When Clinton heard of it he sent a
war-vessel up the Hudson with a flag of truce, claiming the man as one
of his officers. This was Old Put's reply:
Headquarters, _7th 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.
I have the honor to be, etc., etc.,
Israel Putnam.
P.S.--Afternoon. He is hanged!
The last week in September, Washington drew upon the patient commander
in the Highlands for more soldiers, so that he had only eleven hundred
men left with which to meet and withstand the British invasion of his
territory, which began on the 5th of October. Putnam was fully cognizant
of the situation, for he wrote to Governor Clinton, his coadjutor in
the defense of the Highlands, on the 29th of September: "I have received
intelligence on which I can fully depend that the enemy received a
reenforcement at New York last Thursday of about 3,000 British and
foreign troops; that General Clinton has called in guides who belong
about Croton River; has ordered hard bread to be baked; that the troops
are called from Paulus Hook to Kingsbridge; and the whole are now under
marching orders.
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