An Essay on the Life of Israel Putnam – Col. David Humphreys – 1818 | Revolutionary War Firsthand Account

This 1818 Boston edition of An Essay on the Life of the Honourable Major-General Israel Putnam was written by Col. David Humphreys, who served alongside Putnam during the Revolutionary War. Humphreys extends the biography beyond military record into personal recollection.

The book includes observations on Putnam’s actions at Long Island, Harlem, and Bunker Hill. One of the most famous episodes described in the book is Putnam’s capture by Mohawk or allied Iroquois warriors, where he was tied to a tree and nearly burned alive, before being rescued by a French officer. These scenes, drawn from the author’s understanding of Putnam’s service, provide a close view of early American warfare and its dangers. Samuel Swett contributed the appendix, which focuses on Bunker Hill. His notes explore the contours of the battlefield, and the sequence of events as understood at the time.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Essay on the Life of the Honourable Major General Israel Putnam. Addressed to the State Society of the Cincinnati in Connecticut, and First Published by their Order. By Col. David Humphreys. With Notes and Additions. With an Appendix, Containing an Historical and Topographical Sketch of Bunker Hill Battle. By S. Swett.
• Author: Col. David Humphreys
• Contributor: S. Swett
• Publisher: Boston: Samuel Avery, No. 89 Court Street
• Edition: 1818.
• Format: Duodecimo(12mo), single volume
• Binding: Leather
• Size: ~ 7in X 4.5in (18cm x 11.5cm)
• Collation: 276 pp
• Illustrations: Portrait frontispiece
• Contents Include:
  • Essay on the life of Putnam, including specific accounts of Revolutionary battle
  • Includes an Appendix that contains a Historical and Topographical sketch of the Bunker Hill Battle (S. Swett), begins at p. [171] 
• Provenance: Handwritten – Andrew Weston’s book, 1823
• SKU: #28845
• Reference(s): DAB IX, pgs. 373-375; Evans 21160; Howes H-794, S-1178; Larned 1465; Sabin 33804; Trumbull 870
  • “…had a natural talent for military science, and there are few more intelligent contemporary pictures of certain important campaigns, notably the battle of Long Island and the retreat from Harlem, than those contained in his [essay on the life of Putnam].” – DAB
  • “…is accurate and corrects many errors of [other authors]. It is full of anecdotes about Putnam.” – Larned

Condition:

Good. Moderate rubbing and scratches to edges, corners, hinges, and spine. Textblock is still tight and secure, with foxing and staining throughout. Former ownership inscription of one, Andrew Weston.

Why Collect This?

• Important early biography by a Revolutionary War participant
• Detailed eyewitness descriptions of major battles
• Frequently cited in academic and historical sources

Item Number: #28845