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56-638: Ultimately attaining the rank of brigadier general during the Ohio campaign of 1792–1793, he became known as "Father of the Northwest Territory". Putnam was born in Sutton, Massachusetts . Rufus's father Elisha Putnem died when Rufus was 6 or 7, and Rufus temporarily lived with his paternal grandfather in Rhode Island . Elisha Putnam and Israel Putnam , who became a renowned general during

112-878: A commemorative stamp issued on July 13, 1937, by the U.S. Post Office which commemorated the 150th anniversary of the North West Ordinance of 1787. The engraving on the stamp depicts a map of the United States at the time with the North West Territory between the figures of Putnam (right) and Manasseh Cutler . Putnam's home in Marietta has been designated a National Historic Landmark in his honor. His home in Rutland, Massachusetts (the General Rufus Putnam House )

168-495: A 4-acre (1.6 ha) parcel of land. U.S. Route 9W , combined with NY Route 218 run north-south through West Point. New York Route 293 also runs northeast-southwest through the post. Running through the lower portion of the town is U.S. Route 6 , combined with the upper extent of the Palisades Interstate Parkway . The New York Central Railroad well into the 1950s operated several passenger trains

224-568: A campaign to take control of the Hudson River, so he had been interested in the plans and information of the defenses of West Point and other defenses on the Hudson River. Arnold wrote a series of letters to Clinton, one of which was written on July 12, making explicit the offer to surrender West Point to the British , later for a finalized offer of £ 20,000. On August 3, 1780, Arnold obtained command of West Point, which also gave him command of

280-734: A day on the West Shore Railroad through the academy's Gothic style station; both the limited stop trains bound for Albany and the local trains to Newburgh and Kingston made stops at the station. Service finally ended in 1958. Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District is the local school district. James I. O'Neill High School is its high school. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) maintains elementary and middle schools for children of military personnel on-post at USMA, but sends high school aged students who are dependents of on-base military personnel to O'Neill. In March 2022 USMA's contract with O'Neill

336-415: A one-star billet is two to four years. Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement. All brigadier generals must retire after five years in grade or 30 years of service, whichever is later, unless selected or appointed for promotion, or reappointed to grade to serve longer. Otherwise, all general and flag officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday. However,

392-506: A standing army as "dangerous", Congress demobilized American forces but left fewer than a hundred men at West Point. However, it was still the largest post in the army in the immediate years after the Revolutionary War. Favoring West Point due to its location and defenses, Henry Knox and Alexander Hamilton made the first official recommendation to establish a military academy at West Point in 1790. However, Congress rejected

448-453: Is 23.5% under the age of 18, and 0.4% who were 65 years of age or older. There were 860 households, out of which 79.5% were a married couple family household, 16.4% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 3.3% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average household size was 3.79. The median income for a household in the CDP was $ 121,219. About 2.3% of the population

504-697: Is abbreviated as BG in the Army, BGen in the Marine Corps, and Brig Gen in the Air Force and Space Force. The Civil Air Patrol also uses this grade for its National Vice Commander and some past National commanders. The rank of brigadier general has existed in the U.S. military since the inception of the Continental Army in June 1775. To prevent mistakes in recognizing officers, a general order

560-694: Is below the poverty line . In 1937, the West Point Bullion Depository was constructed and in 1938 opened to store silver bullion . In 1988, it became the West Point Mint , as a branch of the United States Mint and gained official status as a branch of the United States Mint on March 31 of that year. The West Point Mint has a deep storage of 54,067,331.379 fine troy ounces of gold. It sits on

616-733: Is located in the town of Highlands and is in Orange County . West Point and the contiguous village of Highland Falls are on the western bank of the Hudson River . West Point has a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfa ), with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold with moderate snowfall. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 27.5 °F (−2.5 °C) in January to 74.1 °F (23.4 °C) in July. The average annual precipitation

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672-653: Is on the National Register of Historic Homes and is currently being operated as a B&B. The town of Putnam, Ohio (now a part of Zanesville, Ohio ) was named for him. Fort Putnam (built by Rufus Putnam) is part of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. One of his grandsons, Catharinus Putnam Buckingham , served as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War . Brigadier General (United States) In

728-463: Is one silver star worn on the shoulder or collar, and has not changed since the creation of the rank two centuries ago. Since the Mexican–American War , however, the lower rank of colonel has been the normal rank appointed to command a brigade that is organic to a division ( e.g. , the 1st Brigade of the 94th Infantry Division , vice the 187th Infantry Brigade ). While separate brigades (e.g.

