His courage was of the sort that shuts its eyes to the consequences and goes straight ahead, in the path of duty and rectitude.
Soon after the massacre at Fort William Henry, General Webb was relieved of his command and succeeded by General Lyman, an old soldier under whom Putnam had already served.

Even old soldiers make mistakes, as will now be shown.

Having despatched one hundred and fifty men into the forests adjacent to Fort Edward, to cut timber for strengthening the fortification, General Lyman sent along a company of regulars to protect them against possible attacks by Indians.

This was a prudent measure; but the commander had not counted upon the wary nature of the foe.

He should have sent out the Rangers, who knew the Indians and their ways and would have provided protection, without a doubt.