Travel in Time with Dan: Fictional Interview with General Israel Putnam, The Wolf Hunter and Citizen Soldier (1718–1790)
Dan: Hello everyone! This is Dan Blanchard with the Travel in Time with Dan Show, where we mix travel, history, and leadership. Today, I’m in Hartford, Connecticut, but our story takes us back to the 1700s—to the life of one of Connecticut’s most fascinating and fearless figures: General Israel Putnam. Welcome, General!
Israel Putnam: Thank you, Dan. It’s a pleasure to be remembered. I never sought fame, but it seems my name has traveled farther than I ever did on horseback.
Dan: It sure has! You were once a huge celebrity—maybe even more famous than George Washington for a time. But most people today remember you as “the wolf guy.” Let’s start there. What really happened with that legendary wolf?
Israel Putnam: Ah, yes—the she-wolf of Pomfret. I had moved from Massachusetts to what folks called the “Connecticut wilderness.” Life there was rough, and farmers depended on their livestock to survive. But one winter, a she-wolf began slaughtering sheep all across the countryside—seventy of mine in one night. We tracked her to a small cave, but no one dared go in. So, I tied a rope around my legs, handed the other end to my men, and crawled in with a torch. When I saw her glaring back at me, I shouted, “Pull me out!” They did, and I grabbed my musket, went back in, and fired before she could leap. That was the last wolf in Connecticut—or so they say.
Dan: That story still gives people chills! And now there’s even a monument—the Putnam Wolf Den—in Pomfret to commemorate it. But you were much more than a wolf hunter. You became a soldier who helped shape the future of this nation.
Israel Putnam: Indeed. The French and Indian War came soon after. I fought hard, learned quickly, and was invited to join Rogers’ Rangers, an elite unit—our version of what you’d now call special forces. We were trained to move fast, think independently, and use the terrain to our advantage. Those lessons served me well later during the Revolution.
Dan: You were also one of the early patriots—part of the Sons of Liberty, correct?
Israel Putnam: That’s right. We were farmers, merchants, craftsmen—ordinary men who refused to be treated as second-class subjects. In Connecticut, I helped organize our own chapter. When the British imposed the Stamp Act, I went straight to Governor Fitch and told him plainly, “We will not pay this tax. Don’t you dare enforce it.” Perhaps I was a bit… direct. But sometimes a leader must speak with conviction. The governor backed down, and the people of Connecticut stood firm.
Dan: So, you were already a man of action before the Revolution even began. And when it did—you didn’t hesitate.
Israel Putnam: When the fighting started in Massachusetts, I dropped my plow right where it stood and rode my horse over a hundred miles to join the battle. At Bunker Hill, I told the men, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” Ammunition was scarce, and we needed every shot to count. Whether I was the first to say it or not doesn’t matter—it became our rallying cry. We fought fiercely that day. Courage and discipline won more respect than any number of bullets.
Dan: That image of you—leaving your farm, taking up arms, fighting for freedom—made you a national hero. People admired that you were what they called a citizen soldier.
Israel Putnam: Aye. I was a farmer before the war and a farmer after it. I never wanted power or glory. I only wanted liberty—for my family, my farm, and my country. In those days, when duty called, we didn’t wait for someone else to answer. We did what needed to be done. That’s what makes a republic strong—citizens willing to serve, not just command.
Dan: Today, your name still appears across Connecticut—Putnam, Connecticut; Putnam State Forest; Putnam Cottage in Greenwich; even schools that bear your name. You left quite a legacy.
Israel Putnam: That’s kind of the people of this state. I’m proud if my name reminds them that courage and duty aren’t just words. They’re actions. Every generation must decide what kind of country it wants to be—and that decision starts with ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Dan: Speaking of courage and duty, what leadership lessons do you think your life teaches us today?
Israel Putnam: Leadership is simple, Dan, but never easy. First, courage—you must face danger even when you’re afraid. Second, toughness—the kind that endures hardship without complaint. Third, thinking boldly—sometimes victory depends on doing what the enemy doesn’t expect. But above all, leadership means service. I never asked my men to do anything I wouldn’t do myself. When they saw me fight beside them, they knew I valued their lives as much as my own. That’s why they followed me.
Dan: That’s timeless advice. Courage, toughness, and service—the pillars of real leadership. Any final words for the people of Connecticut and beyond?
Israel Putnam: Remember this: a free nation depends on citizens who act with courage, not comfort. Whether you’re fighting a war, facing injustice, or standing up for what’s right—lead with integrity, and others will follow. Drop the plow when duty calls, but don’t forget to pick it up again when the work of peace begins.
Dan: Thank you, General Putnam. Your story reminds us that leadership doesn’t come from titles—it comes from courage, service, and heart.
Israel Putnam: Well said, Dan. May we all strive to be citizen soldiers in our own way.
Dan: From Hartford to Pomfret, from the Wolf Den to Bunker Hill, Israel Putnam’s legacy endures as a testament to the bravery and resilience that built this country. Until next time, keep traveling through time—and keep leading with courage.