784-562: Is the nation's oldest service academy, and is metonymically called "West Point" as well. West Point has the distinction of being the longest continuously occupied United States military installation. West Point is located at 41° 23′ 42" N 73° 57' 18" W (41.395° N 73.955° W). According to the United States Census Bureau , the CDP has a total area of 25.1 sq mi (65 km ); 24.3 sq mi (63 km ) land and 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km ) water. It

840-912: The British Army in Roxbury , Massachusetts. After the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill , the Americans laid siege against the British in Boston. The long siege lasted for many months with neither side able to make any progress. At the urging of William Heath , Putnam used his experience working with British military engineers during the French and Indian war to build fortifications in Roxbury and other locations that were critical to

896-598: The Chief of Engineers of the Works of New York . He was soon promoted to engineer with the rank of colonel where he directed the building of fortifications which secured victories at Sewall's Point, Providence, Newport, Long Island, and West Point . In December, 1776, when the Continental Congress rejected his proposition to establish a national corps of engineers, Putnam resigned his commission. His resignation

952-568: The Mississippi River , which the Crown was going to grant to veterans of the French and Indian War in lieu of payment for their service. After the Battle of Lexington and Concord , Putnam enlisted the same day, on April 19, 1775, in one of Massachusett's first revolutionary regiments. Putnam later was commissioned in the Continental Army as a lieutenant colonel , under the command of David Brewer . Brewer's regiment first engaged with

1008-489: The Ohio and Muskingum rivers on April 7, 1788, where they established Marietta, Ohio , as the first European-American permanent United States settlement in the Northwest Territory. Putnam was appointed to serve as one of three judges of the Northwest Territory after Samuel Holden Parsons died. The territory had been historically occupied by Native American tribes, and more were driven west by colonial encroachment before

1064-888: The Ohio Company of Associates for the purchase and settlement of Western lands. He established the Company in Boston on March 3, 1786, together with Benjamin Tupper , Samuel Holden Parsons , and Manasseh Cutler . Its primary purpose was to settle the Northwest Territory , roughly the lands between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River, which was ceded to the US by Great Britain under

1120-739: The Revolutionary War were cousins. Ann Putnam , accuser of the Salem witch trials , was a first cousin once removed. After Rufus Putnam's mother married John Sadler, Rufus lived with his mother and stepfather in Sutton, where the family ran an inn . Putnam served with a Connecticut regiment from 1757 to 1760, during the French and Indian War . During the war, Putnam saw action in the Great Lakes region, and near Lake Champlain . After

1176-757: The Treaty of Paris (1783) . After passage of the Northwest Ordinance to organize the territory, the Company bought about 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km) of land north of the Ohio River , between the present day sites of Marietta, Ohio , and Huntington, West Virginia . Cutler had tried to purchase all the land between the Ohio and Scioto rivers, but the western half was optioned by the Scioto Company . It later failed without having purchased any of

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1232-573: The United States Armed Forces , a brigadier general is a one-star general officer in the United States Army , Marine Corps , Air Force , and Space Force . A brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below a major general . The pay grade of brigadier general is O-7. It is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral (lower half) in the other United States uniformed services which use naval ranks . It

1288-495: The 187th, commanded by then-BG William Westmoreland in Korea) were traditionally commanded by brigadier generals, this practice has ceased in recent history. Today, an Army or Marine Corps "BG" or "BGen," respectively, typically serves as deputy commander to the commanding general of a division or division-sized units and assists in overseeing the planning and coordination of a mission. A Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), as

