Washington's Engineer by Norman Desmarais (best romantic novels in english TXT) 📗

led the defense of Bunker Hill, and his men adored him, but this was his last great exploit. He was not well fitted for conducting long-drawn-out campaigns that required definite knowledge and accuracy of details. He was impatient and peevish at times. Washington himself even had difficulties with him.

Lieutenant Colonel Radière was very different. His training and gifts were diametrically opposed to Putnam’s, and the two could not understand one another. Radière was very punctilious and guided by knowledge of principles. He worked by exact rules and was used to weighing the pros and cons before beginning operations. He was incapable of comprehending Putnam’s attitude and refused to allow himself to be disturbed. He persistently continued acting in his own meticulous way.

DEFENSES OF THE HUDSON

Radière’s date of arrival in the Highlands is unknown because one or two early memorials have not been preserved. His first letter in the Papers of the Continental Congress is dated “New Windsor, December 13, 1777.” He drew up an elaborate plan for the defenses of the Hudson River dated January 2, 1778, which begins,

To the Honorable Major General Putnam and to the Council of War called for fixing a plan of Defence for Hudsons River.

The Memorial of Luis de la Radiere, Col. of Engineers, showing the reasons for fortifying the HILL upon which FORT CLINTON was, in preference to any other place.

GENTLEMEN

I have requested General Putnam to call a Council of War in order to lay before you my thoughts concerning the Settlement of a Fort for the defence of Hudsons River. It is the more necessary that I make you acquainted with the reasons on which my opinion is founded, as many of you may not concur with me in it. But am in hopes that the perusal of this memorial will accord our sentiment.3

Since Radière’s plan was not followed, it has been omitted here.

• • • • • • • • •

Conclusion:

You have certainly observed, Gentlemen, in this Memorial that there are many arguments for fortifying the Hill upon Fort Clinton, & very few for fortifying West Point; as also the arguments for fortifying Fort Clinton are stronger than those for fortifying West Point. Therefore I think that you will conclude with me that a fort must be built on Fort Clinton.

I will read to you Gentlemen a Memorial about all the preparations necessary for the building of this Fort & for the Obstructions of Hudsons River. I have two others ready concerning different parts of the same subject. After the reading of which I will request General Putnam to settle a general plan of what is to be undertaken & of the necessary preparations. Yet if any among you Gentlemen does not think that the place which I propose to you to be fortified is the best, I request you will again examine the reasons above mentioned and shew me Cause why they think my opinion is not well grounded, then I will adopt another. This business is of too great consequence not to be unanimous in our opinions.

I beg General you will direct to me your orders about the place to be fortified. I will execute them. It was my duty to make this representation, at present it is my duty to draw and take under my direction the works that shall be deemed advantageous by the Commander in Chief.4

WEST POINT FORTIFICATIONS

General Putnam and the other officers, together with the governor of New York, decided to fortify West Point, and the French engineer could not change their decision. When Radière asked them, as he practically did near the end of his memoir, “Show me your reasons for preferring West Point to Fort Clinton; if your arguments are stronger than mine, I will adopt your decision,” they had nothing to say because their minds worked in a totally different manner than his. They had made up their minds, and that was the end of it so far as they were concerned. Matters practically came to a standstill. General Putnam wrote to General Washington at Valley Forge,

Dear Sir

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I wrote Your Excellency that the place agreed upon to obstruct the navigation of the Hudson’s River was at West Point—Previous to that I had been with Governor Clinton, his Brother, the French Engineer and several others, to view that place. It was the opinion of all except the Frenchman, that it was the best and only effectual on the River. He could not prefer any other place but thought it was necessary to take more time to examine the ground etc. and it was near a month before we could have his opinion—which he at last gave in favor of Fort Clinton. This being contrary to the sentiment and expectation of every general officer, I was advised to wait on the Council and Assembly of this State for a final Determination. They at my Request, appointed a Committee for that purpose who have been these three days Reconnoitering the River and have now unanimously determined on West Point.

I have directed the Engineer to lay out the fort immediately—but he seems disgusted that every thing does not go as he thinks proper, even if contrary to the judgment of every other person. In short he is an excellent paper Engineer and I think it would be as well for us if he was employed wholly that way—I am confident if Congress would have found Business for him with them, our works would have been as well constructed & much more forward than they now are.5

Work on the fortifications progressed all through February 1778 but under great difficulties. During a temporary absence of General Putnam, the command devolved on another Connecticut man, General Samuel Holden Parsons. He wrote to General Washington on March 7,

Col. Laradiere finding it impossible to compleat the Fort and other Defences intended at this Post in such manner as to effectually withstand the attempts of the Enemy to pass up the River, early in the Spring and not