NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. No. LXXI.-APRIL, 1856.-VOL. XII ISRAEL PUTNAM. ERE is a region known in the early annals of Massachusetts Bay as Salem Village, and in modern gazetteers as Danvers. There still blooms, in every lovely May-time, the pear-tree planted by the hand of Endicott, the persecutor of Quakers and Churchmen; and there, according to the credulous Mather and the mummied legislation of the Puritan magistrates, was the centre of enchanted ground many long years ago, when a belief in Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by Harper and Brothers, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. witchcraft was a part of the social creed, and its | son of an early settler in Salem. He had aldenial a heresy not easily forgiven by the magnates of church and state in the New England capital. The pear-tree had then bloomed for half a century, and witches suddenly became as plentiful as its buds on All-Fools' Day. Weird sisters were not seen around seething caldrons, concocting deadly potions of "Eye of newt and toe of frog, For a charm of powerful trouble" yet the lynx-eye of superstition in authority beheld, in almost every household, "a woman with a familiar spirit," as palpable as was the dweller in the cave at Endor to the vision of the bad king of Israel. The enchantment was brief in operation, terrible in its results, and shameful to its promoters and dupes. When the spell was broken, all sought to forget the follies of Salem witchcraft. Although angels of peace ministered to the disturbed in spirit, the charmers in Puritan households were not exorcised. Wherever there was a daughter blooming in young womanhood, there was witchery irresistible; and ever since, even to this day, all over New England, far beyond the charmed circumference of Salem Village "the centre and first-born of all the towns in the colony"-such enchantresses have been, and are now, continually disturbing the frigid peace of bachelordom, and "afflicting" the weak Malthusians. PUTNAM'S BIRTH-PLACE. One of these, a sweet, round-faced, blackeyed, rosy-cheeked daughter of a Suffolk immigrant, bewitched the affections of an excellent We are indebted to Mr. M. C. Oby, of Danversport, Massachusetts, for accurate pencil sketches of Putnam's birth-place, and the room in which he was born, from which our engravings have been made. ready built a modest house in the midst of his fertile acres, almost within sound of the warbling birds in the branches of the old pear-tree in Endicott's garden. Under that roof, for more than forty summers, he lived happily with his charmer; and as years rolled on, the ringing laugh of their merry children around the hearth-stone at Christmas-time, or in their gambols upon the lawn in flowery June, echoed the joy of those two loving hearts. One of that group of merry children became a devoted patriot and courageous hero in the conflicts of two wars, and won for himself a name as imperishable as the hills in whose presence his valor was vindicated by his deeds. That patriot and hero was ISRAEL PUTNAM. In the large room of the modest dwelling of Captain Putnam, where low projecting beams and capacious fire-place-preserved until our day-attest its early origin, Israel Putnam was born, on the 7th of January, 1718. A stately, high-backed chair, a small table, a mirror, and one or two other pieces of furniture which graced the parlor at his birth, are preserved with care as family relics of much interest. They appreciate in value as the mould of antiquity deepens upon them. From earliest boyhood Israel was remarkable for his personal courage, his resolute maintenance of his known rights, and as a lover of generous deeds.. These traits of character developed with his physical growth. Like Nelson, he might have asked in sincerity - "Fear! What is fear? I never saw it." His frankness was as natural as it was free. He despised concealment, and hated dissimulation. His courage was often stronger than his discretion, and his intrepidity in military life sometimes appeared like recklessness. His selfesteem and sensitive spirit, regulated by a sound judgment and exalted ideas of right, always vindicated the true dignity of his character; and he would never allow himself to be insulted with impunity. On his first visit to Boston, while yet a small boy, he was jeered in the streets by a lad twice his age and size, because of the coarse quality and rustic fashion of his clothes. Israel's indignation was kindled in a moment. He challenged his persecutor to fight, and in the presence of a crowd of cheering spectators, the little chubby "pump kin" from the fields whipped the big town boy to his heart's content. When on the verge of early manhood, he over heard a neighbor's son, a proud, rustic coxcomb, speak disparagingly of another neighbor's daughter. Young Putnam immediately demanded proof of the truth of his assertion. The offender, richer in this world's goods, but poorer in spirit than his questioner, haughtily replied, "It's none of your business." "It's any body's business to defend a good girl," quickly responded Putnam, as he walked close up to the defamer. "I know you have slandered Nelly P. You think because she is a poor girl, and has no father, that you may say what you please about her. Twice you've done the same thing. Now own to Charley Dhere, that you've lied about Nelly, or I'll thrash you." The slanderer was, as usual, a poltroon, and