To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 1 April 1779
From Major General Israel Putnam
Camp Reading [Redding, Conn.] April 1st 1779
Dear Sir
I have just received a letter by the return of my Express, without any signature, which, from the hand writing, the Seal and the Contents, I suppose to have come from your Excellency.1 However accidental it might be, it was rather a ludicrous Circumstance, that a letter without a name, should ⟨make⟩ its appearance on the first day of April—⟨anni⟩versary, which has from time immemorial, been ⟨m⟩uch Celebrated in honor of a verry large, if not respectable class of mankind.
I had previous to the receipt of this Letter, adopted the plan suggested in it; as you will see by mine of the 30th Ultimo—and accordingly, no more troops, have been detach’d from the Division, tho earnestly desired by the Governor.2
Probably the disaster which happend to the Enemies fleet in the Sound, and perhaps some other Causes, have retarded the Execution of their design upon N. London, untill such a force can be collected from the Militia, as, in conjunction with our Troops in that Garrison, may defeat the success of it, should they now make the attempt.3
Matters have been in such a situation as I conciev’d, would not suffer me, consistantly with my duty, to use the indulgence you had granted me, of attending a few days to my domestic concerns—The prospect of a sudden attac⟨k⟩ seems now to be somewhat over—and I w⟨ill⟩ accordingly set out for home tomorrow—In my rout I shall vissit N. London, and direct Genl Parsons to return to Camp, unless there should still continue urgent reasons for the contrary—My tarry in the Country will be no longer, than necessity absolutely requires.4
The Assembly of this State, are to meet the 7th Inst. for the purpose of compleating their Battallions—I shall suggest such hints to the Governor, as I hope will render the mode more efficatious than that adopted the last spring—for actually bringing the men into the field.5 I am with great respect Your Excellencys Most Obedt Hume Servt
Israel Putnam
LS, DLC:GW.
1. Putnam almost certainly is referring to GW’s letter to him of 27 March.
2. Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., had written at least one letter to Putnam concerning the threat to New London, Conn. (see Putnam to GW, 22 March [first letter], and n.2 to that document).
3. For the reported loss of fourteen British transports in a gale, see Putnam to GW, 28 March, and n.2 to that document. For the British decision in early April to abandon plans for an attack on New London, see William Maxwell to GW, 25 March, n.2.
4. For Putnam’s request for leave, see Putnam to GW, 25 Jan., and GW to Putnam, 10 February. Putnam’s home at Brooklyn, Conn., was about thirty-five miles north of New London. Putnam returned from his leave during the first week of May (see Putnam to GW, 7 May, DLC:GW). Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, whose excessive leaves had displeased GW, had been delayed in returning to camp by the threat to New London, but he rejoined his brigade by 7 April (see GW to Putnam, 10 Feb, and n.3 to that document; Parsons to GW, 29 March; and Jedediah Huntington to GW, 7 April).
5. For recruiting in Connecticut, see Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., to GW, 27 April (DLC:GW).