JD Putnam at Rest
by American Landscapes
Title
JD Putnam at Rest
Artist
American Landscapes
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
On October 2, 1861 John D. Putnam volunteered to serve in the Union Army and was assigned to Company F. Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry to fight the Confederates. Less than a year later, during the Battle of Shiloh, Putnam was shot by rebel forces and killed on April 7, 1862, while his regiment charged a rebel artillery battery. Well liked by his company comrades, he was buried where he fell, at the foot of a young oak tree. Thomas Steele, also from Putnam's home town, suggested to carve Putnam’s name into the tree so that his name should still remain to tell who was there at rest. This suggestion was carried out.
When the United States established a National Cemetery at Pittsburg Landing, Putnam’s body was re-located and his grave in the National Cemetery is, owing to these precautions taken by his comrades in 1862, one of the few bearing full name, company and regiment.
While Thomas Steele, a member of the Wisconsin Shiloh Monument Commissioners in 1901, visited the battlefield to select a site for the State monument, it was found that the tree had years ago been chopped down, but the stump remained, and though very badly decayed by age, Putnam's name was still legible. Steele secured the stump, had it photographed. Resolved to mark the spot because of its absolute and indisputable correctness as to the position of the Fourteenth Regiment at a certain time of day, Wisconsin reproduced the original stump in granite, including the information as cut into the tree by his comrades with the reverse side the legend relating the story as follows:
"J. D. Putnam, Co. F, 14th Wisconsin Vol. Inf., was killed here April 7, 1682 while regiment was advancing in line of battle against a Confederate Battery. His comrades buried him where he fell and cut his name in an oak tree which stood here. Inn 1901, Thomas Steele recognized the burial place, the name he helped to cut in 1862 still being legible on the stump. This enabled the Wisconsin commission to fix the line of regiment's advance, it's last tablet and place for state monument."
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January 2nd, 2022
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