To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 25 January 1779
From Major General Israel Putnam
Camp Reading [Redding, Conn.] Jany 25th 1779
Dear Genl
I wrote your Excellency yesterday, in which I gave you all the intelligence that could be collected.
As my Domestic affairs, are in much confution, and there is many things which cannot be setled, but by myself, I am under the necessity of requesting yr Excellencys permission to be absent from Camp for about thirty days—If I may be permitted, I should choose to set off some time in the month of March, when Genl Parsons, & probably Genl Huntington will be here—I have a further view in soliciting this indulgance—which is to lay an Anchor to windward for a Wife, again the expiration of the War.1 I am with great respect Your Excellencys Most Obedt Sert
Israel Putnam
LS, DLC:GW.
1. For GW’s reluctant consent to this request, see his letter to Putnam of 10 February. Putnam began his leave of absence on 2 April and returned to Redding by 7 May (see Putnam to GW, 1 April and 7 May, DLC:GW). Putnam’s second wife, Deborah Lothrop Avery Gardiner Putnam, had died on 14 Oct. 1777 (see Putnam to GW, 16 Oct. and 16 Dec. 1777). Putnam never married again.