A Generous Foe
Israel Putnam was brave, bluff, and honest, and he was also compassionate.
During the French and Indian War, the enemy’s wounded lay dying and neglected on one of the battle-fields.
After the fierce fighting was over, Putnam himself hurried out onto the field, to tend the poor fellows. He gathered them together into one place. He gave them what food and drink he could get. He furnished each with a blanket. Under one badly wounded French sergeant, he placed three blankets, and laid him in a comfortable position against a tree.
Gratefully, the suffering man squeezed his hand, while Putnam said reassuringly:—
“Ah! depend upon it, my brave soldier, you shall be brought to the camp as soon as possible, and the same care shall be taken of you as if you were my brother.”
At the Battle of Princeton a Scotch Captain of the British Army was desperately wounded in the lungs and left for dead. Putnam found him in great pain, with no surgeon, and without any friend to cheer him. He had him supplied with every comfort and the best of care.
One day, when Putnam was visiting him, the Scotchman said:—
“Pray, sir, what countryman are you?”
“An American,” answered Putnam.
“Not a Yankee!” exclaimed the Scotchman.
“A full-blooded one,” replied Putnam.
“I’m sorry for that!” rejoined the Scotchman with an oath. “I did not think there could be so much goodness and generosity in an American, or, indeed, in anybody but a Scotchman!”
Thanks to Putnam’s friendly Yankee care, the Scotchman recovered.