The New York herald. [volume], June 12, 1875, Page 3, Image 3

About The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920

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rBUNKER HELL.
Who Commanded the Ameri
cans on June 17, 1775?
Rev. Increase N. Tarboi on General
Putnam's Claim.
+
PRESCOXTS SUBORDINATE POSITION. |
The General from Connecticut the
Real Commander.
Warren Even Taking Orders from the Gen
eral on Horseback.
To the Editor or Tint Ukrai.d:?
The name of General Putnam hat had a some
what curious fortune In our American history.
Knterlng the Revolutionary army at a moment's
warning at the very beginning of the eight
years' struggle, having already reacted the age
of flfty-aeviiu, it was aitorward made a matter of
complaint and faultfinding that he, "being dis
tinguished for his popularity, his integrity and
V*tiiotism, served an thlr.' In command at tno ter
nlnation of tho American Revolution." It Is not,
perhaps, very hard to bear such slaurters as tnat; ;
but the nun who wrote this sertence was trying, >
at the time, to prove that, in the course of
.this wicked and ungrateful world, Inferior men
are petted and honored and superior men are
neglected. Hut, as the sentence was not written
till long after the close of the War of Indepen
dence and when Putnam had been, for a quarter of
m century, sleeping in nis honored grave, we shall
venture to conclude that his contemporaries were
QUlle as well able to judge the man fairly and
correctly as the generations that came afterward.
Indeed, if we are willing to go back to the early ,
papers aud documeuts gathered In suo>t a
worn as ' Force's American Archives," there
will be no great difficulty in reading and under
standing this man's History. The confusion which
has arisen in reference to Putnam's Revolutionary
career has oomc apparently from the attempt of
certain men to rewrite history to snlt local, indi
vidual and family prejudices. It was not until
many years after Pntnam bad ended his course
of eminent public servlco that toese writers
came forward to tarnish his name and give nls
glory to another. There Is one author, whose
name we will not and perhaps need not mention,
who within the last few years has attempted to
blacXen Putnam's memory and to present him be
fore the American people as a kind of early
Benedict Arnold. The old bero Is represented by
tlua writer as bearing traitorous thoughts and
designs in bis breast during the whole ol that
memorable and toilsome 17th of June, 1775. On
the otner hand, It Is in evidence that when Put- j
nam appeared at Cambridge in April of that year, '
the British officers, knowing well the herotc
mould and quality of the man from the remin
sconces of the war of 1756. piled ail their arts and
persuasions to withdraw him from the patriot
cause and bring blm into the Kaglish service.
"Appieioos' Cyclopedia," in Its long article on
Pntnam, says:?"Arriving there (Cambridge) he
was soon sought after by the Brill** officers, who
offered him a commission as major general In the I
royal seivlce and a large pecuniaiy compensation,
both of which he indignantly rejected."
Fl'TNAH'ii AKHIVAI. IN CAMIJRUH1K IN X776.
Putnam came to Cambridge Apill 21, 1775, bear
ing the title of general. But. as we understand
the matter, that was a title conferred by the
people of Connecticut by general coussnt. nis
jeal title at the close of the French War was
colonel. But the masses of the people m Con- I
neaucut, in 1774 and 177S, anticipating the out
break that mast soon omo, had nam-d and desig
nated biun as general. Wheu tue Connecticut
Assembly c me together in May, 1779, he y/*h
officially choson and appointed brigadier general.
But before this ofllcla. appointment his title, aa
conferred by the people of Connecticut, was re
spected In Massachusetts, and hs la coramouly
spoken oi in the Massachusetts records and do u
wntsof that period as gcoeiai, of wulch the lol
lowing minute may serve as an illustration:?
riLori.M lii. VU.TUBMP, I
'ihtirMiny, May i. 17"?. I
RaeoWed, That Oepcral ruiuaiu ami Colonel Porter,
Who ncre. witli others ol tne Committee of Har?ty ap
ti lotad by Uie sa'J committer and the Council of War
> lay KJtne special mailer* t*:or* thu Concresn, b? ad
mitted Into lhi? imuie. ami thai Colonel Warren. Mr.
Eleven* and Colouel Uerrisb i>e ? committee to introduce
the ui. ?
Bat it waa only some three weeks after Dla com
ing to Cambridge that lie waa in ttU? doubtful po
anion u to bia rank and title. Before tbe middle
ol May he waa brigadier general by official ap
pointment.
In the present paper we ahull try ana tell the
story of General Putnam's life (specially in its
connection with the battle of Bunker Ulll) in a
natural and straightforward way, wnn referencea,
?o lar aa may be, to the old dornmeata and reeoraa
au4 proofs for the truth of onr nariatire.
A BRIEF BISTORT.
Israel Putnam waa born in Salem, Ma?e., in the
year 171ft. He belonged to the old race of New
England rarmera, a ?tock from which a great mul
titude of Ulaatrioua men have aprung. He had
?mall advantagea for early education and culture;
but be waa naturally strong In body and in mind.
Ho was formed on a seals of larire proportions.
He waa open, irank, largo hearted and generous,
above all mean and petty jealousies, a sort of Mar
tin Luther In hi* magnetic influence over men.
He lived at Saiem until' the age of twonty-one,
worn he married and removed with bia young
wlfo to Poinfret, Conn. Thoogb the settlements
In the Connecticut Valley and along the ahorea of
the fcound were, at tuts time, mere tnau a
hundred yeara old, yet tbe portion ol the
Btate where Putnam settled waa then
comparatively a new country. Mist Ellen
larned, In her recent unique and valuable
??History of Windham Comity, Connecticut,'' naa
marked the arrival of Pntnam In those parts.
Tnere bad been various troubles and dlatnroancca
of divers sorts before his coming, but, she says (on
page 363i:?"The grievances of Pomfret were
somewhat relieved iu 1789 by the transfer of Mort
Iske into the hands of new proprietors. The
?outn part or Wiltshire (a district oi Pomfret) was
?old by Governor Be'cher to Israel Putnam ana
John Pope, botn of Salem. In the course of tho
year Putnam purchased I'ope'a abare and took
personal possession oi Wiltshire Manor." Here lie
appear* an a bold and substantial young farmer,
lust setting onr upon too active business of life.
Mi's Lamed has also told in a new. minnte and
graphic way tbe woll story, with watch all
American readers are in general familiar.
Putnam continued here, in active labors npon
liia at in. from 173? to tbe rreueh War in 1744. Ue
was a member oi the church and one of the active,
cnterpri!<iug and prominent citlzena of Eastern
Connecticut. At the breaking ont of the French
War he enlisted a company, of which he was made
captain, and reported himseil lor duty at crown
1'oiot. lie aoon ioie to toe rank of major, and
titer nine years of hard and miscellaneous service
e .elt tue army in 17?4 with ibe rank of colonel,
tnd went back to his larm and iarnily.
1HE APVAMAWK OF MILITARY THAINIVO.
It was a most tortunate circumstance lor the
patriot cause at the opening or tne ((evolutionary
war that there wore s > nnny men an tne popular
tide who had reeet\ed * military training and
falued warlike experiences in this war oi 1763.
Almost all the eany officers In tbe Revolutionary
Ar?y haa seen service in tr.e French War. Tnose
Campaign* of 1744 aud onward served tne same
gsseutiai purposa iu tnat day as did our West
romt Acsdem) in our recent rebellion. From the
very bejrinnuiK of tbs dtsitirbHOcs Detween Eng
land and America, through all thoce weary aud
troublous years preceding tho ac'ual outbreak,
Colonel l'atuam watched, with eliarp and caper
?ye, from bis larm in Pomfret, all that was going
?-n. I he battle oi Lexnialoa and Concord was
fought on tne n<tb of April. That battle reported
Itseii to him Just ss soon as messengers cenid
carry the now*, and on the evening of April 21 he
was at tbe headquarters of (Jsnerai Y>ard in
Cambridge. Th'i more common story is that he
was ploughing la the field at tho time tho messen
ger arrived, his son Daniel, then fifteen years of
ape, driving tbe team. Otber uarrativea say bo
was laying stone wall. It matters not whtcb.
