Pvt. John D. Putnam, Company F, 14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, was
killed on Monday, April 7, during a charge against a Confederate
battery. He was buried where he fell, at the foot of a young oak tree.
Thomas Stone, one of the burying party, suggested that his name be
carved into the tree sufficiently low so that in case the tree were cut
down the name would remain.
When the national cemetery was established, Putnam’s body was removed to
it. Because of the precautions of his comrades in 1862, his is one of
the few graves marked with full name, company, and regiment.
In 1901, the Wisconsin Shiloh Monument Commission visited the field to
select a site for the State monument. They found that the tree had been
chopped down, but that the stump remained with the name of Putnam still
legible. The Wisconsin Commissioners chose this spot because of its
absolute correctness as to the position of the 14th Regiment. They
decided to reproduce the stump in granite and to place it on the exact
spot where the original had stood. This unusual monument to a private
was placed in position April 7, 1906.
[Illustration: _Putnam Stump._]
J. D. PUTNAM, CO. F, 14^TH WISCONSIN VOL. INF., WAS KILLED HERE
APRIL 7, 1862, WHILE REGIMENT WAS ADVANCING IN LINE OF BATTLE
AGAINST A CONFEDERATE BATTERY. HIS COMRADES BURIED HIM WHERE HE FELL
AND CUT HIS NAME IN AN OAK TREE WHICH STOOD HERE. IN 1901, THOMAS
STEELE RECOGNIZED THE BURIAL PLACE, THE NAME HE HELPED TO CUT IN
1862 STILL BEING LEGIBLE ON THE STUMP. THIS ENABLED THE WISCONSIN
COMMISSION TO FIX LINE OF REGIMENT’S ADVANCE, ITS LAST TABLET AND
PLACE FOR STATE MONUMENT.