Haldimand Sumner Putnam (October 15, 1835 – July 18, 1863) was a brevet

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. He was killed at the

Second Battle of Fort Wagner The Second Battle of Fort Wagner, also known as the Second Assault on Morris Island or the Battle of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, was fought on July 18, 1863, during the American Civil War. Union Army troops commanded by Brig. Gen. Quincy Gil ...

Early life

Putnam was born in Cornish,

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...

on October 15, 1835. He was the son of John L. Putnam, who was both a farmer and Judge of Probate for Sullivan County. Haldimand Putnam enrolled in the

West Point Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

at the age of sixteen, and graduated in 1857 with high honors.

Career

Soon after graduating, he was brevetted a second lieutenant in the

Corps of Topographical Engineers The U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers was a branch of the United States Army authorized on 4 July 1838. It consisted only of officers who were handpicked from West Point and was used for mapping and the design and construction of federal ...

. He immediately joined the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

, and was stationed at several points throughout the western frontier. He soon was commissioned second lieutenant in the Engineer Corps, and later promoted to

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

American Civil War

When the war started, he was ordered to carry a dispatch to

Fort Pickens Fort Pickens is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on Santa Rosa Island in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It is named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. The fort was completed in 1834 and was one of the few ...

. He accomplished his mission, but on his return north he was seized by the Confederates at Montgomery,

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...

. He was imprisoned for several days. After his release, he was placed under the command of General

Irvin McDowell Irvin McDowell (October 15, 1818 – May 4, 1885) was a career American army officer. He is best known for his defeat in the First Battle of Bull Run, the first large-scale battle of the American Civil War. In 1862, he was given command ...

. He participated in the

First Battle of Bull Run The First Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also known as the Battle of First Manassas

, and gained the brevet of major for gallantry. In October he returned to New Hampshire to take command of the 7th New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment, which had been raised by Lieutenant Colonel

Joseph Carter Abbott Joseph Carter Abbott (July 15, 1825October 8, 1881) was a Union Army colonel during the American Civil War who was awarded the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers and a Republican United States Senator from the state of North Carolin ...

. Putnam became colonel of the regiment in December 1861. It was stationed first at Fort Jefferson, Tortugas Island, then St. Augustine,

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

, then Port Royal,

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

, and then around Charleston, South Carolina, South Carolina. In 1863, Putnam commanded a

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division. B ...

in the Stono Inlet expedition as well as in the capture of Morris Island. He was promoted to captain in the Regular Army in March 1863. However, he had been an acting

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

for several months preceding the

, on July 18, 1863. In the battle, he led the 2nd Brigade, which was composed of the 7th New Hampshire, 62nd Ohio, 67th Ohio, and 100th New York. He was killed by a musket ball to the head while rallying his men. His body was not recovered.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Putnam, Haldimand S. 1835 births 1863 deaths People from Cornish, New Hampshire Union military personnel killed in the American Civil War Union Army colonels People of New Hampshire in the American Civil War