V natever'he labor, lie droppad it in an instant,
and forty-eight hours a ter the fight at Lexiugton
was over he waa at Cambridge'. This bo? Daniel
timer camo with bun or followed Immo Mutely alter.
ah older sou, Israel, was a:?o tuon aftci at Catt
?rjdgs captain *>r? CuiMctltut company,
T0? >onriFTi\(. or n.Mitit mil..
Am out cfiiti purpose it lv CHvH-k tue uueHJ^n
r o? General Potnanfi relations to im namo or
Banker Hill, ire will nol stop to dwell upon the
incidents of the twomontha that intervened be
| tween tin arrival at Cambridge and the memor
| able lTth of Jane. It la a plain and open faot, re
vealed in the oomin<>u hlatory ol those dava, that
Putnam did not rellab the careful, Alow movinir,
almost ilmld policy of Ueneral Arteoias Ward,
Gomm>tnaerdo-Chief o! the MsuutaebueetU troopa.
Me was reaieas auder his exceealvo caution and
delay. He vraa for annoying the Urn inn at every
o) en ar d assailable point. Hut Ward hsd It in bla
mind thai toe storm, utter all, might blow over,
i andtnat we outfit not to Irritate the Britlab any
more than we ooald po-Mioly help. It was In the
midst of thla general policy that, somehow the
achome was originated an<t carried In the Com- ;
mittee ot Smcty, 10 fortliv Bunker ItilU All admit
That I'ntnam strongly advocated ibe scheme be
fore the ooouffilltee, and, though It la not abso
lutely certain, it Is very highly probable that be,
more than any other ueraou, originated the plan
Itself.
By the 17th of June there were gathered about
Boston not lar irom 10,000 American trooua,
uooriy armed and poorly organlaed. While these
American forcea were thus gathering the British 1
lorcea were alao rapidly increasing in and around
the cttf. At the time of the battle of Lexington
the Britiah troop* at tbla point numbered about
4,000. But oy the 17th of June there were not far
irum lo.ooo British soldiers in the city or ita im
mediate vicinity. Aud toey were picked r?gl- i
inentH, among the very choicest which England
had to aeud. For tome time betoro the battle of
Bnuker Hill rumors filled the air that the British
were meditating an important movement, gome- j
times the atory ran that they intended to take
possession oi the bigti lauds or Dorchester and
Koxbury, where General Thomas wua stationed,
aud sometimes the high lands or cnarlestown
were thought to be the object toward which
they were alining. The more bold aud active
leaders lu too American camp thought it wiser !
and saier to anticipate this movement o: the
British by taking possession of the Ch<irle?towii
heights and lortiiynig them, Dr. Kills, in hia re
cently published hutory or the bat tie, says that
when tms question came up in the Committee or !
saiety "Ueneral Ward aad Joseph Warren, who
was chairman of the committee of .Safety, * * *
wore dcubtiul about the expediency of intrench
ing on Bunker Hill. Ueneral Putnam was earnest
lu ills advocacv ol the measure/' The Committee
of safety, though divided in sentiment, by a ma
jority said "yes" to a plan wblcn was so near
Ueneral Putnam's heart. General Ward votod i
against It, and Ueneral Warren, chairman ol the
committee, voted against It, but the plan was
adopted.
WHO WAS COMMAXDKK t .
Ahd now we wish to take np definitely the ques
tion, Wiio was the chief commander at the battle 1
of Hunker Hilly It is an old question, but not
quit > so old as the battle la. It was discussed with
considerable spirit about a quarter of a century I
ago, aud it la anu wlli be discussed moic rally and
carefully during una Ceateunial year. There are
only two names in dispute. Colonel William Prea- i
cott and General Israel Putnam. One ol the Bos
ton morning papers of this very day on wl.icli we
write quietly assumes that His v. Dr. George E. j
Kills, Oi Boston, and Mr. Itlchard Protbiugham, or
Charlestown, oy their older and rcceut.publica
Hons, have rattled the question in lavorof colonel
l'rescott, and that their conclusion will be ao
cepted by the American people as final authority
on that point. On the contrary, we think wo can
show, even within the limns oi a newspaper arti
cle, that the case is quite otherwise, aud that
clearly Putnam was the chief commander that day
on the field.
No one can nave any desire to take away from
brave Colonel l'rescott one lots of me honor that
really belongs to him, bat If Boston or Masas'hu
aetts shall insist ou erecting a monument to Pres
cott, as the commander in that battle, it will ba
one of those exhibitions of local pride in opposi
tion to tue ti uth or history that will be little to
their credit. No one denlea that Colonel William
Prescott waa the man sent out from Cambridge
on the night or June lo with a thousand or twelve ;
hundred men to build thoae lntrcncomenu on
Bunker Hill. It was a boid and romantic move*
nient and brought Preacott'a name conspicuously
beiore the people. But tbla settles nothing as to
the chief command next day. it is a common fact !
in military affairs tnat a subordinate officer is I
tnus act forward to superintend preliminary
work. Inaeed, in military u.tage. it is evidence
againat rather than lor colonel l'rescott, an chlel
commauder, tnat be was sent lorward to do
this work. And even in the buainess of tills night
he was not chlel, lor he was acting under Coloael
Gridley, tlie engineer. Sumo writers try to make
It appoar that General Putnam was not at Hunker i
Hill that night. But Mr. troibingiiaui and stan
dard writers generally admit taai he was there
In the early uipbt, engaged in earnest con-uita
tiou as to the point where the redoubt should
Bi.and. Mr. t'rothlngnam aaya, "The veteran
Coluuel Grldley an<l two generals one of whom
was General Putnam, took part in it" (/. t. the
consultation), 'rhe lact tnat Putnam was there, j
and. after the spot was fixed upon, went back to
Cambridge, leaving Prescott io superintend the
men at their work, all this at the \ery outset, la
military evidence tnat Putnam was the superior
ol Prescott in tnts whole business.
But tnat brier algbt oi naid lull passes, and the
memorable day of the battle dawua. Putuam is
ou that field us brigadier gune-ai. aud Piesuott la
there as coloncl ol a .Massachuso i- regliueut. No
one deuies that Putuam was a very active man
ihat day, bosy in all directions, hurrying to an3
iro an ni? wmte horse, uack and lorta across tue
Neck and over ever/part oi the lit id. Or course, ;
l>v all military tt*age, he is the enperior of Pres- 1
cott. ir hats uot Presoott's military superior it
la simply because a gcner.il from Connecticut
might be commanded by a colonel trora Massa
chusetts. But there was no sucu contagion of
military titles. A general irom either or the
New Kugland State* was respected as a
general, lbuugh the Spates were not as yet
well compacted and organize*, it never
would have oeeu submitted to for a moment tnat
a captain of a colonel or a general, If of Massa- 1
cbuetta appointment, should be regarded as
aometuing uiguer aud mora arlstooralic than men
beat lug the same titles from tue other States.
The proof at the start, therefore, la ao -trong tnat
Putnam waa the commander, that only very ex
ceptional proofa can poaaibiy aet aside that
primary and natural conclusion. Wairen and
I'omeroy, with the rank or generals (Warren i>u
lng major general), both waived their right to
command, but Putnam did not, and, not doing so.
he waa the commander by all military law and
usage.
And we do well to dwell a moment ou this point
oi "waiving the right to command," Mr. Piotnmg- !
bam faiihrnlly and honorably relatea a fact fitted 1
eoniicutly to throw ligat on the general questlou
now before us. W? quote from his recent werk,
"liattle oi Hunker Hiil," pa?o 36. He is describing
th? coame takeu by General Warren that day
"Here, at tne Neck, he left his horse and walked
up Bunker Illil, wncre one of bis stu
dents, \\ itliam EustLs, subsequently Governor, ,
aerved on thla day as surgeon, and inence dowa
the hill to the rail lence. Here he met Putnam,
who afftrtrt to receive ordert/tx>i* him (we under
score these word*). Hut Warren replied, '1 am
here only aa a volunteer,' " Ac.
