THE REVOLUTION
The public services of Henry Ludington during the war for independence
were threefold in character. Each of the three parts was of much
importance, each was marked with arduous toil and frequent perils,
and each was performed to the full extent of his ability. Nor was the
sacrifice of personal welfare inconsiderable. We have seen that he
was the father of a large family, eight children having been born to
him prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and was
the leasehold occupant of extensive lands. It was no light thing to
absent himself from these. There was before him, moreover, the example
of another and senior officer, who, because of family interests and
engagements, had resigned his commission. That same commission had been
passed on to Henry Ludington, who might with equal grace and reason have
declined it or presently resigned it. There is, however, no indication
that he ever contemplated such a step. Leaving his lands and home in the
charge of his wife and children, the eldest of whom in 1776 was only
fifteen, while the youngest was a babe in arms, he gave himself with
whole-hearted devotion to whatever tasks his country might require of
him.
The distinctively military services of Henry Ludington began at an early
date. The first clash of arms after the Declaration of Independence
occurred on the shores of New York Bay. The retirement of the American
Army, after unsuccessful engagements, from Long Island, and then from
Manhattan Island, brought the theater of war closer and closer to
Dutchess County, and made the active participation of the militia more
imminent. Indeed, even before those operations, the militia was called
out to assist in securing the passes of the Hudson Highlands, and thus
preventing any communication between the British at New York and those
in Canada and the North Woods. The Convention or Legislature of the
State, in session at Harlem, on August 8, 1776, adopted the following war
measure:
RESOLVED unanimously that Brigadier General Clinton be, and he
hereby is, appointed to the Command of all the Levies raised,
and to be raised in the Counties of Ulster, Orange and West
Chester, agreeable to the Resolutions of this Convention of the
sixteenth day of July last.
RESOLVED that General Clinton be informed of this Appointment
and directed immediately to send Expresses to the Counties of
Ulster, Dutchess, Orange and West Chester, and order them to
hasten their Levies and to march them down to the Fort now
erected on the North side of Kings Bridge, leaving two hundred
men under the Command of a Brave & alert Officer to take
possession of and throw up works at the pass of Anthonys Nose.
RESOLVED that General Clinton be requested to order the Troops
of Horse belonging to the Counties of Ulster, Orange and West
Chester immediately to march to such posts as he may think
proper that they should Occupy, in order to watch the motions
of the Enemies Ships of war now in Hudsons River.
Extracts from the Minutes.
JOHN MCKESSON _Secry._
When the ships of war had landed an army, and this was moving
irresistibly northward, a committee of the Convention, meeting at
Fishkill as a Committee of Safety, on October 10, further ordered:
RESOLVED, that the Commanding officer of the militia of Ulster
County, do immediately send down 300 men of the Militia of the
County of Ulster, to Peekskill well armed and accoutred with
three days provisions.
RESOLVED, that the Commanding Officer on the south side of the
Mountains or High-Lands in the County of Orange, be directed
to order such a number of the militia from that part of the
said County which lays on the south side of the High Lands as
will be sufficient to Guard their shores, and to appoint a
commissioner to supply them with provisions.
And that the Commanding Officer on the north side of the
Highlands, in the said County, Order one hundred of the Militia
from the north side of the High Lands of the said County to
march without Delay to Peekskill taking with them three days
provisions.
RESOLVED that Benjamin Haight and Mathew Harper be
commissioners to supply them with provisions, and that this
Convention will provide means for defraying the Expense.
ORDERED, that the Brigadier Generals of the Counties of Albany,
Dutchess, Ulster and Orange, give orders to the several
Colonels in their Brigades to hold the one half of their
several Regiments in Readiness to march at an hour’s notice
with five days provisions.
RESOLVED, that all Ranges raised in the County of Ulster repair
immediately to Fishkill and be subject to the direction of the
Committee for enquiring into, detecting, and defeating all
conspiracies formed in this State against the Liberties of
America.
Extract from the Minutes of this Afternoon.
JOHN MCKESSON, _Secr’y_.
