Putney, Joshua
John M. McDonald interview — 1848-10-18
Joshua Putney (b.c.1764) recounts the fighting at the Davenport House during the Battle of Pines Bridge. He describes the mortal wounding of Colonel Christopher Greene, and notes that Major Amos Morrill (spelled here as Morris) was not present at the battle. Putney states that he is not aware of the site of Rhode Island Village, the location of the encampment of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. He concludes by describing Loyalist officers Gilbert Totten and Samuel Kipp.
Original findings from this interview
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
October 18th Joshua Putney aged 84: "When Davenport's house [was taken,] one Akerly broke in and entered first Colonel Green seized, threw him down, and was upon the point of despatching him with his sword when he received a cut in the arm which disabled him. Akerly was from near Pines Bridge.
- Major Morris happened to be out courting and escaped. The officer commanding at the Bridge and who insulted Totten escaped on the 14th May 1781, by accidentally being absent at the time of attack, two or three miles off. [General Montross tells part of this. J. M. M.] Dont know where Rhode Island Village was, unless it was the houses on the north side Pines Bridge — [Mrs Remsens] Flewellings, Widow Griffens and David Montross's, &c.
Totten was humane to prisoners and
48. and popular but Sam Kipp severe.
General Nathaniel Montross: "When Totten was up at Pines-Bridge in the Spring of 1781, and was insulted by the officer commanding the guard said to him, on parting: "When will you be up again with a flag?" (or, "When will another flag be sent up?) "The next flag that comes up," replied Totten, "will be a bloody one!" With these ominous words he departed.