LITMIR.BIZ

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utilization, he built a flax-mill—the first of its kind in this country—and received, in recognition of his enterprise, a medal from the Society for Promoting Arts. In 1764, he was appointed a commissioner to settle the disputes between the States of New York and Massachusetts, relative to their boundary line, and he arbitrated in the same controversy between New York and New Hampshire. When elected to a seat in the Assembly of New York, he was one of the few in that body to antagonize the oppressive measures adopted by the British Government in its dealings with this country. He was made colonel of a State militia company in 1768.

      In May, 1775, Schuyler was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, but such was the appreciation of his military ability and his patriotism that on the 19th of June he was appointed third major-general of the American army, and given command of its Northern division. Being possessed of great wealth, he provided large stores of arms, ammunition, clothing, and provisions, from his private purse, to suitably equip this army for the campaign against Canada. Stricken by a wasting fever from which he suffered for two years, he planned and directed even when too ill for active service. Fearing lest his increasing weakness might work against the public good, he sought leave during this time to retire; but Congress, well knowing his worth and his devotion to his country, requested him to reconsider his determination, at the same time tendering him a vote of thanks for past services. Schuyler responded nobly, contributing his wealth and using all his personal influence in behalf of American independence. At the end of two years of hardships, disappointments, arduous labor, great responsibility, and inadequate supplies of men and of provisions to accomplish the tasks set him by Congress, he at length saw his way to certain victory. At this critical moment Gates appeared in camp, and Philip Schuyler found himself superseded by a man who, from jealousy, had always been his enemy, and who had tried in every way to bring about his downfall. Wounded to the quick, he bore this most unjust treatment with dignity, and without showing resentment; and Congress having accepted his resignation on the 19th of April, 1779, he continued still to serve his country as a private citizen. In 1782, he was appointed Surveyor-General of New York. A zealous advocate for the adoption of the Constitution, he was elected a member of the first United States Senate, filling that office from 1789 until 1798, when a severe attack of gout compelled his resignation. It is to him that the State of New York is indebted for her excellent canal system. As early as 1776 he calculated the actual cost of a canal from the Hudson River to Lake Champlain; and later he advocated the connection of that river and Lake Erie by the same means. Dying in his native city at the age of seventy-one, on the 18th of November, 1804, he was buried with military honors. In 1871, a Doric column of Quincy granite, thirty-six feet high, was erected to his memory.

ISRAEL PUTNAM.

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      Israel Putnam, born at Salem, Massachusetts, on the 7th of January, 1718, was a lineal descendant of one of the Puritan Pilgrims. Even as a boy, he displayed that fearlessness and resolution that in later years characterized his military career. A fierce wolf was causing much loss of life among the sheep, and great annoyance to the farmers in the neighborhood, while cunningly eluding all their efforts to kill her. Putnam tracked her to her den, and descending into its gloomy recesses, shot her by the light of her own blazing eyeballs. He led the life of a farmer until the breaking out of the French and Indian War, when by his indomitable courage and enterprise he won a name that gained for him a high rank at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. When news of the skirmish at Lexington flew like wildfire over the country, Putnam, who was ploughing, left his yoke of oxen standing in the furrow, and mounting his fleetest horse, hurried to Boston.

      On the 19th of June, 1775, Congress appointed Putnam major-general, but it was not until the month following that he became acquainted with General Washington, who subsequently declared him to be “a most valuable man and a fine executive officer.” He served with distinction throughout the war, again and again effecting by his daring boldness results that seemed impossible with the limited resources and insufficient number of men at his command. In the winter of 1778, while superintending the building of the fort at West Point, he visited one of his outposts at West Greenwich. Governor Tryon with five hundred dragoons made at this time an attack, hoping to capture Putnam, who had but fifty men. Stationing himself on the brow of a steep hill, Putnam received the attack with a discharge of artillery, then ordered his men to withdraw to a swamp where no cavalry could follow them, while he himself escaped by urging his horse down the almost perpendicular declivity. Not one of the British dared to follow. The descent known as Horse Neck has since borne the name of “Putnam’s Hill.” During the next winter, while still superintending the erection of new fortifications along the Hudson River, he suffered a stroke of paralysis from which he never recovered, although he lived till the 19th of May, 1790. His friend, Dr. Dwight, in summing up his character speaks of him as—

      “A hero who dared to lead where any dared to follow; as a patriot who rendered gallant and distinguished services to his country; as a man whose generosity was singular, whose honesty was proverbial, and who raised himself to universal esteem, and offices of eminent distinction, by personal worth and a useful life.”

      During the Revolution he was familiarly known as “Old Put.” The British offered him money and the rank of major-general if he would desert the American cause; but he could neither be daunted by toil and danger, nor bribed by gold and honors.

RICHARD MONTGOMERY.

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      Richard Montgomery, born in Ireland, on the 2d of December, 1736, educated at Trinity College, Dublin, entered the British army at eighteen as ensign. He performed good service during the French and Indian War, taking an active part in the siege of Louisburg and at the storming of Quebec under Wolfe. At the close of the war, he obtained permission to return to Europe; but in 1772, he resigned his commission in the British army and came to New York, being fully in sympathy with the colonies in their conflict with the mother country. He identified himself with the American colonists by purchasing a farm, and shortly after marrying the daughter of Robert R. Livingston. In 1775, he represented Duchess County in the first New York Provincial Convention. On the 22d of June of the same year, Congress appointed him brigadier-general in the Continental army. Preparations were immediately begun for investing Canada, as Congress appreciated the importance of securing commanding positions, to prevent invasions from that quarter and the alliance of the frontier Indians with our enemies. It being thought best to divide the forces, part were sent by way of the Kennebec, under Arnold, the others, by way of the Sorel River, were intrusted to Montgomery. Both armies had to contend with insufficient provisions and untold hardships of all kinds. Montgomery succeeded, however, in taking the fortresses of St. Johns, Chambly, and Montreal. At St. Johns the colors of the Seventh Fusileers were captured, being the first taken in the Revolution. In sending his report to Congress, Montgomery added, “Until Quebec is taken, Canada is unconquered.” On the 9th of December, 1775, he was advanced by Congress to the rank of major-general. About this time Arnold crossed the St. Lawrence, and at last the two armies were united and ready to act in concert. But cold, privation, and toilsome marches had done their work, and reduced the number of men available for active service to less than one thousand, while Quebec was not only strongly fortified, but amply garrisoned. A summons to surrender was answered by firing upon the bearer of the flag. A siege of three weeks served only to dishearten still further the frost-bitten and half-starved Americans. But the stout hearts of Montgomery and Arnold never quailed. At a council of war, it was decided that their best chance of success lay in attempting to carry the place by assault. Accordingly, on the 31st of December, 1775, in the midst of a blinding snow-storm, the two leaders began the attack before daylight. The city was to be stormed simultaneously at two different points; and Montgomery, leading his division along the river-bank, and often helping with his own hands to push aside the huge blocks of ice that impeded their progress, succeeded in carrying the first barrier. Waving his sword and shouting, “Men of New York, follow where your general leads!” he pressed eagerly forward, when a discharge of grape-shot ended his life, and also killed several of his staff. Dismayed by the death of their leader, and

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