RANGER ISRAEL PUTNAM'S REPORT OF HIS 1755 SCOUTING EXPEDITION TO TICONDEROGA.

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PUTNAM, Israel (1718-1790), as captain of a Connecticut ranger company, autograph document signed, n.p. [Lake George], dated 16 November 1755. 1 1/2 pp., folio, docketed in unknown hand on recto "Report of Capt Putnam/recd 20 Novr. 1755", with a tabulation of the strength of Johnson's Provincial regiments at Lake George also appended. The original, unpublished manuscript report by Putnam, probably sent to Sir William Johnson, of his winter "scout" or spying expedition against the French and the native allies at Ticonderoga and Crown Point in 1755, a portion of which is transcribed below retaining Putnam's original spelling and punctuation: "Taking my order from generil Johnson to [go] Down the Lake at about Seven a Clock we Satt out and Soon after we got through the first narrows. Saw a fire apon the Eastern Shore and Soon after Looking astern of us We Saw another fire wich we took to be kindled by the Enemy ....we went ashoar and hid the battow [batteau] up the bank in among bushes and their We Stayed till Day light and then trailed up a mountain and Climed up a tree Where we Saw South bay and the valey between The Enemies advanc'd Guard and South bay where the Indians Say they Saw a French Encampt and then ...we went on to a mountain and Saw the Encampment At Ticanderayo and then going on futher we Came to the Lake Champlain with in about half a mile of their Encampment Where Saw them very busily at work Som[e] a building a fort And some making a brest work and Likewise Saw one Large House and three Small ones and a Considerable number of tents and about 2000 men as near as we judge (of which we Judge to be 200 hundred French)...and Saw tow [two] black flags a flying and then Night Coming on we stood into the woods ....the Indians Say they saw the French army wich is a Large Crambrey [cranberry] Pond and then Stood on and Came To ye Battow, and at Dark Sett out...On Wenesday morning got into the Camp at Lake George Israel Putnam Capt:" Israel Putnam was born in 1718 in Salem Village (now Danvers), Massachusetts to Joseph and Elizabeth Putnam, a prosperous farming Puritan family. In 1740 at the age of 22, the young Putnam moved west to Mortlake (now Pomfret), Connecticut. Putnam married twice, first to Hannah Pope in 1739, the mother of his children, and two years after her death in 1765, he married Deborah Lothrop. During the French and Indian War, as a Connecticut Provincial, he would be promoted in, in rapid succession, from second lieutenant to captain, major, lieutenant colonel and eventually colonel. As a captain of a ranger companies during 1755-1757, Putnam served with Robert Rogers (who would gain fame as the commander Rogers' Rangers) and in one action, Putnam saved Rogers' life. Putnam was known for his bravery and audacity in service and experienced numerous adventures and near-death occurrences. Putnam's reputation for courage was furthered as the war went on and it was said that "Rogers always sent, but Putnam led his men to action." A remarkable document, being a firsthand report of a ranging expedition submitted immediately upon return and completely return in Putnam's own hand; Putnam ALS are extremely rare, especially from the French & Indian War.