Ho.lister, in hia ??History of Connecticut," haa
aet this scene in lta more lull aad dramatic light,
as ine story la gathered from aome of the old nar- j
rauves. But he emboJIea no Heina aa facta be
yond suck aa are allowel by those Massachusetts
writers, who claim Preacott as commander. War
reu. when be comes upon th* fiold, is represented
as mee'lng Putnam near tha lence, and the foi- \
lowing conversation ensuea:?
A I'lAI.O<;t C DKTWKKN PtTNAM AND WARRKM.
Pitnam?I'm sorry to aee you here, Genera:
Warren; 1 wish you had left the day to us, aa I
auvised you. Prom appearances wo ?or\U na>e a
sharp tune uf It, but ali.ee you are bare I'll receive
your ordera witi pleasure.
Warkbn?I caina only aa a ?oiante?r. I krjow
nottiing oi your dispositions and will not Interfere
wltn them. Tell me where 1 can b? mast useful. |
Putnam (pointing to tha redoubt; ? l'ou will be
covered there.
Warbbn?Don't th.nk I come here to seek a .
place ol safety; but tall ma wuere the onaet will
be the moat furious t
Pitnam (a^aiii pointing to the redoubt) ?Titat
is the enemy'a object; Presooit.ls mere, and will
do his duty, Ac.
This in substance, as we have already said, la
given lu Mr. iTotblngham s narrative and lu
many Massacbuaetia histories. Hat how out of
joint it is with the theory that Prea<-ott la the
chief commander. If thla had been su. General
Wairen. who knew all tha facts and relations of
that day psrfactiy wall, would not Drat have
atop to talk to Geccral Putnam on a Doint Ilka
tnis, but would bars reported hlmseir directly to
Colonel l'rescott. And certainly Putnam would
not have been guilty of tne ioliy of ie.?igtiing the i
chief command to Warren when he had no sucu
command to reaiga. When General Warren met
Putnam ne evidently regarded Putnam as the
chiei oilicer vn the field, and hence this conversa
tion. Take another factaa recorded by Mr. Kruih
lughatn; for we preier Jost now to take lacts ad
?rlttea by tnoae who wrlta in behalfx>r Prescott.
It shows bow difficult it la. even for them, so to
tell the atory oi the battle that their narrativea
aball not diannctly point to Putnam as the chief
commander, w a quote Ho n page *7 of Mr. Froth
Ingham's recent book;?
General rotunin, who was on Ms war to tns heights,
? ? ? rodi- on liors?'iiack to the redouiit snd tots Cvio
nel Trescott? as Ueneral Heath first relate* tiio clrcum
Manre-that the intrenching tools must be *ent off, ..r
they would be io^t. The colonel replied that if he tent
any of the men away with the tools not one of them
would rrturn. To this the Ueneral sn*wered"ihev
shall every man return." A larae aarty was then .etit
nlT with the tools, and not one of them returned. In this !
instance the Coivnsl was the tx-st Judge of human nature.
a Isrrs psrt of the tools were 'srrl 'd no lar.ber than
Bunker Hill, wbere, hy tienerai Putnam'* order, the
men heijan to throw nit a l>rea?t.vora Must of tne tools
tell into the hands of the sntmr.
Very naturally they did aa tha day turoed, ami
still more quickly wonld tbey have fallen to tne
enemy if tney bad bean kept at the radouot. fliit
the. nueatinn here la not what b?cam' ?f the tools
or wiio was tha heat judge of human nature, bat
who had power and authority to issue military
commands. Thase toola and tho?c ni n, even
irom thu redouttt, where Prescjtt had apcclai
cnarge, as admitted ny nil wsitera, w. nt "omcUow
where Pat Bam ordered tnem to t>e carried and
were used according to his tllrsctlon, and tee*
went in spits of all Prescott'a .? gg siiolj to tat
cunuary.
Ay ILi rSTKSilft!*.
Let us novice still au . thcr very pleasant bit of
evidcnca looking m the aauie direction. Mr. j
prothtngham, to giva interest and value to his
neat little volume. Just Issued, baa republished in
it an old picture, described aa follows :-"l lie exact
view af tne battie is reproduced rrom an American
fiiifavin? at 1770. Itnrpea'Cdinaredaeed form in i
tMPtntliyU'eiiun IMyufn? oi that year." This is 1
a rude, t ut -pirntd and ;atciCFiing oM pt< ture. in
tilts lira*iii*. aa la utk*. ii- ?.?JU_lj4A u, h ad.
flfrorea are introduced to indicate important
, ? ?re f*? oin< 01 tn*,ie Indicative ft?
Etr1,.B.0?ton ? * ""hrlestown; ? Breed'sHtl! ti,
Provincial breauwork; 5. retreating regular*: ?,
irlgate; 7, bomerset; 8, broken officer, and 9, Gea
51? ? *'utufi'n- That picture, with Its Illustrative
readings, snows entirety to our satisfaction how
the men of 1775 understood history. The ouiy per
?ou mentioned byname la General i'utnaui, and
''?Is seated on a borso, with nia aword drawn,
??. ."i tliat I'lotore he is moat unmistakably
pointed out as the commander. And mis picture,
in souiu unfortunate way, got Into Mr. Frothing
nam * book, who lb the cblei of all waters on the
Prescott tide.
Anu in the matter of plcturea we hare still
more Important proof, and euch am rise * almost
to the dignity or documentary evidence. Vt oeu
Colonel John Trumbnil painted bis celebrated
picture 01 the "Battle of Bunker Hill,'' In 1786,
only three years alter tbo close of the war, lie
puts Pninam in tbe picture aa commander. Now
consider who this John Trumbull whs. and what
were bla opportunities for knowledge. He was
the eon ol Governor Jonathan Tromtmll, 01 Con
necticut, who stands jiext to Washington In the
services he rendered to the country during that
etgnt years' struggle. Drake, in Ills "Nk.grai.hl
cal Dictionary,'' says of Governor Trumbull
c?iald?red (he whig Wrier in New England
while the Adamses and Hancock wsre In Congress and
during Uie whole contest was relied on hy Washington
as one ol his main pillars of support. The phrase some
times used by tiiin, "Let us see what Brother Jonaihuu
?ay?. is suppos e! to have origiuatod the homorous term
fregueutly applied to the United states llnu
Mr. Drake had no need to make the onallflcatlon
lie does. For though the Adamses and Hancock
may nave done more to rouse the people to resist
ance, their services during the war cannot well be
coruparw to those of Governor Trumbull, By the
peculiar charter ol Connecticut, Trumbull was a
patriot Governor, elected by the people, and the
Brush government nad no vo o on their
choice. By this singular position, as well
as bv his rare virtues as a calm, strong Christian
man, he was truly the right hand mail of Wash
ington; and Colonel John Trumbull, the painter,
was his son. At mis Household, in Lebanon
Conn., every important event of the war re
ported Itself ai soon as messengers coul<i carry
the news. Moreover, this son was at Cambridge
as adjutant of the First Connecticut regiment
soon alter the battle of Lexington. Fie afterward
became aid to Washington In that very tuinmer.
li auy man had access to the tacts of those
times John Trumbull, the painter, had such '
access. And besides all tills, a painter must, In
the nature of the case, study his stmject and give
continued and thoughtful attention to his group
ings, and no one, so lar as we are aware, ever
accused Trumbull of attempting to perpetrate an
historical lie when he painted that picture. As ,
he wrought at his toll he was !<reatMug tne very
air of contemporary history. The men were alivo
all about him who had taken part In that battle,
atui when his picture is (Inlshod Putnam rises out
ol that tumultuous crowd at the very moment of
stoimtng me redoubt, at the commander. Dr.