quailed before these expressions of the chivalry of his earnest, rough-fisted neighbor. He acknowledged the libel, and avoided the inevitable chastisement. Young Putnam's education was exceedingly limited, for his father was in moderate circumstances, and required his labor on his farm. There he worked faithfully, and acquired robust health and industrious habits-the richest legacies a young man can receive from a parent. Before he had reached lawful age he married a daughter of John Pope, of Salem, who bore him ten children, and then died, just as the stormclouds of popular discontent were beginning to gather darkly in the political firmament, presaging that tempest in which her husband became so distinguished a few years later. Soon after his marriage Putnam bought a tract of new land in Pomfret, Connecticut, about forty miles east of Hartford, and applied himself diligently to its improvement. For years he contended manfully with the rough soil, and the numerous wild beasts that ravaged his flocks and his poultry-yard, and conquered. Industry, perseverance, and skill were brought to bear with surprising effect upon his shaggy domain, until soon its rough features disappeared, prosperity and plenty sat in fond dalliance upon his threshold, and he was regarded as one of the most thrifty farmers in all that region. Putnam's unflinching courage was forcibly illustrated by his dealing with a she-wolf, who, with her annual whelps, had committed great depredations in the neighborhood for a long time. In one night, in the spring of 1743, seventy of his fine sheep and goats were killed, and several others were maimed, by the depre dator. Her young were generally soon destroyed by the hunters, but the old dam eluded their most earnest vigilance and skill. When too closely beset, she would fly to the deep forests westward of Pomfret, and return the following season with a new family of young ones. Finally, Putnam and several of his neighbors agreed to hunt the marauder to destruction, if possible. The toes of one of her feet had been bitten off by a trap, and her tracks were easily recognized in the snow. On one occasion, early in April, she was thus tracked to the borders of the Connecticut River, from whence she had retraced her steps toward Pomfret. The dogs, in full cry, chased her into a rocky cavern, about three miles from Putnam's house, and there the people collected and tried to drive her out by the use of ignited straw and sulphur. The dogs were sent in, and they came out howling, with bad wounds, and refused to return. Putnam tried to persuade his negro servant to go down and shoot her, but he would not venture. Irritated by the fellow's cowardice, and aroused by his impatience to destroy the pest of the neighborhood, Putnam cast off his coat, waistcoat, shoes, and stockings, tied a rope to one of his legs with which to signal danger and receive aid, if required, and lighting some birch-bark for a torch, he descended the smooth rocks into the black cavern, in spite of the earnest remonstrances of his friends, who tried to dissuade him from the perilous effort. He soon discovered the eye-balls of the wolf glaring angrily in the light of his torch, and heard her gnashing teeth and menacing growl. He pulled the rope, when his alarmed friends drew him out with so much haste that his shirt was almost stripped from his back and his flesh was badly lacerated. After adjusting his clothing, he loaded his musket with buckshot, and with the weapon in one hand and his lighted torch in the other, he again descended. A growl and the crack of a musket were heard in quick suc cession, and again Putnam was drawn out. He descended a third time, took the dead wolf by | cupied the Atlantic seaboard from the Penobthe ears, and both were brought out together, to the great joy of all parties. The conqueror was accounted a model of courage; and when, in after years, he asked for volunteers to accompany him to the wars, his neighbors remembered his adventures with the she-wolf and cheerfully enlisted under his banner. Mr. Putnam was called into the public service at the age of thirty-seven years. For a century the French and English colonies in America had been gradually expanding and increasing in importance. The English, more than a million in number at the period in question, oc scot to the St. Mary's-a thousand miles in extent-all eastward of the great ranges of the Alleghanies, and far northward toward the St. Lawrence. The French, not more than a hundred thousand strong, had made settlements along the St. Lawrence, the shores of the great lakes, on the Mississippi and its tributaries, and upon the borders of the Gulf of Mexico. They early founded Detroit, Kaskaskia, Vincennes, and New Orleans. The English planted agricultural colonies; the French were chiefly engaged in traffic with the Indians. That trade and the operations of Jesuit missionaries, who were usually the self-denying pioneers of com- of Captain, with orders to raise a company. Putmerce in its penetration of the wilderness, gave nam was very popular, and soon after receiving the French great influence over the tribes of a his commission and instructions he was on his vast extent of country lying in the rear of the way to join the gathering army at Fort Edward English settlements. The ancient quarrel be- with a fine corps of respectable and hardy young tween the two nations, originating far back in men of his neighborhood. At the fort he