es. As both regulars and Provincials were
withdrawn from the north country during the severest of the winter
months, it is likely that the soldier-farmer paid a short visit to his
home; but if so, he was soon back again, on active duty employed, as
early in the spring of 1757 he is reported at Fort Edward.

The author of this biography has seen a most interesting letter, written
in June, 1757, by Lieutenant Samuel Porter, of Captain Putnam's company,
in which there are several references to our hero, as follows:

"I received your letter May 20, at Fort Edward, from Capt. Putnam's
hand.... I have sent you six letters before this. In the last I
told you that Capt. Putnam had took out a number of his men and
also a number of another company and made up a company of
Rangers.... The next day after I wrote to you there was a number of
our Connecticut men out at work with a guard, but the Enemy came
and fired upon them and captivated four of them.... Capt. Putnam
was then out for several days and when he came in he brought a
Frenchman which he took near the Narrows."

Always active, alert, and good-humored, Captain Putnam was the idol of
his men, and easily the most noted of the Provincials. Such was his
nature, however, that he paid no attention to what men said of him, but
always marched in the road that led to duty. Much like him in his
devotion to duty and principle was another of his name, who now appears
in this narrative, having come to Fort Edward in a Massachusetts
regiment, in which he was a private. This was Rufus Putnam, who achieved
a reputation in later years hardly second to that of Israel; in many
respects he surpassed him. These two have been called cousins; but, to
state their exact relationship, Israel's father and Rufus's grandfather
were brothers, or half-brothers. Here is what Rufus Putnam says, in his
Memorandum Book of Family Concerns, respecting his American
ancestry:...

"I am the youngest son of Elisha Putnam, who was the third son of
Edward, grandson of John Putnam, who settled in Salem in 1634.... I
was born the 9th of April, 1738, at Sutton, Massachusetts."

By this it will be seen that Rufus and Israel Putnam were descended from
the same English ancestor, John Putnam; and further, it may be observed,
they had many high qualities in common. What concerns us especially, in
this connection, is the fact that Rufus Putnam had acquired the