Kills, in a note appended to his history or the
battle, says that the painter, Trumbull, 'a*. Judge
Prescott's (son of coionei Prescott) dinner table,
expressed ins sincere regret at ihe error lie liaU
committed and ins desire and purpose to rectify
it." We know not how long after the battle mis
scene at the dinner table took place or how much
Ol this concession Is to be taken at the courtesy
of a distinguished guest toward a distinguished
host, and wo nave never heara that the painter
made the desired correction. We apprehend if the
muter were earefullv probed, that the mistake
which the painter mav Lave aomitted was a
merely technical one?viz., that of placing Put
nam at that moment in or near the redoubt. But
even In this he was not very far irom historical
truth, for Mr. Piotbingbr.cn himself is authority
lor the following words:?"The redoubt had been
carried und the rout begun.
UfcNR/UI. PUTNAM 1IF.KK ROPE
to the rear of tiie retreatiug troops, and, regard
less of the balls flylnir about him, with bla sword
drawn, and still undaunted in his bearing, urged
them to renew the flgnt in the unfinished worgs ?
Uqt what if he was not exactly in or at the re.
doubt at the moment when the British broke in?
A painter's canvas is a very limited field on wbloh
to paint a battle sceno, aud tne artist must have
liberty in his groupings lu order to bring the chief
figures witniu a small compass. Is there any
record or the time and place in which, over his
own name, Trumbull has certified that he made a
mistake in pamting Putnam an commander at
Bunker liillf *
Trumbull died In 1843 at tbe age of eighty-seven,
and Judge Prescott died lu 1844 at the age of
eighty-two. Probable thirty o> forty years bad
passed after the painting was finished beiore tola i
concession, whatever it was. was made: and we
should set a lar higher value t:pon that evidence
which Trumbull had when he painted than such
as was brought to his notice, by an eniiuont legal
gentiem-in in a case ot sptcial lamily pleaamg
many years aiui w.ird. And besides, if sons can I
be good witnesses, and caM settle such questions
as tnese, Colonel Daniel Putnam, son of General :
Putnam, aud who was with his lather In tne same
bouse through all tho^e scents of 1775 ?
has leit on public iecor.1 his testimony!
He bad as Btrong a belief that bis
father commanded at Bucker Hill as
Judge Prescott could pqaM'Jiy have that bis
fathtr commanded there. Aud the advantage in
this ease mnst certainly rest with the son of Gen
eral Putnam, (or he was an eye witness, at Cam- 1
bridge, through the whole excitement, as Judue
Prescott was n?t. ?
OTHER PROOFS KOB PUTNAM.
Let na go on uuw to other items of proof. The
fact that General Putnam was the oulv officer that
rode on a horse that day is not an unimportant
item of evidence in this connection. This fact
marked his superior rank and position. But a
little transaction, of woich we find tne record in
the dointis of tne Massachusetts Provincial Con
Kress will help to confirm what ba* gone before
(American Archives, 4tn series, vol, li., Dane
1.438)' v *
The committee nspoiuted to InQolre Into the grounds
of a report which hat prevail- 1 io '!?? army that there
has been treachery In some ot tne officers beg leave to
report facts:?Your committee proceeded to ' aaibridne.
walled upon the neutral ulentral Ward) *nd nude him
acquainted with ihetr busiuei.*. He iuloruied your com
mittee tlitt (lencral Putnam had made eomplalut ot an
officer in the train, but by a mivuice in the name tbe
wrjug officer was Confined. \V? applied loi.eucra!
futnam ana other of!l< >-rii, who wcr?' in Uie heat ol tbe
engage uieut. lor tnrthcr int-lllfenee. Uencrai
Putnam inf"rtne'1 us that in tne late action
as he wan riding up Uuukor Hill, he mcl
an otneer o? the train (lrawlng hn rannon down in treat
haste, lie ordered the ?mc< r p> stop and iro baca lie
repited he bad no cartridges The General dismounted
and examined hU boxes and fminj a con?i,ler*b!e Bum
ber ot cartridges, upon which lit ordered him back He
rtinsed until the General threatened him with Imme
diate death, upon whirh he returned up the hill again
but soon decried his pott aud left lbs cauaou. ? ? ?
Cientral Putimm declarrd to your cuinmiuee as his
opinion, that the deteat of that day wai owing to the ill
behavior of tho* that conductcd the artillery and
that one ef thete officer* ought to bv punished' witn
death.
Tbe evidence in the foregoing transaction lies
not so much in tbe fact that tbe committee are
sent by General Ward to Genera! Putnim as the
proper msa to be Inquired of. bat fl^r more in
tnat undisputed right to command vested in Gen
eral Putnam, by which be was abont to inUict upon
an artillery ortlctr tumuury execution i0r ditobe
dience, and if tbe man had net cowed and returned '
be would doubtless nave executed tbat threat
Ibis looks a little like a man "bavmg authority'
that day, and ibis evidence comes directly from
the records of tbe Massachusetts Coagrtes only *
lew days after the battle. " ' *
THE FRIgKDS OK PKRS0OTT
make a point mat Putnam was uoi at toe redoubt
during the day. But we have caught one glimpse >
of blm there, at least, and ne seemed at the time
to be )? command. On the other hand, and with
still more pcrtintuce, we ask for evidence that
Pretcott was out of the redoubt, engaged in any
^eneml superintendence on tbe field, that dtv
e seems, by some of the accounts, to have msife
a living visit to Cambridge during the forenooa, 1
but otnerwise he ai.ptars to have rtmaineii laltb
folly at tne redoubt, as u was his duty to do.
Those that take up so strougly for Prescott, And
themselves also nnder a law of lnfltieece
by whlcb they are Inclined to magnify
overnsucb the importance of wsat was aoae
at the redoubt, we have no disposition to under
va'ue the services there performed. As Putnam
lolrt Warren, "that was the enemy's obiect;" bnt
tney thought in tbe first place, to seourt that ob
ject oy what tbey thought an easv and round,
about way, and tnere tney made their great mis
take. The eatllett and heaviest losses were not
indicted on the MritlMh troops from the redonot
out from behind the r?nce, where the Sew Hamp
shire and Connecticut troops were stationed
(chiefly New Hampshire). It was on the rl ht
wing of the British army uuder Hewe where the
most terrible destruction fell at the first, inat
blow was lofll.-ted cmtfiv by tne New Hampshire
marksmen, under Colonels stark and Read, and the
fewer Connecticut men tinder C.plain Knowlton.
They weie the first to show heron; qualities be
catixe ibey received tne onset of the first attack a
little beiore it struct the redoubt. \\ e do not
meau at ail to imply that Prescott's men woold not
Dave done just at well, aud did not do inst as well
soon afterward. Bpt hi the fortunes ot the battle
and by the British pita oi attlck. the first effort
was to break the rente line, in winch nowe waa
totally unsuccessful and where some of his com
panies and regtuienta were almoat wholly cut to
pie es. And that fence Hue was never broken that
day.
there wit a battle of Bunker ?111, a tery impor
tsnc part of which was < turied entside o: note
earthwork". The redonbt was one aod a verv itu- *
port ant element in the game of btuie. and the
Commander-til thief, ?ue man overlooking and
gutdipg tne wnole inoverneut, would not, as a
matter ol ceurae, remain shut up in that redonbt
Bnt did sny one ever near ol Prescott si abroad
and giving command on the genenl fluid T lie
was at the esriiiwort*. as It was ult builnets to
be, serving as a subordinate ofllcer. He ceuld
not have been shnt up, then, all day If oe bad
been geuerai commander, except luglonoasly.
But t ere was nothing iuslorous about him. lie
was a gran i o'd nero aud brav-^ a* a lion, and hit
mentis, ii they <IM bpt r*a;tze the fact, tnke away '
front his trnc fame and honor wheu thty try to
make him chief comn anrter of that Uaj and yet
keen him shut up in 'ti- carinsorks.