1344-491: The 4th Regiment. Putnam's remaining military career was less eventful. In January 1783 he was commissioned as brigadier general . After the war was over, Putnam returned to Rutland, Massachusetts . In 1780 he had bought a farm confiscated from a Loyalist, and he settled there. He returned to working as a surveyor, inspecting lands in Maine (then part of Massachusetts). Putnam was a strong advocate of granting lands to veterans of

1400-553: The American-controlled portion of the Hudson. Arnold then intentionally started weakening the fort's defenses, and through a letter sent to Clinton, proposing a meeting with British Major John André to discuss information on West Point. A meeting was set for September 11, however, Arnold and André did not meet until September 21. Carrying the plans for West Point, André was captured on September 23 by three militiamen, and

1456-404: The CDP, with the average household size being 3.79 persons per household. The population density was 398.2 inhabitants per square mile (153.7/km ). The racial makeup of the CDP was 69.3% white , 5.4% African American , 0.2% Native American , 4.4% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , and 10.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.0% of the population. The age distribution

1512-443: The Hudson River, which was never tested by the British. The site comprised multiple redoubts , as well as Fort Putnam , situated on a high hill overlooking the river. Named after its builder, Revolutionary War General and engineer Rufus Putnam , the fort is still preserved in its original design. Parliament sent instructions to General Sir Henry Clinton to force George Washington out of West Point. Clinton decided to capture

1568-494: The President nominates an officer for appointment to fill that position. For all five uniformed services, because the grade of brigadier general is a permanent rank, the nominee may still be screened by an in-service promotion board. The rank does not expire when the officer vacates a one-star position. Tour length varies depending on the position, by statute, or when the officer receives a new assignment. The average tour length of

1624-534: The Revolution. As they had not ceded any land, they came into conflict with the arriving pioneers. They organized a coalition of tribes to try to expel the Americans from their territory. From 1792 to 1793, Putnam served as a brigadier general in Anthony Wayne 's Ohio campaign against these Native American tribes, including Shawnee , Lenape and Seneca , who were ultimately defeated. In 1796, Putnam

1680-830: The Revolution. He was one of the authors of the army's Newburgh Petition, which was submitted to Congress requesting land disbursements. There was pent-up land hunger among younger men in New England, where topography and long settlement restricted buying land. Putnam was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati , and one of the principal benefactors of the Leicester Academy in Leicester, Massachusetts, and served on its board of trustees. Putnam's advocacy for land grants led him, with partners, to establish

1736-521: The Second Precinct of Brookfield (now North Brookfield ), Massachusetts . Elizabeth died in 1762, possibly in childbirth. On January 10, 1765, Putnam married again, to Persis Rice (1737–1820), the daughter of Zebulon Rice and Abigail Forbush Rice of Westborough , Massachusetts. Putnam died on May 4, 1824. He was buried at Mound Cemetery in Marietta, Ohio . Rufus Putnam is depicted on

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1792-483: The Secretary of Defense can defer a general or flag officer's retirement until the officer's 66th birthday and the President can defer it until the officer's 68th birthday. Because there are a finite number of General officer positions, one officer must retire before another can be promoted. As a result, General and flag officers typically retire well in advance of the statutory age and service limits, so as not to impede

1848-544: The advice of the Secretary of Defense, the service secretary, and if applicable, the service's chief of staff or commandant. The President may nominate any eligible officer who is not on the recommended list if it serves in the interest of the nation, but this is uncommon. The Senate must then confirm the nominee before the officer can be promoted. Once the nominee is confirmed, they are promoted to that rank once they assume or hold an office that requires or allows an officer of that rank. For positions of office reserved by statute,

1904-645: The campus of the United States Military Academy , which is commonly called "West Point" as well. West Point is a census-designated place (CDP) located in the town of Highlands in Orange County , located on the western bank of the Hudson River. The population was 7,341 at the 2020 census . It is part of the New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ–PA Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark, NY–NJ–CT–PA Combined Statistical Area . The site for West Point

