to the natives, the United States will have within their protection, seventeen million, five hundred thousand acres of very fine land, to dispose of as they may think proper. But I hasten to mention some of
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the expectations which the petitioners have, respecting the conditions on which they hope to obtain the lands. This was not proper to mention in the body of the petition, es- pecially as we pray for grants to all members of the army, who wish to take up lands in that quarter.
The whole tract is supposed to contain about seventeen million, four hundred and eighteen thousand, two hundred and forty acres ; and will admit of seven hundred and fifty- six townships, of six miles square, allowing to each town- ship, three thousand and forty acres, for the ministry, schools, waste lands, rivers, ponds, and highways; then each town- ship will contain, of settlers' lands, twenty thousand acres, and in the whole, fifteen million, one hundred and twenty thousand acres. The land to which the army is entitled, by the resolves of Congress, referred to in the petition, ac- cording to my estimate, will amount to two million, one hundred and six thousand, eight hundred and fifty acres, which is about the eighth part of the whole. For the survey of this, the army expect to be at no expense; nor do they expect to be under any obligation to settle these lands, or do any duty to secure their title in them; but in order to induce the army to become actual settlers in the new gov- ernment, the petitioners hope Congress will make a further grant of lands on condition of settlement; and have no doubt but that honorable body will be as liberal to all those who are not provided for, by their own states, as New York has been to the officers and soldiers that belong to that state; which, if they do, it will require about eight million of acres to complete the army, and about seven million acres will remain for sale. The petitioners, at least some of them, are much opposed to the monopoly of lands, and wish to guard against large patents being granted to in- dividuals, as, in their opinion, such a mode is very injuri- ous to a country, and greatly retards its settlement; and
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whenever such patents are tenanted, it throws too much power into the hands of a few. For these and many other obvious reasons, the petitioners hope no grant will be made but by townships of six miles square, or six by twelve, or six by eighteen miles, to be subdivided by the proprietors to six miles square, that being the standard on which they wish all calculations to be made; and that officers and soldiers, as well as those who petition for charters on purchase, may form their associations on one uniform principle, as to num- ber of persons or rights to be contained in a township, with the exception only, that when the grant is made for reward of services already done, or on condition of settlement, if the officers petition, with the soldiers, for a particular town- ship, the soldiers shall have one right only, to a captain's three, and so in proportion with commissioned officers of every grade.
These, sir, are the principles which gave rise to the pe- tition under consideration; the petitioners, at least some of them, think that sound policy dictates the measure, and that Congress ought to lose no time in establishing some such chain of posts as has been hinted at, and in procuring the tract of country petitioned for, of the natives; for, the mo- ment this is done, and agreeable terms offered to the set- tlers, many of the petitioners are determined, not only to become adventurers, but actually to remove themselves to this country; and there is not the least doubt, but other val- uable citizens will follow their example ; and the probability is, that the country between Lake Erie and the Ohio will be filled with inhabitants, and the faithful subjects of the United States so established on the waters of the Ohio and the lakes, as to banish forever the idea of our western territory falling under the dominion of any European power; the frontiers of the old states will be effectually secured from
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savage alarms, and the new will have little to fear from their insults.
I have the honor to be, sir, with every sentiment, your excellency's most obedient and very humble servant,
RUFUS PUTNAM.
Gen. Washington."
From the suggestions in this communication of Gen. Put- nam, originated the system of laying out and surveying the public lands in townships of six miles square, continued in all the surveys of United States lands to this day. The townships of six miles square, and subdivided among the proprietors, about the average size of the New England farms, as well as the provision made for the support of schools and the ministry, could only have originated with a Puritan mind; although the latter was confined to the Ohio Company's and Symm's purchase, and not adopted by Congress.
Gen. Washington, in a letter addressed to the President of Congress, advocated the measure strongly, as advantageous to the United States as well as to the petitioners. Nothing, however, was done by them in the matter as to making any additional grant for United States securities, further than that of September, 1776, and this movement was finally the origin of the Ohio Company.
After his discharge from the army in 1783, he joined his family in Rutland, Mass., where they then lived, and re- sumed the occupations of farming and surveying.
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In April, 1784, he addressed the following letter to Gen. Washington, on the subject of the projected settlement to be made by the officers and soldiers of the army in the Ohio country, which subject seems to have entered deeply into his heart, and occupied a prominent place in his attention ;
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he may therefore well be called the projector and father of the settlements northwest of the Ohio river.
" RUTLAND, April 5th, 1784.
DEAR SIR : Being unavoidably prevented from attending the general meeting of the Cincinnati at Philadelphia, as I had intended, where I once more expected the opportunity in person of paying my respects to your excellency, I cannot deny myself the honor of addressing you by letter, to ac- knowledge with gratitude the ten thousand obligations I feel myself under to your goodness, and most sincerely to con- gratulate you on your return to domestic happiness ; to inquire after your health, and wish the best of Heaven's blessings may attend you and your dear lady.