first feudal ages, and kept alive by subsequent col- became acquainted with the famous partisan lisions, burned vigorously in the bosoms of the commander, Robert Rogers, whose corps of Ranrespective colonists in America, where it was gers performed important services during the continually fed by frequent hostilities on front- greater part of the French and Indian War, as ier ground. They had ever regarded each the contest in question was called. With that other with extreme jealousy, for the prize be-partisan he was often associated in perilous enfore them was supreme rule in the New World.terprises and gallant achievements in the vicinThe trading posts and missionary stations of the French in the far northwest, and in the bosom of a dark wilderness, several hundred miles distant from the most remote settlement on the English frontier, attracted very little attention until they formed a part of more extensive operations. But when, after the capture of Louisburg in 1745, the French adopted vigorous meas-ployed as Rangers from the commencement. ures for opposing the extension of British power in America; when they built strong vessels at the foot of Lake Ontario-made treaties of friendship with the Delaware and Shawnee tribes-strengthed Fort Niagara, and erected a cordon of fortifications, more than sixty in number, between Montreal and New Orleans, the English were aroused to immediate and effective action in defense of the territorial claims given them in their ancient charters. ity of Lakes George and Champlain; and there, with Stark, Pomeroy, Ward, Gage, and others, Putnam learned those useful military lessons which gave him high rank and executive skill when called to the field, twenty years later, in defense of the liberties of his country. Putnam's company appears to have been em No service was better adapted to the daring activity, love of adventure, and masterly invention, skill and bravery in sudden and perilous movements, which always distinguished Putnam. The duties of the Rangers were ceaseless, arduous, and varied. They acted independently of the main army in reconnoitring the position and works of the enemy; guiding their friends; surprising detached parties of their foes; making prisoners by force or stratagem to One of these claims was speedily brought to obtain intelligence; destroying public property an issue, when a company of London merchants belonging to their opponents; cutting off conand Virginia land-speculators commenced erect. voys of provisions, arms, and clothing, and acting a fort at the forks of the Ohio, and the French ing as scouts on all occasions. Caution, cooldrove them off. For a year and a half the dis-ness, prudence, and bravery were the chief repute rested chiefly between the French and the quisites. Although Rogers, in his Journal pubVirginians, and during that time young Wash-lished after the war, rarely mentions Putnam, ington won his first military laurels. The other contemporary records show that they often actcolonies gradually became implicated, and, early ed in concert, though independent of each othin 1755, General Braddock came over with Brit- er, and that they were intimate friends during ish regulars to assist the Americans. At a con- the period of their service. ference between Braddock and several colonial governors, held at Alexandria, in Virginia, three separate expeditions against the French were planned. One was in the direction of the Ohio, to be led by General Braddock; a second against Niagara and Frontenac (now Kingston, Upper Canada), to be commanded by Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts; and a third against Crown Point, on Lake Champlain, under General William Johnson, then an influential resident among the Mohawk Indians. Governor Shirley had already arranged a fourth expedition, under General Winslow, destined to drive the French from Nova Scotia and other parts of Acadia. One of the earliest enterprises in which Putnam and Rogers were engaged, was a reconnoissance of the enemy's fortifications at Crown Point, then known as Fort Frederick, and much inferior to the regular works constructed there by the English under Amherst in 1759. The French possessed unbounded influence over the Indian tribes on both sides of the St. Lawrence, and great numbers of these dusky warriors were in alliance with the Gallic forces. Their knowledge of the country in the deep forests in Northern New York was of great service to the French, and made the operations of the English more perilous, for there was danger of ambuscade on every side. Yet these perils were cheerfully braved by the partisans. They left Fort Edward on a sultry morning in August. At the Early in the summer of 1755 he was southern point of West (now Bulwaggy) Bay, a promoted to brigadier; and in July he had col- short distance from Crown Point, they left their lected about six thousand Provincial troops on men concealed among some dwarf willows, and the Upper Hudson, and commenced a fortifica- at the evening twilight the two leaders, a little tion which was named Fort Edward. Among distance apart, stole cautiously toward the fortthe earliest of his Connecticut recruits was Is- ress. They passed the night within a few rods rael Putnam, to whom he gave the commission of the ravelins, made all necessary observations Johnson's chief officer was General Lyman, of Connecticut, who, as colonel of militia, had been very active in raising troops in that province. |