1960-435: The colonial troops to put up the defenses overnight allowing for the subsequent emplacement of artillery, brought from Fort Ticonderoga by Henry Knox weeks earlier, the next day. Putnam's success in establishing a fort in a matter of just hours took the British by surprise and left them in an untenable position, resulting in their evacuation of Boston by sea in the following weeks. General Washington appointed Putnam to be

2016-632: The information to West Point was found. After Arnold's betrayal, the fort, which was also known as Fort Arnold at the time, was renamed to Fort Clinton after General James Clinton. After the conclusion of the American Revolution, West Point was used as a storage facility for cannon and other military property used by the Continental Army and until November 28, 1779, was used as the temporary headquarters to George Washington, who called it "the most important Post in America" in 1781. Viewing

2072-546: The land. Putnam’s 1788 mapping of the Marietta Earthworks was described as “the genesis of the science of archaeology in the United States” by archaeologist Henry Clyde Shetrone and is one of the first detailed European descriptions of North American earthworks . In 1788 Putnam led a group of Revolutionary veterans to settle the land in what became Ohio. These pioneers arrived at the confluence of

2128-450: The main fort), was built as well. The southern and western walls were nine feet high and twenty feet thick. Three redoubts and batteries on the south were named Forts Meigs, Wyllys, and Webb. West Point was staffed by a small garrison of Continental Army Soldiers from early in 1776 through the end of the war. A great iron chain was laid across the Hudson at this point in 1778 in order to prevent British Navy vessels from sailing further up

2184-412: The medium capability (and sized) scalable Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with up to 20,000 Marines, is normally commanded by a Marine BGen. An Air Force brigadier general typically commands a large wing or serves as the deputy commander for a NAF . Additionally, one-star officers of all services may serve as high-level staff officers in large military organizations. U.S. law explicitly limits

2240-675: The permanent grade of brigadier general, eligible officers are screened by a promotion board consisting of general officers from their branch of service. This promotion board then generates a list of officers it recommends for promotion to general rank. This list is then sent to the service secretary and the Joint Chiefs for review before it can be sent to the President , through the Secretary of Defense , for consideration. The President nominates officers to be promoted from this list with

2296-427: The plain on West Point. General George Washington watched the construction of the fort closely and considered the fort to be General Alexander McDougall 's "first priority". In 1778, Major General Israel Putnam wrote, "The place agreed upon to obstruct the navigation of Hudson river was at West Point." A fort there, Fort Clinton, named after the governor 's brother, Colonel James Clinton (whose brigade built

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2352-403: The proposal, although earlier in 1790, New York merchant and American Revolution patriot Stephen Moore sold his estate (known as "Moore's Folly") to the United States, following an Act of Congress that solidified the sale on September 10, 1790, for $ 11,085, which meant Congress had gained full possession of the fort. The United States Military Academy was established at West Point in 1802. It

2408-413: The responsibilities of the rank expanded significantly. During the period from March 16, 1802, to January 11, 1812, the rank of major general was abolished and brigadier general became the highest rank in the U.S. Army. Foreseeing the need for an expanded general staff in case of war, which seemed imminent, Congress restored the rank of major general in January 1812. The insignia for a brigadier general

2464-419: The siege. After his initial success, he borrowed from Heath the book Attack and Defense of Fortified Places , by John Müller that showed him additional techniques for building defensive fortifications. Using Muller's ideas, Putnam devised a system for fortifying Dorchester Heights , overlooking Boston Harbor . Despite the frozen ground in early March, 1776, Putnam's plan of using timbers and fascines allowed

2520-520: The strategically important posts Stony Point and Verplanck's Point, which were twelve miles south of West Point. Clinton captured the forts on June 1, 1779. To block the British advance, Washington moved his troops further up the Hudson. Early on in May 1779, General Benedict Arnold had met with a Philadelphia merchant named Joseph Stansbury. Afterwards, Stansbury had gone to Sir Henry Clinton, to whom he offered Arnold's "services". Clinton had been pursuing

