“He was one of the officers at the battle of Bunker Hill, wasn’t he, grandma?” asked Eric.
“Yes, he is spoken of as the ranking officer, and it was he who had the earthworks thrown up on the crest of Bunker Hill in the rear, and who, toward the close of the day, conducted the retreat and directed the fortifying of Prospect Hill.”
“And his rank was soon made still higher by Congress, was it not, grandma?” asked Edward.
“Yes; in June, 1775, Congress appointed Washington to the chief command and made Ward, Lee, Schuyler and Putnam major-generals. Putnam was in command for a time in New York, in Philadelphia and Princeton; afterward he had charge of the defence of the highlands of the Hudson River, with headquarters at Peekskill.
“There took place an occurrence that will no doubt interest you all. A man named Edmund Palmer was caught lurking in the American camp and condemned to death as a spy.
“The British considered American spies worthy of death, but that those in the king’s service were not; so Sir Henry Clinton sent up a flag of truce from New York and a threat to Putnam of signal vengeance should he dare to injure the person of the king’s liege subject, Edmund Palmer.
“The old general’s reply was brief and to the point. I think I can recall it word for word:
“‘Headquarters, 7th of August, 1777.
“‘Edmund Palmer, an officer in the enemy’s service, was taken as a spy lurking within our lines. He has been tried as a spy, condemned as a spy, and shall be executed as a spy, and the flag is ordered to depart immediately. Israel Putnam.