Putnam, Israel

Putnam, Israel (1718–90) Revolutionary War army officer. Shortly after his marriage in 1739, Putnam and his bride moved from his native Massachusetts to Connecticut, where they bought a large parcel of land, which they farmed. During his service in the French and Indian War (1754–63), Putnam became known for his resourcefulness and vigor; he was captured in 1758, tortured, and made to endure forced marches. He was finally ransomed a few months later. He also fought in Pontiac's Rebellion in 1764 but saw little action. Putnam was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1766; he was also an organizer of the Sons of Liberty in eastern Connecticut and became chairman of its committee of correspondence. After Lexington and Concord (both 1775), he was named brigadier general of the Connecticut militia and marched his troops to Boston, where he was named a major general of the Continental army. Putnam was placed in charge of defending Bunker Hill, the first engagement at which the Continentals, although ultimately ceding the ground to the British, held their own against the much better trained and equipped Redcoats. Putnam was second only to Gen. George Washington in planning the Battle of New York (1776), which in the event was a disaster for the Continentals; Putnam received most of the blame for the debacle. His defense of Philadelphia (1776–77) was more successful.

Putnam is credited with exhorting his men, as they prepared for the Battle of Bunker Hill, “Don't one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes.”