An Essay on the Life of the Honourable Major-General Israel Putnam

Letter to the Honourable Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth

Putnam_001-051.indd 1 4/27/12 8:33 AM To the Letter to the Honourable Coloneljeremiah Wadsworth Hon. Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth, President ofthe State Society ofthe Cincinnati in Connecticut, &c. MY DEAR SIR, Unavoidable absence will prevent me from performing the grateful task assigned me by the State Society ofthe Cincinnati on the fourth day ofJuly next. Though I cannot personally address them, I wish to demonstrate, by some token ofaffectionate remembrance, the sense I entertain ofthe honour they have more than once conferred upon me by their suffrages. Meditating in what manner to accomplish this object, it occurred to me, that an attempt to preserve the actions ofGeneral Putnam, in the archives of our State Society, would be acceptable to its members, as they had all served with great satisfaction under his immediate orders. An essay on the life ofa person so elevated in military rank, and so conversant in extraordinary scenes, could not be destitute of amusement and instruction, and would possess the advantage of presenting for imitation a respectable model ofpublic and private virtues. Putnam_001-051.indd 2 4/27/12 8:33 AM The Life ofthe Honourable Major-General Israel Putnam General Putnam is universally acknowledged to have been as brave and as honest a man as ever America produced; but the distinguishing features ofhis character, and the particular transactions ofhis life, are but imperfectly known. He seems to have been formed on purpose for the age in which he lived. His native courage, unshaken integrity, and established reputation as a soldier, were necessary in the early stages of our opposition to the designs of Great-Britain, and gave unbounded confidence to our troops in their first conflicts in the field ofbattle. The enclosed manuscript justly claims indulgence for its venial errors, as it is the first effort in Biography that has been made on this continent. The attempt, I am conscious, is laudable , whatever may be the failure in point ofexecution. I am happy to find the Society ofthe Cincinnati is now generally regarded in a favourable manner. Mankind, with few exceptions , are disposed to do justice to the motives on which it was founded. For ourselves, we can never recall to mind the occasion , without feeling the most tender emotions offriendship and sensibility. At the dissolution ofthe army, when we retired to separate walks of life, from the toils of a successful war, in which we had been associated during a very important part of our lives, the pleasing idea, and the fond hope ofmeeting once a year, which gave birth to ourfraternal institution, were necessary consolations to sooth the pangs that tore our bosoms at the melancholy hour ofparting. When our hands touched, perhaps for the last time, and our tongues refused to perform their office in bidding farewell, heaven witnessed and approved the purity of our intentions in the ardour of our affections. May we persevere in the union of our friendship, and the exertion of our benevolence; regardless of the censures of jealous suspicion, which charges our designs with selfishness, and ascribes our actions to improper motives; while we realize sentiments ofa no2 Putnam_001-051.indd 3 4/27/12 8:33 AM Letter to the Honourable Coloneljeremiah Wadsworth bler nature in our anniversary festivities, and our hearts dilate with an honest joy, in opening the hand of beneficence to the indigent widow and unprotected orphan ofour departed friends. I pray you, my dear Sir, to present my most respectful compliments to the members ofthe Society, and to assure them, on my part, that whensoever it shall be in my power, I shall esteem it the felicity ofmy life to attend their anniversaries. I have the honour to be, With sentiments ofthe highest consideration and esteem, Your most obedient and most humble servant, Mount-Vernon, in Virginia, june 4, 1788 3 D. HUMPHREYS Putnam_001-051.indd 4 4/27/12 8:33 AM ...