Mr. Kr- tbingnain stuns up the <ase far Pretcott
In this wajt"ihe coucitision wtrrauted by ihe
evidence m that ?ha original de'ncnment was
placed ttnder the orders of Colonel Itescot t, aud '
that no general officer wis anthoriz'jd to com
man* over him during the batuc." Pat of what
lurce Is thl? srgutneni, when ill the writers <Mr.
Fr^tblngham included) put General Warren ht
commander, li he nad not waives tbe riuiit to
commaiul r Many oi thecsriy Au.ericaa and Hrlt- '
|sh accounts con General Warren commander he l
cause they hart not then understood tbe oxa. t
po*l;icn taken by mm ii:?t day. A.nv.1 || w??r?n
would bavp heen commander, 1? unite or Pin
? tt'eei*. ;v ? uaikv"
j %'wm ??*?<??'. r?r m
of t harn^aiwa m?*?, PlckoMirom thf reeords
all oliSum i?M nu ,,,an w* have roomfor,
kSsS"!^' 55M??&iK'S?B
iiul ?7. tt,court martial is instituted
in ihe cnae of iSEl-i, l*u,ltUlu u called to testily
wiih rawirrtii. . ! Raaiamona, who |s charted
hi ?i?7 <?? t?. ne?,ect">K tv obey order*.
no Bay 8, I wafs Bent by colonel soum
?"on" '? General Putuum 0 know If hhi
Wi?i wrh h?UVUOnBJ was wanted."
! i i'.u 0 Beul 10 General Putnam exceot
lor the very obvious reason that Putnam wL
I Xf0J ln midst of the day
cut sav?* J?,m Chester, of Connects
??, J?*1 after dinner, on Saturday, 17th
ill. **'kiug out from iny lodgings unite
calm and composed, and all at once tho drum* be
guni to beat to onus and bell* rang, aad a treat
? Cambridge, captain Putnam ison of
j General 1 uiuam) came by on full gallop. Wtiat
?No ? MVn'.fh. Ha28,'? 'Havf 3,00 Uot heard?'
town' IVM'hJ? < v't ,ri" afe 1?Bdll?gin OliarieS
10wu, "*7* h6f . jti lather says yon must all meet
the e'nem/.'1"me(1^ 10 Cunk,r HUl 10 oppose
oji^n'/hA1 nti^'f.?>rap<,t,,re tr?op? were coming
mt ih?m i? ? ? afternoon, General Putnain
dred nf ih!m turned aside soma two bun
tired of them to work on tbu second line
edly heaaiHn 7AfV ,?U<J lf, he l,ld ttut uii'ioubt
?Jof,/?S vv ? a }?\P others wbea to take tlielr
Mils kturt* iLrv?lfc??,CBH,e* I80' llt,)e incident of
? ' *erve t0 "low clearly euongh who the
gene, al commander was. And now com oh ln
proof of a somewhat different kind. On June it*
two days alter the battle. Putnam wm mined t>v
the Continental Congress from n? 7anVof br?
toii?u.Bmn*i!S 01 0ouue^?oht troops, to that of
n. }feuerd' of the Continental Army,
for ' 1,1(3 Jal? of thla appointment, and
aveit ?eem.^d irefltS?llr,,jr hl0W moveuients of that
aife, it seemed at urnt view a8 though this rank wan
^"'"llilL i"nb?n<?f. ?! "la acrlon at ?UQ
Kcr iiiii. iijt It is not llkoljf that tt>m navca
could have been conveyed to Philadelphia between
^hi0^ ajr.auc The Congress acted upon
th?> of t'1,J..inau> *9 'her hau been vhowu in
warUke cir?P?re D^the bat"? auu ln ,lU Previous
warlike career. We copy from the Am,-vie.n
archives the action 01 Congress in this matter
under date of June 19, 1774. [Two maw gen"
rctls, Artemas Ward and Cunriss Loe, had been
chosen two days beiore?Juue 17.]
thatthe record Bays -unanlujouHlv" in
\h'case of 1 utnam, a? It does uot of the other
And there is an important sequel to this action*
ass. ?"??as?? sal!
Tm^c^ ifroaifj quoted riavs **tnat
when WaBhtucton arrived at the camp to take'
command, in July, 177s, ne brought witu hliu cotn
miastons from Congress lor fotr msUor aeneraS.
one of whom was Putnam, and to htm alone dwi
lie deliver bis commlasion, tbe oiliern being with
held on account ol toe great dissatisfaction at
tending: these appointments."
KOT FINALLY WlTUIlELD Bt'I WITBUKiD AT TIIB
TIMS.
.H^6et,he.r c?.e Continental Congress knew anr
thing of the Battle of Bunker HI11 or not wl&n
w?ahVn^ammous^ly chose Pu'nam major general
* ?c7 a11 al,out It when no delivered
. him the commlsalon, and be regarded him an a
gian who oteriiatt ejwceediDgif well 01 hLa countrv
MmpH hi*} 11'*? peiforme'herole and important
fieivice#, bat be was nut singled out as a marke J
inrnflrtr?nlh0iai0.U0n' T'lc l,ubllc atteutlon was not
turned to htm in any dliTcrcut war from what it
was to colonel stark of New Ila *en, who bad alBo
performeu heroic ser, icea, though not in exactly
the same lorm. Because Prescott h^ii
infpQn ,self,l'tcd 'he night before to super
Intend tlio LuiU!;ng of the redoubt nin
i But1hi7nniUrtiUni!li v,ry Pro?'???t 'D ihe affair.
I But his oil! cm I action, regarded strictly iu a null.
C0lLPM Ht.?rVie,T' ? n? U,?her '"" Of
Colonel 8tark. lie commanded u refflrnent and
acted an a colonel, and how the men of this ceue
nnV,?D, *ifir u *21 ',,lu out of otilclal placo into
Quite a different one we do not very c!eari? see
uav.ng, however, l.inoh more to say Soon the
subject, l sbaii continue u m another and conclud
ing communication. INCREASE K. 1AIU1 OX.
THE OUJEPT MHITAHT OBOANIZATIOJ* IS TI1I6
CorNTBT TO BE I BE8KNT AT TIIB CENTEN
NIAL?IEB PHU-ADMJ-PHIA CITY TB?)OP.
Philadelpbia, June 10, 1875.
An interesting ftaturo of the Bunker mil Cen
tennlaUon the 17tii lnst., will be the presence of
the First city Troop, of Pnlladelphla. This organi
sation dates its continuous exi*t?nc? as far back
as November, 1774, before Banker liill be
came hlstorlo ground, and Jt wa.?, there
fore, when it celebrated its centennial tlrtaday
last November, the oldait military organization
In tne United 8tate?. The City Troop win
j naturally be a con^plcnous and appropriate fea
ture of next Thursday's demonstration at the
Hub. It Is a cavalry troop and will go mounted
and tha troopers will cairy with them the nag
borne by them (or, rather, the ance>-tor? of the
prceut members) at White Plains and Trenton ln
i I5f. "evoiptlon- This venerable relic, "noble in Ita
n? th?aa,Lr*fee''1,0U1y' w? ?h? ?riglnal banner
U???' ma,ie before the exiateuce of tne
tnitea States of America, and bearing (still
decipherable on tbs faded silt) the coat of
I -T-k ?* CKITKD COLONIES.
