Opis: Reflection on Colonel Humphreys' - Author Unknown

Excerpt from Reflection on Colonel Humphreys': Life of General Putnam

The former, by his own showing, derived his information mainly from the latter; the work therefore might with propriety be denominated an autobiography, and the Colonel the amanuensis of the General. He was indeed, at one period of the war, his aid, and in that capacity had a fair opportunity to listen to the recital of the Generals achievements.

It is not proposed to enter into a general review of this work, but merely to select some of the most striking passages, and to apply such observations as the subjects seem to justify. The author, in his prefatory remarks, observes:

The numerous errors and falsehoods relative to the birth and achievements of Major-General Putnam, which have at a former period been circulated with assiduity on both sides of the Atlantic, and the uncertainty which appeared to prevail with respect to his real character, first produced the resolution of writing this essay on his life, and induced the editor to obtain materials from that hero himself. And he seizes with eagerness an opportunity of acknowledging his obligations to Doctor Albigence Waldo, who was so obliging as to commit to writing many anecdotes, communicated to him by General Putnam in the course of the present year. A multitude of proofs might be produced to demonstrate that military facts cannot always be accurately known but by the commander-in-chief and his confidential officers.

Should this essay have any influence in correcting mistakes, or rescuing from oblivion the actions of that distinguished veteran, it will be an ample compensation for the trouble, and excite a consolatory reflection through every vicissitude of life.

It is passing strange, that the achievements of a Major-General in our revolutionary war, if he performed any worthy of notice, should so soon after its close have sunk into oblivion, and that it required the hero himself to trumpet his own fame. The remarks of the biographer might perhaps apply to a subaltern officer, who may have performed heroic actions not recorded in history, and which justice required should be brought into notice. Military operations intended, may be known only to the commander-in-chief, but when put in execution, become notorious. It is in vain, however, that we search for any notable action of the subject of this memoir, in the revolutionary war. He was nearly sixty years old at its commencement; was evidently placed in a station which nature and his education had not qualified him to fill; and was therefore kept in the reserve during nearly the whole period of his service, where no action was expected, and consequently no generalship required. The biographer proceeds:

Israel Putnam, who, through a regular gradation of promotion, became the senior Major -General in the army of the United States, and next in rank to General Washington, was born at Salem, in the province, now State, of Massachusetts, January 7, 1718.To compensate partially for the deficiency of education, though nothing can remove or counterbalance the inconveniences experienced from it in public life, he derived from his parents the source of innumerable advantages in the stamina of a vigorous constitution. Nature, liberal in bestowing on him bodily strength, hardiness, and activity, was by no means parsimonious in mental endowments.

In the year 1739, he removed from Salem to Ponifret, an inland fertile town in Connecticut: having here purchased a considerable tract of land, he applied himself successfully to agriculture. The first years on a new farm are not, however, exempt from disasters and disappointments, which can only be remedied by stubborn and patient industry. Our farmer, sufficiently occupied in building a house and barn, felling woods, making fences, sowing grain, planting orchards, and taking care of his stock, had to encounter the calamities occasioned by drought in summer, blast in harvest

Szczegóły: Reflection on Colonel Humphreys' - Author Unknown

Nazwa: Reflection on Colonel Humphreys' Life of General Putnam (Classic Reprint)
Autor: Author Unknown
Wydawnictwo: FB &c Ltd
Kod paskowy: 9781331343905
Języki: angielski
Ilość stron: 22
Format: 15.2x22.9cm
Oprawa: Miękka

Recenzje: Reflection on Colonel Humphreys' - Author Unknown