ing mistakes, or rescuing from oblivion the actions of that distinguished veteran; should it create an emulation to copy his domestic, man and heroic virtues; or should it prompt some more skilful hand to portray the illustrious group of patriots, sages, and heroes, who have guided our councils, fought our battles, and adorned the memorable epocha of independence, it will be an ample compensa "To Lieutenant Colonel DAVID HUMPHREYS, A. D. Camp. "SIR, "You are immediately to proceed to West Point, and "communicate the business committed to you, in confidence, to "Major General Heath, and to no other person whatsoever: from "thence you will repair to the detachment at the White Plains, on "Friday next, taking measures to prevent their leaving that "place before you get to them. And in the course of the suc"ceeding night you may inform the commanding officer of the "enterprise in contemplation against the enemy's posts on York "Island. "As the troops are constantly to lie on their arms, no previous "notice should be given: but they may be put in motion precisely "at 4 o'clock, and commence a slow and regular march to King's"bridge, until they shall discover or be informed of the concerted "signals being made, when the march must be pressed with the greatest rapidity. Parties of horse should be sent forward to "keep a look out for the signals. "Although the main body ought to be kept compact, patroles of "horse and light parties might be sent towards East and West "Chester: and upon the signals being discovered, Sheldon's regi"sment and the Connecticut State troops (which may also be put "in motion as soon as the orders can be communicated after 4 "o'clock) should be pushed forward to intercept any of the enemy, "who may attempt to gain Frog's Neck, and to cut off the Refu66 gee-corps at Morissania. A few men, with some address, may "spread such an alarm as to prevent an attempt of the enemy to "retreat to Frog's Neck, from an apprehension of surrounding "parties. You will communicate these instructions to the commanding "officer of the detachment, who, upon his approach to King's"bridge, will receive orders from me as early as possible. "Should the signals not be discovered, the troops will halt at "least six miles from the bridge, until further intelligence can be " obtained. tion for the trouble, and excite a consolatory reflection through every vicissitude of life. 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, on the 7th day of January, 1718. His father, Captain Joseph Putnam, was the son of Mr. John Putnam, who, with two brothers, came from the south of England, and were among the first settlers of Salem. When we thus behold a person, from the humble walks of life, starting unnoticed in the "The absolute necessity of the most perfect secrecy is the occa"sion of communicating my orders through this channel. "Given at Head Quarters, Passaic Falls, Never was a plan better arranged and never did circumstances promise more sure or complete success. The British were not only unalarmed, but our own troops were likewise entirely misguided in their expectations. The accidental intervention of some vessels prevented at this time the attempt; which was more than once resumed afterwards. Notwithstanding this favourite project was not ultimately effected, it was evidently not less bold in conception or feasible in accomplishment, than that attempted so successfully at Trenton, or than that which was brought to so glorious an issue in the successful siege of York-Town. It is true the Marquis de Chastelleux, whose professional knowledge and fountain-head intelligence have enabled him to describe several actions better than they are elsewhere described, speaks in this instance of an ulterior object; and says, that secrets were preserved more inviolably in the American than in the French army. His words are: "C'est que le secret est garde tres exactement a l'armee Amer"icaine; peu de personnes ont part a la confiance du Chef, et en "general on y parle moins que dans les armees Francoises des "operations de la guerre, et de ce que l'on appelle shez nous les "Nouvelles." career of fame, and, by an undeviating progress through a life of honour, arriving at the highest dignity in the state, curiosity is strongly excited, and philosophy loves to trace the path of glory from the cradle of obscurity to the summit of elevation. Although our ancestors, the first settlers of this land, amidst the extreme pressure of poverty and danger, early instituted schools for theeducation of youth designed for the learned professions, yet it was thought sufficient to instruct those destined to labour on the earth, in reading, writing, and such rudiments of arithmetic as might be requisite for keeping the accounts of their little transactions with each other. Few farmers' sons had more advantages, none less. In this state of mediocrity it was the lot of young Putnam to be placed. His early instruction was not considerable, and the active scenes of life in which he was afterwards engaged, prevented the opportunity of great literary improvement. His numerous original letters, though deficient in scholastic accuracy, always display the goodness of his heart, and frequently the strength of his native genius. He had a certain laconic mode of expression, and an unaffected epigrammatic turn, which characterised most of his writings. To compensate partially for the deficiency of education (though nothing can remove or counterbalance the inconveniencies 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. While we leave the qualities of the understanding to be developed in the process of life, it may not be improper, in this place, to designate some of the circumstances which were calculated to distinguish him afterwards as a partizan officer. Courage, enterprize, activity, and perseverance were the first characteristics of his mind. There is a kind of mechanical courage, the offspring of pride, habit, or discipline, that may push a coward not only to perform his duty, but even to venture on acts of heroism. Putnam's courage was of a different species. It was ever attended with a serenity of soul, a clearness of conception, a degree of self-possession, and a superiority to all the vicissitudes of fortune, entirely distinct from any thing that can be produced by the ferment of blood, and flutter of spirits; which not unfrequently, precipitate men to action, when stimulated by intoxication or some other transient exhilaration. The heroic character, thus founded on constitution and animal spirits, cherished by education and ideas of personal freedom, confirmed by temperance and habits of exercise, was completed by the dictate of reason, the love of his country, and an invincible sense of duty. Such were the qualities and principles that enabled him to meet unappalled, the shafts of adversity, and to pass in triumph through the furnace of affliction. His disposition was as frank and generous as his mind was fearless and independent. He disguised nothing; indeed he seemed incapable of disguise. Perhaps in the intercourse he was ultimately obliged to have with an artful world, his sincerity, on some occasions, outwent his discretion. Although he had too much suavity in his nature to commence a quarrel, he had too much sensibility not to feel, and too much honour not to resent an intended insult. The first time he went to Boston he was insulted for his rusticity by a boy of twice his size and age; after bearing the sarcasms until his patience was worn out, he challenged, engaged, and vanquished his unmannerly antagonist, to the great diversion of a crowd of spectators. While a stripling, his ambition was to perform the labour of a man, and to excel in athletic diversions. In that rude, but masculine age, whenever the villageyouth assembled on their usual occasions of festivity, pitching the bar, running, leaping, and wrestling were favourite amusements. $ At such gymastic exercises (in which, during the heroic times of ancient Greece and Rome, conquest was considered as the promise of future military fame) he bore the palm from almost every ring. Before the refinements of luxury, and the consequent increase of expences had rendered the maintenance of a family inconvenient or |