The Qly Troop Is attached to the Third dlviolon
of the State militia, but Is la reality an sndepend
illation. It la the wealthiest as?ociauon
of the kind in the country, owning con^iueiabie
Progeny and paying ,ts own expense* The?
r? 1'nfiff tn'ora' 00 ?WopNatton asked irom
Councils to pay the expvn*es of tne trip and no
delay on this uccount. as Is the case
Second refflaeot*
and the Washington Oreya. provulon tor waica
?ee" u?art? hy the city government. The
- mC ' ano",f>' crack organization, the
best drilled company in Philadelphia, will visit
Boston, in aplte of dilatory legtslatmn, several
prominent merchants having contributed nnum*
enough to pay their expenses'* A slmuar cDor? is
making for the Klrst aud Sscond re?m-nW aud
the Washington Oreys, ana it will proaablr be
tacceosfui. lieutenant Sa^wden wi.1 command
Bn'ton^ op' aad tl,e' w,a h>n?t?r Bfty men in
"LITTLE BHODrfi' CENTENNHL.
the riwrr act aoai^w bjutis* ijcbolzmc*
AND TTJUUNT - BVR5*D'0 Of TBI BCHOOHEB
OASPEB XX NABRAOANBLTT BAT?BBIBB
BKBPCB OT THB A FY A. IB? HISTORIC CBIJCBRA
TiOB OF THB XVBMT AT PBOVIDBXUX.
Provwihim, Jnne 11, 1876.
To-day tbe anniversary of the destruction 0/ the
British schoouer Gup?e, which took place In the
waters of Narracaasett Day, June 10, 1772, wan
celebrated under me auaplces of the "Wonien'a
routeanlai Executive lumniutee of Kbode IslauV'
and the historical associations winch olu?ter
around tbat memorable event In the early
colonial oays render* tbe observance worthy of
more than local mention and awakens a general
Interest, The burning or tbe Caspee was, with
tne exception of an occurrence of a leaner note a
few years previous, tne first real determined tot
against British authority and caussd a very gen
eral sensation. The previous occurrence referred
te was tbe destruction of tho British revenue ves
sel Liberty, wnlch waa performed at Newport ta
return for outrages t>y that vessel- This event 1
find reported in the Newport Mercui-y ef July 22,
1789, brleflv, as follows
The attempt at violence by the I.ll>eriy's people,
whose comuiacdcr haa ue%er condescendcd to
exhibit Ms commission tu tbe uovcrnor 01 this
colony, se enraged a nnmbsr of persons tbat the
ensu.ng evening, hiving net laptalu Reld on the
Lung wbarf, tncy oblige l mm to send for his
men in order to discover the wan who lint flrej
upon Captaia Park wood. Atterwsra a number or
rerson*. unknown, wentabo.ird the Liberty, sent
dc mate, who aione remained, awav, cut ber
cable* and It* her drift asaore at the Point, when
they cut away ner ma*', scuttled hei and earned
Doth h'r boats to tbe upper pa: t ol the town and
burned them.
The people were more fully aroused upon 1he
appearance of tbe schooner Qaapee, of eight
guns, commanded by Lieutenant Duddingstoo,
which, wttb another vessel called tbe Beaver, put
into Narragansctt Bay in March. 1773, for tbe pur*
pone of enforcing tbe revenue laws and preventing
Illicit traffic. Commander Daddingston instituted
a most rigid search *r suspected vessels; in 'act,
waa foliv as strict as Captain Held, of the Liberty,
and be soon rendered himself and crew
OBNOXIOUS AMD 1NTOI.BRABM
to the people. Dis acta were questioned, nnrt
legal proceedings were bionght in'o r<jui*Moai
to determine the matter, chief Justice llopkins
promptly decided "that Bo commander of any
vessel lias a right to ase any ftutnorltr 1:1 th? dy
of tbe colony without previously applying to the
Governor and sbowlng bis warrant foi so doln<r;
and, alao. being swum to tac dun cxcicIho or bid
oftlce." Complaint waa then made to the Uov?
einorof me cumin timer's conduct, and the Gov
ernor very soon demande 1 of < ouiimindcr I>nd
ding: ion tim authority fot the assumption of su a
power, caitbir for tie i>T??i< < Won ol hi*
ioioaiiaflj'.n. M Lftfc WUL iUt gfttt
to some vtr? spirited lett?ri oetweeo ooverncr
Wanton and Admiral Montague, commanding tM
King's fleet at Boston, irom which t&e Gsspae
was despatched. Tae most aggravating and un
warrantable act of the British commander waa
the .seizure of a stock of rum and sngar* belong
ing to a'Warwick Arm, which goods were, con
trary to all law of Parliament, sent to Boston for
adjudication, wnen the matter should have been
settled at the place of seizure. Ibis offensive act
provoked the people beyond further endurance
aud cue destruction of the venae! Immediately fol
lowed. from a Ule of the Providence Journal I
am enabled to give
A BR1KF SKITCH
or the affair. The Ga?pee was under sal} In pursuit i
of Captain Mndsley's packet, which left Newport
tor Providence, aud continued tbe ciiase to Nam
qult Point, near Warwick, seven miles oeiow
Providence, where the Gaspee grounded, leaving
the packet free to pursue her course with- |
oat lurtber (ear of molestation. Tbe latter vessel 1
reached Providence safely, but tbe Gaspee re- 1
mained fast asnore. Intelligence of the tiaapet's
situation reached Providence by tne packet's
arrival, and, perceiving the long wished
for opportunity, a plan was at once ar
ranged lor ber destruction. Mr. John Brown,
one ol Providence's most prominent merchants,
took tbe affair In charge, and directed a reliable
shipmaster to prepare eight long boats, with
muffl' d oars, and place tUein at Fenner's wharf,
In readme** lor going to tue doomed vessel. Toe t
beating of a drum In tbe streets summoned all 1
who wished to participate in tbe aei, and very
soon a bold and determined baud, urmed and
ready lor resistance should any occur, filled tbe
boats and embarked about ten o'clock at
night for the Gaspee. They had proceeded
to within about sixty yards of tbe vessel when a
sentluel balled, 'Who comes there ?" Falling to
get an answer he nailed again. Then Captain
Whittle gave his answer in words that could ad.
mlt ol no mistake?"I am Sheriff oi the county of
Kent, damn yon. 1 havo got a warrant to appre
hend you, damn you; so surrender, damn y.>u.'?
Soon after Captain Duddlngston appeared, whjn
lie was fired upon bv Captain Whipple and fell
wounded. Tne wounded commander, together
with his crew, very soon after abandoned the ves
sel, and the leaders of the expedition iheu burned
tbe Gaspee to the water's edge.
The foregoing principal points I condense from
tno Journal's repor of that date, and a later
writer gives some additional details and com
ments. News of the daring act noon spread far
and ne?r. and Admiral Montague naturally be
came greatly excited and indignant upon otiug
apjuUed by tne Governor, lie summoned the
crew of the Gaspee and had their testimony take'1,
and gleaning what oarticulirs he could be de
spatched a ves?el to England with the luformauoD,
which was laid belore tne King and council.
A ROTA I. PROCLAMATION
was issued, dated August 28,1772, offering a re
ward of ?1,000sterling for the discoverr of the per
petrators of the deed. But notwithstanding this
and subsequent investigations tbe parties to the
affair escaped detection, uo one being
found woo would reveal tnelr names.
Thus the Orlttsh commanders were taught
a lesson and given a foretaste of what followed
wnen the entire colonies arose In succchbiuI re
volt against Iirttieh tyrauny. The burning of tbe
Gaspee was among the first symptoms ot colonial
discontent?tho mutteriugs of tho storm that af
terward burst over tne country and lorever
wrecked British rule in America.
ir was the anniversary of this patriotic event
that the people celebrated at Mushapaug Pond,
near Providence, to-day, aud the observance was
carried out very successfully. The weather was
beautiinl ana there was a large concourse ol people.
Ttierc was a military parade, aud, iu the evening,
the (iaspee was again burned in Rhode fslanu
waters. This is KUode island's patriotic anniver
sary, aud she celebrated it very worthily.
THE CENTENNIAL.
OOVEBNOB BIOLtn EXPLAINS THE INACCrBAC*
or CERTAIN STATEMENT* AND ilUVRES IN
BKrZBXNCE TO THE INTKT.N AJJ^ISA L EXIIIBI
TION.
