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The Whites of Their Eyes: The Life of Revolutionary War Hero Israel Putnam from Rogers' Rangers to Bunker Hill
"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" remains one of the enduring, and most stirring, quotations of the Revolutionary War, and it was very likely uttered at the Battle of Bunker Hill by General Israel Putnam. Despite this, and Putnam's renown as a battlefield commander and his colorful military service far and wide, Putnam has never received his due from modern historians. In The Whites of Their Eyes, Michael Shay tells the exciting life of Israel Putnam. Born near Salem, Massachusetts, in 1718, Putnam relocated in 1740 to northeastern Connecticut, where he was a slaveowner and, according to folk legend, killed Connecticut's last wolf, in a cave known as Israel Putnam Wolf Den, which is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. During the French and Indian War, Putnam enlisted as a private and rose to the rank of colonel. He served with Robert Rogers, famous Ranger founder and leader, and a popular phrase of the time said, "Rogers always sent, but Putnam led his men to action." In 1759, Putnam led an assault on French Fort Carillon (later Ticonderoga); in 1760, he marched against Montreal; in 1762, he survived a shipwreck and yellow fever during an expedition against Cuba; and in 1763, he was sent to defend Detroit during Pontiac's rebellion. When the Revolutionary War broke out, Putnam--who had been radicalized by the Stamp Act--was among those immediately considered for high command. Named one of the Continental Army's first four major generals, he helped plan and lead at the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he gave the order about "the whites of their eyes" and argued in favor of fortifying Breed's Hill, in addition to Bunker Hill. Most of the battle would take place on Breed's. During the battles for Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island during the summer of 1776, Putnam proved himself a capable and courageous battlefield commander with a special eye for fortifications, but he sometimes faltered in tactical and strategic decision-making. In the fall of 1777, the British tricked Putnam into withdrawing from the Hudson Highlands near West Point. Relieved of command, Putnam was exonerated by a court of inquiry, but--nearly sixty and opposed by powerful political elements from New York, including Alexander Hamilton--he spent the rest of the war on non-battlefield duty in Connecticut before being paralyzed by a stroke in 1779. The Whites of Their Eyes recounts the life and times of Israel Putnam, a larger-than-life general, a gregarious tavern keeper and farmer, who was a folk hero in Connecticut and the probable source of legendary words during the Revolutionary War--and whose exploits make him one of the most interesting officers in American military history.
412 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 29, 2023
I never feel good about giving a bad review, but honesty is a requirement. The Whites of Their Eyes by Michael Shay is an example of when a good idea and impeccable research cannot overcome a lack of real insight. The good of this work is easy to see. Shay has done extensive research to fill in many blanks in Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam's life. I learned quite a few tidbits I had no idea about including Putnam's sojourn to Cuba.
The fatal flaw is that Putnam was not as prolific as other Revolutionary characters who left extensive correspondence or performed such heroic feats that others spoke about them endlessly. Also, by the time of the Revolution, Putnam was older and not nearly as dynamic as the other immortal Patriots. This leaves Shay with the unenviable task of cobbling together a story without much insight into what drove Putnam and what he thought about all the events of his life. Shay does his best but the final product ends up feeling stilted at times while at other times Putnam disappears from the narrative altogether.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Globe Pequot.)
The fatal flaw is that Putnam was not as prolific as other Revolutionary characters who left extensive correspondence or performed such heroic feats that others spoke about them endlessly. Also, by the time of the Revolution, Putnam was older and not nearly as dynamic as the other immortal Patriots. This leaves Shay with the unenviable task of cobbling together a story without much insight into what drove Putnam and what he thought about all the events of his life. Shay does his best but the final product ends up feeling stilted at times while at other times Putnam disappears from the narrative altogether.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Globe Pequot.)
September 30, 2023
A truly inspirational novel on a true hero of the revolutionary war. The courage and hardships endured were heartbreaking and further illustrated what some sacrificed for our country. A must read!
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 7, 2023
Israel Putnam often does not get mentioned in a biography of his own. Thankfully Michael Shay has done this and placed Putnam into the center of the American Revolution particularly Bunker Hill. Readers are in for a treat as Israel Putnam’s life is chronicled. Absolutely a great read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews