Indomitable
Putnam gave his men little rest, and was ever seeking to draw his
lines nearer to Boston and the enemy's ships. He virtually fought
with pick and shovel, and his working parties were often exposed
to fire while engaged in fortifying the positions successively
occupied. The Opinquake boys regarded themselves as well seasoned
to such rude compliments, and were not a little curious to see how
Zeb would handle a shovel with cannon-balls whizzing uncomfortably
near. The opportunity soon came. Old Put himself could not have
been more coolly oblivious than the raw recruit. At last a ball
smashed his shovel to smithereens; he quietly procured another and
went on with his work. Then his former neighbors gave him a cheer,
while his captain clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Promote
you to be a veteran on the spot!"
The days had grown shorter, colder, and drearier, and the
discomforts of camp-life harder to endure. There were few tents
even for the officers, and the men were compelled to improvise
such shelter as circumstances permitted.
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