To tub Editob or thb Herai.dk
The figures which I preaenteU to certain repre
sentatives of the press, at a meeting or vlie t\ la*
Association on tiie 0th lnat., bare been so mani
festly misunderstood by souie of the daily papera
that I must ask yon to do me the favor to print tli?
following correction In the Ukhald of to-morrow.
Thoso figure* were not intended to exhibit the
present condition of tho Centennial flnanoes, but
to show tbe cnancea of reimbursing tae sub
scribers to tho stock.
The present financial condition may be set down
as foliowa, to wit
KIFSMDItCBKS.
Buildings ss per contra-M?
SAD CLOSE OF A GIFTED LITE.
Art gallery ? i^W.OuO
' HKilUural lull BiU.uOO
Horitetiitaral iiaii. including heatinj. ttsooy
Machinery hull. inclu<linii shafting And power 8M,i*W
Fencing, orttrna ami brldgec.. 130,000
ltoa<l?. walks, grading. t;as, 4c. (as per etil
mate) . .............. .'OO.WO
Jorv pa* liion and other uatslds puliomgs
Mstimats) 143.009
Out?H water supply 140,100
Inside witor -upply and sanitary arrange
ID' ui? (estimate) 850,000
Coet b! adtuinUtratiou t<>>timate) WS.OJO
Police. Jurv premium' and general etpenscs
ot ih? Exhibition (estimate! 1.430,000
Total r.WM
i atitai iscuasp.
State pt Fsnnnvlvanla.... $1,00(1,000
City of Philndelphia 1.400,400
Stste vl New Jersey 100 tUO
State Of l>e la war*. 10, OX)
Sto-'k sold in Feonsylranta ana other
State* 2.350,000
4,940 000
Capital to be secured $2,64t,ir.tf
Of this sum fl,soo.ooo ought to be raleed before
tbe opening of tbe Exhibition.
as l have often heretofore stated, tbe reim
bursement of tbe atockholders waa no part of the
origiaal design; bat a-i circumstances aaro ren
dered the repayment of part of tbe stock ??
almost Inevitable, we now deem It proper to pre
sent that view of tbe case (l iking the total oost
of the Exhibition from beginning to ending aa
hereinbefore aiat^d)
Deduct capital And income not repre
sented by stock $7,608 000
State ren?<ylv?nla. (l 000,000 >
City of Philadelphia l.too.ooo
Estimated income from mcd
ala, lndlvioual contribu
tor and ladiea' depart
ment 200,000
h-ale of riglita and privileges. 800,000
Proceeds or sale of buildlnga
and matsrlals 660,000
S 560, ooe
Leaves capital to be represented by
?tock ...14,048,000
To meet this sum of $4,048,000 we have tbe entire
income tor admissions at 40 oents each, and it
will t>e seen that 8,000,000 of visitors entering an
average of three times would pay the stock In
mil, with a handsome oividend. This wonld he
counting tbe admissions at 1,000,000 leas than they
were in Paris In 1807.
Were the ceremonies to come off In Philadelphia
ih 1974 merely an international exfetmtlon, I
should have some doubts as to the presence of a
great number of visitors, bat tbe celebration of
tho Centennial anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence will bring thousands no a
tens of thousands of persons from ail
psrts of oar conn try who would not
pat themselves to tbe least tnconvenlenoe
to attead even an internatieaal exhibition; and
1 am surely safe In saying that tbe International
outlook is far more favorable than any one had
originally anticipated. T&lrty-eigM foreign gov
ernments have accepted the President's invita
tion, and are making preparations to tske part In
the Eihlbition. These, united to the thirty-seven
sovereign states of the Union, will make a greater
gathering of tbe representatives of separate ana
Independent governments than.have ever eome
together before, se far as my knowledge of history
goes. And tothusemay be added our nlue Ter
ritories, whtcn will appear tbroagh their separate
representatives, and some of which will present
very attractive and valuable exhibitions.
Very truiy, your obedient servant,
WiMJAM niULEU, Central Financial Agent.
The body of tbe man taken out of tbe ITerth
River at pier 10 on Tburadsy has been Identified
ss that of J. J. M< Leavy, who resided in Fourth
street, jersey City. lie was tfilrty-four years of
ago, and leaves a wife and fonr children.
At twenty minutes psst ten en Saturday
night lie walked overboard at the Cortlandt
street ferry, supposing, wnlle he was intoxicated,
thst a boat was hooked to tuo brldze.
Whin he sunk he Was swept br the un
der cut t ent beneath me no it, and tbus was
kept under the naier. lie was a man of great
versatility of caaracer, was well educated uuu a
good linguist. Me <am* to till- country eight
veai a ago irom Belfast, where he graduated In ttie
gueeu s Ooiiege. Me obtained a d'ploina iroai the
queen's I'mveralty to sraotiae medicine, but he
so lacked tlie quality oailed by pnrenoloitsts "con
1 reatratlveri^sB" that be never pursue* that pro
1 ice i n. lie applied tiiunelf to the study ot oliem
istry UTH1 soo.1 developed a powerful Inventive
genius in the combination of gases and fluids, but
, *? uev?r pu: -?u'. i lils expcrmvuiJi i<? 4uy oe^o
flfUl result ri r himself r.r bit 'tibU*. auo he suLi
1 AttJUHl!M UinwUuiuW. -
MSPmTE BROOKLYN burglars!
AKOTHEB BIBIDXKOB BT AX it>
DACIOOS TH1XX?LATXOT FACTS u Tag
?HIT* CASK.
An audacious burglar entered th? residence ot
Mr. Joseph A. Cook, Mo. 1*2 i'niaskl itrtit, Brook
lyn, early yesterday morning, aud but for tho
presence of mind of Mrs. Cook would probably
have perpetrated na great aa ootrage as tbe on?
which wai committed at the residence ot Mr.
Aaron Shute, situated only a few blooke away, on
Tuesday last. The bouse is located about sixty feel
from Tompkins avenue. Mr. Cook is a Putlog
Market butcher and provision dealer. The family
constats of blmaelf, bis wife, two children and a
servant. Tncy retired to rest about nine o'oiocfc
on Thursday night, taking none other than tho
usual precaations againet burglars, notwitbatand*
log the excitement caused la the neigbborkop#
by the Shu if tragedy. The household slept
quietly until two o'clock yesterday morning. Af
that hour Mrs. Cook, who was sleeping on tW'
second floor, was awakened by hearing a footstep
on too landing, near tier chamber door, which was
unlocked. She sat up in bed and said,
"WHO 13 tuebk f'*
when the door was suddenly opened and the
figure of a mnn with a light in his band appfcar?AL
in the doorway. Alter gazing at her for a
moment, and probably intimidated by the sight
of her husband, the Intruder descended the st-alrs
and di?nppearei!. Mr*. Cook, loarlug that tbo,
thief wouia inurilor her liusoaiid, did not aronso"
Mr. Cook tltl the danger wan past; out when tbo"
villain had reached the foot of the basement'
stairs she awoke ner Uuabanl. lighted ihe'gas,
threw up the window an<t saoutedlor assistance,
me burglur was still In the basement, -
but bearing the cries of Mrs. (,'oek he sprung
through 0110 of the tront t>asemout windows into
the area and escaped to the street. In doing so'
he smashed two large panes of glass, which fell
upon tne flagstones with a loud cra*h. arousing a
number of the neighbors and ?Joveral policemen,,
?Ru soon c< lleced about the house, too late, how*
ever, to prevent the escape of tne bnrgiar, who'
r.in across Tompkins avenue. He reached the tots
and disappeared in the direction of Williamsburg.
l pon examining the premises It was lonnd thai
the burglar had effected an entrance in exact;?
the same manner as the desperado wbo attempted
to murder Mr. Shute. Alter pushing back the
fastening of the Trout basement window with a
flat-blaaed Knife he raised the sash, pushed oponr
the inside blinds aud entered tne baaeuieut. A
bii'dcage, winch was banging In tho window, ho
took from the uail and placed on the floor.-'
He then lighted a candle and began'
operations. All the closets were unlocked
and ne took from thetn tbe silver war#,,
which he placed on tue dining table. He made *'
sort of dark lantern of one of tho children'#'
straw hats by cutting a hole la the crown aud
Mjttiug the caudle in it. One of Mrs. cook's
uteres hangover the balustrade, with gold but
ton iu tbe sleeves. He was taking tntin out
waeu ataitled by the voice ot Mrs. Cook, aud car-:
red mem with 1111u in his flight. A silver kmfo .
wmcii he b .d taken from the basement was alter,
ward foand lu tne street a short distance away. ?
