Israel Putnam
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- "Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!"
- ―Israel Putnam speaking to his men at Battle of Bunker Hill.[src]
Israel Putnam (1718 – 1790) was an American general in the Continental Army who fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War. During the battle, he was approached by the Assassin Ratonhnhake:ton, who desired a Patriot victory as the British troops were under the command of a Templar, Major John Pitcairn. To achieve this, Putnam tasked him with disabling two British frigates who were bombarding the nearby area from the harbor. Once the deed was done, Putnam rallied his troops, delivering his famous "Whites of their Eyes" speech, as Ratonhnhake:ton set out to assassinate Pitcairn. He succeeded in killing the major, but nevertheless, Putnam was outnumbered and forced to retreat, granting the British a Pyrrhic victory.
One year later, Ratonhnhake:ton was captured by the Templars and falsely accused of plotting to assassinate General George Washington, a crime the Templars themselves had committed. He later escaped execution and killed the true conspirator, Thomas Hickey, before he could strike Washington. When surrounded by armed guards after murdering Hickey, it was Putnam who arrived to vouch for Ratonhnhake:ton's innocence, proclaiming him a hero to the Patriot cause.
Gallery
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Concept art of Israel Putnam.
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Israel Putnam smoking a cigar.
Reference