That incident gives some idea
of Israel Putnam's temper, and what desperate things he was capable of
doing when his blood was up.
That was in 1735, and twenty years elapsed before he again appeared upon
the page of history. But in 1755 began the great war with France, and
for the next ten years, Putnam's life was fairly crowded with incident.
Connecticut furnished a thousand men to resist the expected French
invasion, and Putnam was put in command of a company with the rank of
captain. His company acted as rangers, and for two years did remarkable
service in harassing the enemy and in warning the settlers against
lurking bands of Indians, set on by the French. On more than one
occasion, he saved his life by the closest margin. He was absolutely
fearless, and this, together with a clear head and quick eye, carried
him safely through peril after peril, any one of which would have proved
the death of a man less resolute.
He saved a party of soldiers from the Indians by steering them in a
bateau safely down the dangerous rapids of the Hudson; he saved Fort
Edward from destruction by fire at the imminent risk of his life,
working undaunted although the flames were threatening, every moment, to
explode the magazine; a year later, captured by the Indians, who feared
and hated him, he was bound to a stake, after some preliminary tortures,
and a pile of fagots heaped about him and set on fire.
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