A SCOTCH CAP j
belonging to tbe burglar was picked tip by Mr*,
Cook and handed over to the police. The ladv is
unabio to give an accurate description Of tbo
burglar other than that ne was a man or medium*
height and rather stoat, Hbr husband would'
probably nave fared better in an euoouuter *lthJ
tbe burglar than otd Mr. Shute, for he bad A'
loaded revolver under his pillow.
MR. aahon sncri, THE VTCTIJi
of the Tompl:ins avenue tragedy, was sUi til f
very low condition yesterday, and vefT slight:
bOiies were entertained of his recovery, liis phy
sicians agreed tiiat. if bo could llvo tnrough lasr
tigbt he would improve mora rapidly. Tbe lnjtu1
nes m the throat ere of such a terrible nature tha)*
it u almost impossible lor Ulm to taks ah*,
uourlshmeni. .
'iwe additional arrests were male by tho*
police ye?terdav, but there being no evi?
fence agamst tup man tner were released,
ne of teem Is George Liuofi, aged foitv-tw?'
years, who was takeu into ctiiiodv at big'
residence. No. ;?3 Throop avenuo. The gth<r ono.
is Joseph Weber, who was loQQd by Officer.
Chichester, of vho Twelfth precinct. huapiclodr
wan directed against ?he<e man because they bad'
served terms in prison and resided In the vicinity
ol Mr. bhute's house. The mounted sqnad and de<
teotives srs sun scouring Long Island in seareh of
the fugitive. As there was no evidence avainstf
the two tramps wbo were arrested at Jamaicaf
they were <il charge I. Alderman Fisher, at (ka
next meeting of the common Council, will lotTfe*
fluoo a i ebullition authorizing the Mayor vo offer s>
reward for the assassin.
A DESPE&ATE ELiGlivVAYMAN OAQID.
geoexmrc. axsisrAgca bt a ?juve woman,'
A moat oaring highway robber, who gives hig
pame as Barnes Ford, and his residence as N??r.
Turk, was brought before Justico Keese, at Jtr*
?ey City, yesterday, and committed for trial Tbf
wile of Captain Hayes, wbo is in command of
Kins' Island, was retnrnlag from New York on tbo'
Central Railroad ferrybat to the landing, bear tko
Coi-munipaw ferry. Ford approached aud sat t>e
side her and entered Into conversation with ber,:
When tho ferryboat reached Jerfloy City lie o*ngb*
up Mrs. Haves' aatckel and volunteered to earry!
it torher as far as the signal station. lie hoisted;
the signal, and seeing tho rpwbjat advancing,
from the island, he boldly grasped the satchel, and
taking advantage of the loneliness or the placo,
b? moved away with it She seized it.m, however,
and ber screams attraetei tbe attention of the
employes on tbo Central Railroad. He tben threw
the satchel overboard, and, elutcoing the lady/
?ras In the act of dragging her to tke water t?,
hrow b?r In, when assistance arrived. Re rag
several hundred yards and trtod to esoapo, buf
was overtaken and Diaoed in the cbstody orUete?
tive Kilcauley, wbo lodged him In Police Ilea*
quarters. A bolder attempt at highway robbery?
followi d by an attempt to drown the lady whs
gave tha alarm, lu open day, has never occurred
in Jersey City.
YVEfeT POINT.
I ot
la?ff
THX GRADUATES AT BR8T ?DTV19TIO Al ION ?V
THH BOARD OF TtgXTORS.
* Vur Point. June 11, 1I7B. '
The examination of the graduating elaea ?u
completed to-day, the lwt subject or tnelr course'
la the order of tnelr examinations, that
ordnancf gunuerr, having been taken np 1
jcoterJar and ebtlrelr dlaposod ol this afternoon.
One ol the features of the day's proeeod-!
lose was tbe examination of Cadet Charleg
B. Ball, of tbe second class, wbo ?ai
?o badly Injured a few weeks ago during
a cavalry drill. He waa seated in an easy chug
dnring the examination, and waa examiRe4
through tbe entire course or studies at Li< ntvi
Tnougti apparency jet suffering rrotn hi* terrible
accident tit will ne reraembei el lit- vlclou* bora*
ran away and dashod bliu against a tree with rear-,
ittl lores) tic pn-iel w tiat to outsiders at any ratg.
seemed to be an excellent examination. Ills raJ,
trier lias been awautag bli examination In ord?g
to take bis son borne.
TUB BOARD OF TOTTOR*.
'ihe Board to day was not quite so active ifl
their investigating work as they tuve been ro^
the past lew d*ya, but the? sre determined to sea
to it, I understand that notbint tuat ought to b?
done shall be left undone in tbe way or making
straight whatever wajs tbar Hud crooked m th*.
affairs of thje tastltnUoa. lliey bave done so well
by tbelr individnai visits, unannounced, t?
the various departments that the* are to take ?
look into tbe quarters snil inesis* of the private
aoldlera. Sornetiow previous Boards of viaiiora
bare acted as tnough there was no Mi<-h thing ssa
private aoldier o>i the list, or that It there wsa he
could not possibly nave anjihiug to compiatn ol
He Board's visit to Caaiptewn Mill do no uce ang
barm that bas no occasion to fear an overhaulng.
*EAKI*? TIB KP.
Tbe undergraduates bave yet a great deal to
_ndergo before tnelr exammatlona are Onalix
closed, bnt tnis will not in nay way interfere witl
tbe programme of aext week, when the graduates
will be allowed to go tnelr wars in
peace to their Hoiks. Tbe Secretary of War
Is to deliver tue diplomas, and Profce
sor Uilmour, of the Board of Visimi-p,
will deliver the address. The ceremonj win pvot>*
ably take place about noon, but this point tiaa not
peen settled upon. The day. anviiow, it seem*
now will be Wednesday. OaThursiaj tbe alimat
will bave tbelr annual gluner, wbeu 1'rurexaer
Da via Will preside.
A CAVAf.*Y DRILL.
The exhibition drill this aftarnoon was a cavalry
drill, wiu'.-b waa witnessed by a latge number of
spectators.
FIBfcS YESTERDAY.
At eight o'clock yesterday morning a Are wag
discovered In tbe oil works of Lombard A Arer%
at t&e foot of Sixty-fifth street, North Kiver. Th?
firemen succeeded la keeping the flames witbla
bounds, a difficult leat, owing to the infl ?mmabto
nature of the contents of the banding. The total
loea on oil, machinery, Ac., is estimated to
be nearly 110^000, wn:ou t* corerci bv m
su.aiioe. The Ore orUiustct by the explosion
of the feeJing tank, wlticu nt the uaie contained
?oo barrels of reflnea oil Thorn** ( unimiug*, one
of the workmen, waa slightly burned, lie waa
taken to uis residence, on leuia avenue, near
Sixty sixth street.
Early yeKteruar morning a Ire broke outmthg
oeliar 01 the four alory brick tenement houaa JSo.
Dw3 Third avenue, owuol by M. Mtmeyer. Tbo
first door waa occipied as a grocery by AIorr.p
i Damn, whose stoca 1* damaged to tho extent
, oi ll.^-u. w{Hep is v,vcr<M t>y [niur*|*l
Htar, of New Torlr, an I trie fctna, of Huri..j4*
. ik* ut. km;U enuaA'.tg it