2576-487: The total number of general officers who may be on active duty. The total number of active duty general officers is capped at 218 for the Army, 62 for the Marine Corps, 170 for the Air Force, and 21 for the Space Force. The President or Secretary of Defense may increase the number of slots for one branch, so long as they subtract an equal number from another. Some of these slots are reserved by statute. For promotion to

2632-683: The upward career mobility of their juniors. West Point, New York West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States . Located on the Hudson River in New York , General George Washington stationed his headquarters in West Point in the summer and fall of 1779 during the American Revolutionary War , and later called it "the most important Post in America" in 1781 following

2688-523: The war's end. West Point also was the site of General Benedict Arnold 's failed attempt at treason during the Revolutionary War. West Point was first occupied by the United States Armed Forces in January 1778, when Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons and his brigade occupied West Point. From then to the present, West Point has been occupied by the United States Army. It comprises 25.1 sq mi (65 km ) land and water including

2744-554: The war, Putnam relocated to New Braintree , Massachusetts . There, he worked as a millwright from 1761 to 1768. While Putnam worked as a millwright, he devoted his free time to self-education, studying geography , mathematics , and surveying . In 1769, Putnam became a farmer and surveyor . Rufus Putnam, along with his cousin Israel Putnam and two others, traveled in 1773 to survey near present-day Pensacola , Florida . There, Putnam surveyed and chartered lands along

2800-439: Was "lacking" in the knowledge needed to hold his position. Thus it was completed under Polish Colonel Tadeusz Kościuszko between 1778–1780; it was a key defensive fortification, overlooking the turn in the Hudson River and the Great Chain . On January 27, 1778, Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons and his brigade, including elements of Connecticut Colony 's patriot militia , crossed an iced over Hudson River and climbed to

2856-404: Was appointed by the President as the first Surveyor General of the United States , a position he held until 1803. As Ohio residents organized to write a constitution and be admitted as a state, in 1802 Putnam was elected a Washington county delegate to the Ohio Constitutional Convention . He was appointed as a Trustee of Ohio University , where he served for two decades, from 1804 to 1824. It

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2912-404: Was approximately 51.47 in (1,310 mm) from 1991-2020; snow averaged at 35.7 in (91 cm) from 1991-2020, although this total may vary considerably from year to year. Extremes in temperature range from 106 °F (41 °C) on July 22, 1926, down to −7 °F (−22 °C) on January 22, 1984. As of the census of 2020, there were 7,341 people, and 860 households residing in

2968-416: Was constructed on public lands, under the terms of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Long participating in the Masons, a fraternal organization that expanded in the early nineteenth century, in 1808 Putnam was elected the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio . Established at work, in April 1761 Putnam married Elizabeth Ayers, the daughter of William Ayers, esquire of

3024-423: Was issued on July 14, 1775, establishing that brigadier generals would wear a ribbon, worn across the breast, between coat and waistcoat, pink in color. Later, on June 18, 1780, it was prescribed that brigadier generals would instead wear a single silver star on each epaulette . At first, brigadier generals were infantry officers who commanded a brigade ; however, over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries,

3080-444: Was originally picked because of the pronounced S-curve in the Hudson River at that point during the American Revolutionary War , and was the subject of a committee reporting on fortifications in the Hudson River in November 1775, which first recommended occupying the land. Construction of the fort was begun under Captain Louis de la Radiere as chief engineer of the fort, however, New York Governor George Clinton thought that Radiere

3136-413: Was short-lived and he eventually joined the Continental Army and served under Major General Horatio Gates . Putnam commanded two regiments in the battle of Saratoga . He continued to work on critical fortifications, including Fort Putnam at West Point in 1778. In 1779 Putnam served under Major General Anthony Wayne in the Corps of Light Infantry following the capture of Stony Point , commanding

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