482 PUTNAM COUNTY. 



Markets. — Savannah, Augusta, and Macon. 



Value of Town Lots, &;c. — The value of town lots, ac- 

 cording to the Digest of 1848, is $49,666. Value of stock in 

 trade, $42,127 ; money at interest, $325,920. Capital invested 

 in manufactures, over $50,000. 



Miscellaneous. — The first Superior Court for this county 

 was held at Hillsborough, by Judge Early. The first election 

 was held in January, 1808. 



Name. — This county received its name to commemorate the 

 services of Israel Putnam, a hero of the Revolution, who was 

 born at Salem, Massachusetts, January 7, 1718. The accounts 

 we have of his intrepidity border on the marvellous. His bold 

 attack of a wolf, while in her den, is related with great parti- 

 cularity, in a memoir written by General Humphrey, and need 

 not be repeated in this sketch. In the war which broke out 

 in 1755, between England and France, he was appointed a 

 captain of Rangers, and afterwards served under Generals 

 Abercrombie and Amherst, on the frontiers, and in Canada. 

 His numerous adventures would fill a volume. Upon one oc- 

 casion he was compelled to surrender to an Indian, who 

 bound him to a tree which stood directly between the fires of 

 the contending parties. The balls flew thick from each side ; 

 many struck the tree, whilst some passed over the sleeves and 

 skirts of his coat. During this time, a young savage amused 

 himself by hurling his tomahawk, to see how near he could 

 throw it without striking his head. The weapon struck in the 

 tree a number of times, at a hair's breadth from the mark. Af- 

 ter this, a Frenchman levelled his gun within a foot of his 

 breast, but it missed fire. Whilst a prisoner among the In- 

 dians, he endured the most shocking barbarities. In one in- 

 stance he was stripped, and a fire was kindled to roast him 

 alive ; but a French officer saved him. After the close of the 

 war, he commanded the Connecticut troops in an expedition 

 against the Western Indians. In 1762, when war was de- 

 clared between England and Spain, he had the command of 

 the Connecticut regiment, which was sent to Cuba, and was 

 present at the taking of the fortifications of Havana. 



He was ploughing in the field when he heard of the battle 

 of Lexington ; upon which, leaving his plough in the field, and 



