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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1857

Vol. II
p680
1767

(Born N. H.)

Haldiman​a S. Putnam

(Ap'd N. H.)

8

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1853, to July 1, 1857, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Bvt. Second Lieut, Top. Engineers, July 1, 1857.

Served: as Asst. Top. Engineer, at Troy, N. Y., the headquarters of the Department of the East, July 27 to Nov. 25, 1857, — at Washington, D. C., in the Office of the Mississippi Delta Survey, Nov. 25, 1857, to Mar. 26, 1858, — on Utah Expedition, Mar. 28, 1858, to May 2, 1859, — on Exploration of a new route from Salt Lake to the Pacific Coast, May 2 to Dec. 1, 1859, — and in making maps and report at Washington, D. C., of Reconnoissance in Utah, Dec. 1, 1859, to May 25, 1860; on leave of absence, May 26 to Oct. 22, 1860; and as Assistant in office of Exploration and Surveys, at Washington, D. C., Oct. 22, 1860, to Apr. 21, 1861.

Second Lieut., Top. Engineers, Apr. 1, 1861.

Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑63: as Mustering Officer at Providence, R. I., Apr. 21 to May 8, 1861, and at Annapolis, Md., May 8‑27, 1861; on the staff of Brig.‑General Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.McDowell, May 27 to Oct. 17, 1861, in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., and in

(First Lieut., Top. Engineers, Aug. 3, 1861)

the Manassas Campaign of July, 1861, participating in the Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861; in organizing his Regiment at Manchester,

(Bvt. Major, July 21, 1861,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services in the Manassas Campaign)

N. H., Oct. 17, 1861, to Jan. 14, 1862; in command of Regiment at Ft.

(Colonel, 7th New Hampshire Volunteers, Dec. 14, 1861)

Jefferson, Tortugas, Fla., Mar. 10 to June —, 1862, — at Beaufort, S. C., June‑Sep., 1862, — at St. Augustine, Fla., Sep., 1862, to Mar., 1863, —

(Captain, Corps of Engineers, Mar. 3, 1863)

at Hilton Head, S. C. (commanding Brigade), Apr., 1863, participating in an Expedition to Stono Inlet, Apr. 4‑11, 1863, — at St. Augustine, Fla., Apr.‑May, 1863, — at Fernandina, Fla., May‑June, 1863, — at Hilton Head, S. C., June, 1863, — at Folly Island, S. C., June‑July, 1863, — in Descent upon Morris Island, S. C., July 10, 1863, — Siege of Ft. Wagner,

(Bvt. Lieut.‑Col., July 10, 1863,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Descent upon Morris Island, S. C.)

(Bvt. Colonel, July 18, 1863,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Assault of Ft. Wagner, S. C.)

July 10‑18, 1863, — and Assault of Ft. Wagner, S. C., July 18, 1863.

Killed,​1 July 18, 1863, in the Assault of Ft. Wagner, S. C.: Aged 26.

Burial: "Body never recovered"


The Author's Note:

1 Captain Putnam was killed by a shot in the head, on the parapet of Ft. Wagner, which he was one of the first of the Stormers to reach in leading his Regiment to the Assault. He fell while fearlessly cheering on his troops amid the hottest fire, to hold possession of the work so heroically gained, his last words being, "Hold on for a minute, my brave men, our reinforcements are coming."


Thayer's Note:

a A cenotaph (q.v.) gives his first name as Haldimand.


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