The settlement of the Ohio country, sir, engrosses many of my thoughts; and much of my time, since I left the camp, has been employed in informing myself and others, with respect to the nature, situation, and circumstances of that country, and the practicability of removing ourselves there ; and if I am to form an opinion on what I have seen and heard on the subject, there are thousands in this quarter who will emigrate to that country, as soon as the honorable Congress make provisions for granting lands there, and locations and settlements can be made with safety, unless such provision is too long delayed; I mean till necessity turn their views another way, which is the case with some already, and must soon be the case with many more. You are sensible of the necessity, as well as the possibility of both officers and soldiers fixing themselves in business some- where, as soon as possible, as many of them are unable to lie long on their oars, waiting the decision of Congress, on our petition ; and, therefore, must unavoidably settle themselves in some other quarter; which, when done, the idea of re- moving to the Ohio country will probably be at an end, with respect to most of them; besides, the commonwealth of
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Massachusetts have come to a resolution to sell their eastern country for public securities ; and should their plan be formed, and propositions be made public before we hear any- thing from Congress respecting our petition, and the terms on which the lands petitioned for are to be obtained, it will undoubtedly be much against us, by greatly lessening the number of Ohio associates.
Another reason why we wish to know, as soon as possi- ble, what the intentions of Congress are respecting our pe- tition, is the effect such knowledge will probably have, on the credit of the certificates we have received on settlement of accounts : those securities are now selling at no more than three shillings and six pence, or four shillings on the pound; which, in all probability, might double, if no more, the moment it was known that government would receive them for lands in the Ohio country. From these circum- stances, and many others which might be mentioned, we are growing quite impatient; and the general inquiry now is, when are we going to the Ohio? Among others, Brig. Gen. Tupper, Lieut. Col. Oliver, and Maj. Ashley, have agreed to accompany me to that country, the moment the way is open for such an undertaking. I should have hinted these things to some member of Congress, but the delegates from Massachusetts, although exceeding worthy men, and, in general, would wish to promote the Ohio scheme, yet, if it should militate against the particular interest of this state, by draining her of inhabitants, especially when she is form- ing the plan of selling the eastern country, I thought they would not be very warm advocates in our favor; and I dare not trust myself with any of the New York delegates, with whom I was acquainted, because that government are wisely inviting the eastern people to settle in that state; and as to the delegates of other states, I have no acquaintance with any of them.
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These circumstances must apologize for my troubling you on this subject, and requesting the favor of a line, to inform us in this quarter, what the prospects are with re- spect to our petition, and what measures have, or are likely to be taken, with respect to settling the Ohio country.
I shall take it as a very particular favor, sir, if you will be kind enough to recommend me to some character in Con- gress, acquainted with, and attached to the Ohio cause, with whom I may presume to open a correspondence.
I am, sir, with the highest respect, your humble servant,
RUFUS PUTNAM.
Gen. Washington."
In June, he received the following reply from Gen. Wash- ington :
" MOUNT VERNON, June 2d, 1784.
DEAR SIR: I could not answer your favor of the 5th of April, from Philadelphia, because Gen. Knox, having mis- laid, only presented the letter to me in the moment of my departure from that place. The sentiments of esteem and friendship which breathe in it, are exceedingly pleasing and flattering to me, and you may rest assured they are reciprocal.
I wish it was in my power to give you a more favorable account of the officers' petition for lands on the Ohio, and its waters, than I am about to do. After this matter, and information respecting the establishment for peace, were my inquiries, as I went through Annapolis, solely directed ; but I could not learn that anything decisive had been done in either.
On the latter, I hear Congress are differing about their powers ; but as they have accepted of the cession from Vir- ginia, and have resolved to lay off ten new states, bounded by latitudes and longitudes, it should be supposed that they 7
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would determine something respecting the former, before they adjourn ; and yet I very much question it, as the latter is to happen on the 3d, that is to-morrow. As the Congress who are to meet in November next, by the adjournment will be composed from an entire new choice of delegates in each state, it is not in my power, at this time, to direct you to a proper correspondent in that body. I wish I could ; for per- suaded I am, that to some such cause as you have assigned, may be ascribed the delay the petition has encountered; for surely, if justice and gratitude to the army, and general policy of the Union were to govern in this case, there would not be the smallest interruption in granting its request. I really feel for those gentlemen, who, by these unaccountable de- lays, (by any other means than those you have suggested,) are held in such an awkward and disagreeable state of sus- pense ; and wish my endeavors could remove the obstacles. At Princeton, before Congress left that place, I exerted every power I was master of, and dwelt upon the argument you have used, to show the propriety of a speedy decision. Every member with whom I conversed, acquiesced in the reasonableness of the petition. All yielded, or seemed to yield to the policy of it, but plead the want of cession of the land, to act upon; this is made and accepted ; and yet mat- ters, as far as they have come to my knowledge, remain in statu quo."
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