Old
Number Four by George I. Putnam
Illustrated
by R. Alden Burt. Published by Equity Publishing Corporation, Orford, NH, c.
1965. 164 pages. Upper elementary/junior
high reading level. Historical fiction.
In
my now-favorite book story in Niantic, CT, I came across this book. It was
signed by the wife of the author and was priced a little higher than I usually
go, but I had never seen the title and since historical fiction is my very
favorite genre, I decided to get it. So glad I did.
The
author, George I. Putnam, “was born on the 24th day of April 1860 in
the town of Napanoch, New York. After spending his early years in Charlestown,
New Hampshire, he embarked upon a colorful and adventurous life. He graduated
from West Point with the Class of 1885 but resigned from military service in
1889. He wrote two books, “In Blue Uniform” and “On the Offensive”, before
taking a job as reporter for the Denver
Times, and later, the New York Times. For eleven years, 1895-1906, he owned, edited
and published the weekly, Claremont
Advocate. After selling this enterprise in 1906 he married Miss Isabella
Grieve O’Neil of Claremont and moved to Charlestown where they resided until
1923. During World War I he formed and trained a company of State Guards and
after the war was over, became editor of the Claremont Daily Eagle for several years. The remainder of his
seventy seven years was spent in San Diego, California.” (author information
from the dust jacket). Don’t confuse him with George P. Putnam, the widower of
Amelia Earhart, a generation later. Perhaps they were related though??
“The
outstanding illustrations for this book were done with imagination, skill and
great ability by R. Alden Burt, a northern New England artist, known for his
fine pen and ink technique.” (artist information from the dust jacket).
Amazon’s
review of the plot:
“A bulwark on the frontier of American
civilization during the French and Indian War-more than just a fortress to the
pioneers of its day-home to many-loved by all-attacked by her enemies-defended
by her stalwart inhabitants-the memory of Old Number Four is not among the
missing when history calls its roll. Proud, and justly so, she stood to the
fore in America's early march toward destiny. In the early 1700's life on the
frontier was not easy. King George's War, 1744-1748, and the French and Indian
War, 1754-1763, both left indelible marks on the pioneers of that period. Too,
it is impossible to erase the enviable record of an old wooden fort located on
the eastern shore of the Connecticut River where Charlestown, New Hampshire,
now stands. Old Number Four was one of the last strongholds against a savage
wilderness inhabited by shadowy Indians and ruthless French. Numerous pen and
ink illustrations excite the imagination and provide a delightful sense of
sharing in an era of inland conflict, exploration and settlement.”
If reading this book
with your family, I encourage you to get your maps out to help understand the
significance of this distant outpost of the northern New England frontier of
the times. Also, help your readers understand the bigger picture of what was
going on in Europe, especially between England and France, and of the War of
the Austrian Succession, and how these events eventually influenced the
American frontier of the Connecticut River valley. The author also documents at the bottom of
some of the pages his sources for the historical information presented,
including some primary source records of letters and town records. These would
be fun to find and take a look at as well.
The main characters
with whom young people will identify are James and Little Susannah. These two
young people come to Old Number Four under very different circumstances. They
meet and eventually fall in love and marry following the book’s end. Their
relationship over the two years of the book’s plot is pure and sweet, and fired
by their growing understanding of the courage and character of each other.
I was impressed with
the characterization that Putnam presents. He has a wonderful way of describing
and developing the characteristics of each major person in the plot. From the
foolish traitorous Jasper Dyke, to the loyal dog Traynor, to the two men in
charge of the fort Captain Stevens and Colonel Stoddard, the author paints a
distinct picture in the reader’s mind of these and their strengths and
weaknesses. Here is a quote of his description of Captain Stevens, “…rose with
the dignity of the born commander and assumed control. He was a four-square
man; a yes-and-no man; post-true; short, compact, very ruddy, with a keen blue
eye as clear as ice. He said little, running to deeds rather than words; yet he
could speak, and speak well, when occasion called. His was the spirit of calm
dominance. The respectful attention and obedience of men was his birthright.
Few would run counter to him by thought, word or deed.” Many of the characters
Putnam presents are real-life people of the age and events. That, along with
his thorough knowledge of the times, make the book’s story believable.
I highly recommend
this book for your American history studies of this time period: 1744-1763. If
you do read it, please let me know what you think and if your family enjoyed
it.
Recommended
additional books to aid your studies:
The Young Gun-Bearer
by Browne. King George’s War and the Siege of Louisburg.
Colonial Living by
Edwin Tunis
Colonial Craftsmen
by Edwin Tunis
Mill by David
Macaulay. Since the newly-built mill at Old Number Four plays an important part
in the story. This book seems to cover the 1800s more but still it might be
helpful for younger readers to see what a mill actually looks like and how
helpful and important it was to frontier families.
Courage to Command:
A Story of the Capture of Louisbourg by MacDonald. Winston Adventure series.
Fantastic Breeds:
Americans in King George’s War by Phillips.
Northern Lights by
Rawlyk. I have not read this but it comes recommended by someone I highly
respect.
The Story of the
French and Indian War by Reeder
Master of the Peaks
by Altsheler
Rogers’ Rangers and
the French and Indian War by Bradford Smith, a Landmark book.
River of the Wolves
by Stephen Meader
Master Entrick: An
Adventure 1754-1756 by Michael Mott
The French and
Indian Wars by Russell, American Heritage Junior Library
The Matchlock Gun by
Walter D. Edmonds, Newbery Medal book
The Gold-Laced Coat,
a Story of Old Niagara by Helen Fuller Orton
In Enemy Hands, a
Story of the French and Indian War by Natalia Belting
Forts in the
Wilderness by Edith McCall
New Hampshire by Bernadine
Bailey
Massachusetts by
Bernadine Bailey
The Colony of New
Hampshire by Lengyel. A First Book.
The Colony of
Massachusetts by Dickinson. A First Book.
The American Indian
Story by May McNeer
Indian Summer by
Monjo, An I Can Read book
Pathfinder,
Leatherstocking Tale of the French & Indian War by Cooper
Calico Captive by
Elizabeth George Speare
and this youtube
video about the historic site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a0V3V0OgtQ
And perhaps do some
research about Captain Phineas Stevens and Colonel Sampson Stoddard. Very
interesting and influential men of their time. Also the French officer that led
the campaign against Old Number Four, Joseph Boucher de Niverville and whose
career was the longest of any Canadian officer in the 1700s. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/boucher_de_niverville_joseph_5E.html
(Book
review by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved. July 18, 2017)
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