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Israel Putnam was part of the provincial recruits led by Robert Rogers who was cooperating with the British command. Briefly, the events which led up to Putnam's capture, rescue and release follow: In August 1758, five hundred men under the command of Rogers and Putnam were sent to watch the movements of the enemy around Fort Ticonderoga. The French officer, Marin, with five hundred men, was sent to intercept the party. Apparently, Rogers and a British officer named Irwin tipped off their location to the French when they engaged in the sport of target practicing. The French then planned an ambush.
Marching in three companies, with Putnam in the lead, the Americans were taken by surprise. In the heat of battle, Putnam's gun misfired. He was captured by an Indian, disarmed and tied to a tree. The Indian then returned to the battle. During the battle, with Putnam centered between the two battle lines, balls struck the tree he was tied to as well as passing through the sleeves and skirt of his coat. Putnam was intimidated by one Indian who delighted in throwing his tomahawk at Putnam but just barely missing the mark. One French officer placed the barrel of his gun within a foot of Putnam's breast but it misfired. He then gave Putnam a blow to the jaw with the butt-end of his gun and left.
Later, when the French and Indians retreated, Putnam was stripped of his coat, vest, stockings, and shoes, loaded with packs and forced to march. His hands were tied behind his back which caused them to swell and his feet began to bleed. A French officer interposed and ordered Putnam's hands untied and the Indian who had captured him returned and gave Putnam some moccasins. Then, Putnam went forth with about two hundred Indians to the night camping spot. They inflicted a deep tomahawk wound in Putnam's left cheek. They then decided to roast him alive. He was led into a dark forest, stripped naked, and bound to a tree. Dry brush was encircled around him and set on fire.
A sudden rain dampened the flame, but the fire was kindled again. Suddenly a French officer rushed through the crowd of Indians, scattered the fire, and unbound Putnam. The French officer who rescued Putnam was the notable Marin - a sympathetic Indian had reported to him of the other Indians' plans. Marin then severely reprimanded the Indians. He stayed with Putnam until the Indian who had captured him returned. Putnam then traveled to Ticonderoga before proceeding to Montreal. He was well treated for the rest of his journey. At Montreal, Putnam met the acquaintance of one Colonel Schuyler. The British capture of the Frenchman Frontenac led to an eventual exchange of prisoners. As part of the exchange, Schuyler took Putnam with him back to the colonies.
Exhibition History“A. B. Durand,” Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ, October 24 – November 28, 1971, no cat.
“History Painting in America, 1775-1925,” I.B.M. Gallery, New York, NY, September 28 – November 27, 1993; Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C., January 1 – March 30, 1994; LBJ Museum, Austin, TX, April 1 – June 30, 1994; Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI, July 1 – December 31, 1994, no cat.
“The Hudson River School: American Treasures from Fenimore Art Museum,” Mennello Museum of American Art, Orlando, FL, October 14, 2005 – March 6, 2006, no cat.
Artist
Asher Brown Durand
(1796 - 1886)
Escape of Israel Putnam
Date1844
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsSight: 16 9/16 × 20 1/2 in. (42.1 × 52.1 cm)
Object numberN0405.1955
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of Stephen C. Clark
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextThis painting is a depiction of a historical event which occurred during the French and Indian Wars (1754-1763) between the British-American colonies and the French-Indian alliance. The scene of action was in upstate New York, more precisely the Lake George-Wood River region.Israel Putnam was part of the provincial recruits led by Robert Rogers who was cooperating with the British command. Briefly, the events which led up to Putnam's capture, rescue and release follow: In August 1758, five hundred men under the command of Rogers and Putnam were sent to watch the movements of the enemy around Fort Ticonderoga. The French officer, Marin, with five hundred men, was sent to intercept the party. Apparently, Rogers and a British officer named Irwin tipped off their location to the French when they engaged in the sport of target practicing. The French then planned an ambush.
Marching in three companies, with Putnam in the lead, the Americans were taken by surprise. In the heat of battle, Putnam's gun misfired. He was captured by an Indian, disarmed and tied to a tree. The Indian then returned to the battle. During the battle, with Putnam centered between the two battle lines, balls struck the tree he was tied to as well as passing through the sleeves and skirt of his coat. Putnam was intimidated by one Indian who delighted in throwing his tomahawk at Putnam but just barely missing the mark. One French officer placed the barrel of his gun within a foot of Putnam's breast but it misfired. He then gave Putnam a blow to the jaw with the butt-end of his gun and left.
Later, when the French and Indians retreated, Putnam was stripped of his coat, vest, stockings, and shoes, loaded with packs and forced to march. His hands were tied behind his back which caused them to swell and his feet began to bleed. A French officer interposed and ordered Putnam's hands untied and the Indian who had captured him returned and gave Putnam some moccasins. Then, Putnam went forth with about two hundred Indians to the night camping spot. They inflicted a deep tomahawk wound in Putnam's left cheek. They then decided to roast him alive. He was led into a dark forest, stripped naked, and bound to a tree. Dry brush was encircled around him and set on fire.
A sudden rain dampened the flame, but the fire was kindled again. Suddenly a French officer rushed through the crowd of Indians, scattered the fire, and unbound Putnam. The French officer who rescued Putnam was the notable Marin - a sympathetic Indian had reported to him of the other Indians' plans. Marin then severely reprimanded the Indians. He stayed with Putnam until the Indian who had captured him returned. Putnam then traveled to Ticonderoga before proceeding to Montreal. He was well treated for the rest of his journey. At Montreal, Putnam met the acquaintance of one Colonel Schuyler. The British capture of the Frenchman Frontenac led to an eventual exchange of prisoners. As part of the exchange, Schuyler took Putnam with him back to the colonies.
Exhibition History“A. B. Durand,” Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ, October 24 – November 28, 1971, no cat.
“History Painting in America, 1775-1925,” I.B.M. Gallery, New York, NY, September 28 – November 27, 1993; Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C., January 1 – March 30, 1994; LBJ Museum, Austin, TX, April 1 – June 30, 1994; Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI, July 1 – December 31, 1994, no cat.
“The Hudson River School: American Treasures from Fenimore Art Museum,” Mennello Museum of American Art, Orlando, FL, October 14, 2005 – March 6, 2006, no cat.
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