Israel Putnam was born on Jan. 7, 1718. He parents opposed the Salem Witch Trials. They signed a petition to exonerate the elderly Rebecca Nurse, but it failed. When he reached adulthood, he bought farmland in Connecticut. He became famous in the area when he crawled into a wolf’s den to shoot the sheep-slaughtering wolf. He acquired the nickname “Wolf Put” as a result. In 1755, at age 37, he enlisted in the militia to fight in the French and Indian War. He served in Rogers’ Rangers and had several adventures. He was credited with saving Robert Rogers’ life. He was captured by the Indians at one point and was to be burned at the stake when a rain storm saved him. Later, a French officer prevented another execution attempt. He survived a shipwreck on the way to Cuba as part of a British expedition. After the war her returned to farming, but with the reputation of being the leading soldier in Connecticut. He was one of the founders of Connecticut’s Sons of Liberty. All though without formal education, his gregarious personality made him popular. He favored independence and when he heard about Lexington and Concord, he dropped his plow, hopped on his horse, and rode 100 miles in eight hours to join the army. He was 57. This was in character for a man who was known for his boldness and shoot first philosophy. He was appointed a major general, second in command to Artemus Ward. He was noted as a strict disciplinarian, but beloved by his troops. They called him “Old Put”. He was one of the confusing command structure at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He is credited with choosing to fortify Breed’s Hill, but also had some say in fortifying Bunker Hill as a backup position. He inspired the men on Breed’s Hill with motivational words as he mingled with them as they constructed the redoubt. He counseled the men to aim low (soldiers had a tendency to fire over the heads of their enemies) and target the officers (which was distinctly against the code of honor of European warfare). He is one of several claimants to the famous “don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” (In my opinion, he is the one who said it.) After that battle, he became Washington’s second in command for the defense of New York City. He was in command at the Battle of Long Island and was blamed for poor security in allowing the British to outflank him. Washington exonerated him, but his career went down after this. He suffered a paralyzing stroke in 1779 and died in 1790.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Putnam
https://allthingsliberty.com/2016/08/general-israel-putnam-reputation-revisited/
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