Jul 16

Jul 16 Planning Fortifications with Rufus Putnam

Rufus Putnam oversaw the fortification of several important Patriot posts during the Revolutionary War.

Putnam would later go on to help turn the Ohio Territory into a State. He is sometimes referred to as the ‘Father of Ohio’.

While he certainly was important in this area, that particular title diminishes the important roles played by several other Founders, so I do not refer to him as such in this article. (I’d probably give Thomas Worthington that title, if i’m being honest.)

Rufus Putnam

As a young man, Rufus Putnam fought in the French and Indian War.

When he returned home to Massachusetts, Putnam worked as a simple millworker.

Rufus was studious and taught himself the trade of surveyor.

By 1769, he went with his cousin, Israel Putnam, to Florida to survey lands for the King.

Fortifying the Heights

When news of the Battle of Lexington and Concord arrived, Putnam signed up immediately.

He joined the year-long Siege of Boston until, in March of 1776, he came up with a plan.

General Washington liked Putnam’s plan and ordered him to carry it out.

Rufus worked with John Thomas and 2,500 soldiers to bring cannons up Dorchester Heights and fortify it...overnight!

When the British woke up in the morning they saw the cannons staring them down and two weeks later they had sailed away.

Chief of Engineers

The Redcoats were not gone for long.

They sailed into New York Harbor the following summer.

At this time, Washington appointed Putnam as Chief of Engineers.

Rufus busied himself building forts all across the Northeastern United States.

Unfortunately, when he made a recommendation that a national Corps of Engineers be created, the Continental Congress denied him. Putnam stubbornly resigned his commission in protest.

Brigadier General

Don’t worry, Rufus came back to the Continental Army almost immediately.

He led troops in several battles (most notably the Battle of Saratoga) and continued fortifying locations for the Patriots through the duration of the war.

In the final year of the war, Putnam was promoted to Brigadier General.

The Ohio Company

After the war, Rufus Putnam became interested in the lands of the Ohio Valley.

He was one of the creators of the Ohio Company of Associates. They were granted a gigantic tract of land in the Northwest Territory and Rufus led a group out to settle it.

Putnam was one of the founders of Marietta which became the first town established in the area.

Surveyor General

Putnam went on to become a massive figure in the building of Ohio.

He fought with Anthony Wayne in the Northwest Indian War and then was appointed Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory by President John Adams.

Rufus was a member of the Ohio Constitutional Convention (which led to Statehood) before ‘retiring’ as a trustee of Ohio University for the final two decades of his life.

Here are some other FOUNDERS OF OHIO:

Thomas Worthington Fathers Ohio

The Frozen Drowning of Samuel Holden Parsons

Return Johnathan Meigs’ Raid- The Battle of Sag Harbor

Putnam has an interesting place in the building of the early United States.

While he Putnam has a handful of books written about him, ‘General Rufus Putnam’ is probably the most complete.

If you’d like a copy you can get one through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).