Beschreibung:

PUTNAM, Israel, Major General, Continental Army . Letter signed ("Israel Putnam") TO JOHN HANCOCK President of the Continental Congress, Peekskill, 25 October 1777. 1 page, folio, integral autograph address panel, free frank "On Public Service," repair to seal hole and a fold separation. PUTNAM EXULTS OVER VICTORY AT SARATOGA Just five days after the American victory over Burgoyne at Saratoga, Putnam, commanding the Hudson Highlands garrisons, sends early reports: "The inclosed you have a Hand Bill & News Paper which I have just Recd. from Fish Kill, I congratulate you upon the pleasing and agreeable Intelligence the[y] contain, from every Prospect of our Army in that Quarter, I think this is the greatest Probability of success, as I could only procure One Hand Bill you'l please to peruse it & then forward the same to Genl. Washington, have Recd. no late accot. from the southward, if anything fresh in that Quarter shall be happy to hear it." Putnam (1718-1790), who had fought in the French and Indian Wars as one of Major Robert Rogers celebrated Rangers, was captured by Indians and rescued just as he was about to be burnt alive. Active in the patriot cause, he was the senior commander at Bunker Hill, and took over for the stricken Sullivan before the Battle of Long Island, but his age and unsuitability for field command became increasingly obvious, and in May 1777 he was assigned the backwater post of the Hudson Highlands. His enquiry about events to the south alludes to Washington's continuing efforts to deflect Howe from capturing Philadelphia. The day after this letter, the British entered Philadelphia. Interestingly, Putnam's letter is addressed to Congress in Trenton, N.J.