The turning-point in the campaign which began at Brooklyn occurred on
October 28, at White Plains. There, at Chatterton Hill, Washington once
more engaged the British, and once more was compelled to retire before
them. With the masterly strategy in which he was unrivaled by any soldier
of his time, however, instead of falling back upon the defenses of the
Hudson Highlands and thus inviting a conflict which might have cost him
the possession of that crucial point, he retreated in another direction,
south and west, thus drawing the British away from the Highlands and
leaving the latter secure. Had the British, instead of pursuing him in
that fruitless chase across the Jerseys, only to meet with disaster at
Trenton, hurled themselves against the forts at West Point and elsewhere
along the Hudson, they might easily have gained control of the Hudson,
and thus have effected a junction with their northern forces and have
altered the whole story of the war. We may suppose that that is what
Washington would have done had he been in Clinton’s place. The British
did not do so, but fell into the trap which the wily American had set
for them. In the battle at White Plains, however,—which is more to our
purpose than the subsequent campaign,—the militia was largely used, and
acquitted itself with credit. In an application for a pension made by
Joshua Baker of Dutchess County, it was set forth that “On or about the
1st day of August, 1776, he enlisted at a place called Fredericksburgh
in the County of Dutchess and State of New York at which place he was
residing. That he entered the company commanded by Captain Luddenton
in the regiment commanded by Col. Swartwout. That from Fredericksburgh
aforesaid he marched with the said company to Peekskill and after a
short time from thence to Kingsbridge in the county of Westchester, that
he remained at Kingsbridge until the month of October, when they were
ordered to White Plains, where he was in the engagement generally known
as the battle of White Plains. In this engagement one of the Chaplains
named Van Wyck was killed. Soon after the battle of White Plains he
marched with the said regiment to New Windsor where he was discharged.”
The “Captain Luddenton” mentioned was presumably Comfort Ludington, who,
as we have already seen, was an officer of the Dutchess County militia,
and the statement of Baker is clear indication that that militia was
engaged in the battle of White Plains.
Further evidence to the same effect, directly connecting Henry Ludington
with that battle, is found in the affidavit of Elisha Turner, who
declared “That in the fall of 1776 he was drafted for three months in
Captain Joel Mead’s Company, Lieut. Porter, and Seargents Fisher and
Brewsters in Colonel Ludington’s Reg’t New York State troops. That he
joined his company and marched to White Plains and then joined his
regiment and the Army, that he was present at the battle of White Plains
and afterward retired with the army up the river. That he remained with
his Regiment and company until his term of three months expired, when he
received a verbal discharge from his Colonel and Captain and returned
home.” Much other evidence to the same effect might be cited, were it
needed, which it is not. There can be no doubt that Henry Ludington with
his regiment was engaged at White Plains, and that he, himself, as a
representative officer of the Dutchess County levies, was chosen to serve
as an aide on the staff of Washington. The commander-in-chief appears
to have recognized in Colonel Ludington a man upon whose brain and arm
he might with confidence depend. It is a credible tradition that during
that battle Washington complimented him upon his soldier-like bearing,
and indirectly paid a tribute to his vigilance. A family tradition tells
that as the two stood side by side, with the rest of the staff about
them, Colonel Ludington noticed the British taking up a new position and
placing their artillery, screened behind shrubs and trees, and directed
Washington’s attention to the fact, which had been entirely unperceived
by the others. “Yes,” said Washington, approvingly, “I have been watching
them this long time.”
On November 6, the British began their fatuous movement toward New
Jersey, imagining that the American Congress at Philadelphia, rather than
the American Army and fortresses along the Hudson, was the strategical
objective. The American Council of War unanimously agreed that
Washington’s army should thereupon cross into New Jersey, anticipating
the British advance, while three thousand troops, including Colonel
Ludington’s Dutchess County militia, should be sent to reinforce the
defenses of the Highlands. Washington left White Plains on the morning
of November 10, and reached Peekskill at sunset of the same day, Colonel
Ludington’s regiment presumably accompanying him. After a careful
inspection of the works as far up the river as West Point, and after
giving directions for the disposition of the troops, on November 12 he
passed over into New Jersey, and went his way to the disaster of Fort
Washington, and the more than redeeming victory of Trenton. Meanwhile,
Colonel Ludington remained at Peekskill, where there presently was a
prospect of strenuous work. For having, as they imagined, put Washington
to hopeless flight in New Jersey, the British turned a part of their
attention to the very thing to which their chief attention should at
the outset have been given. Plans were made for an advance up the
Hudson, by land and water. West Point was to be avoided by marching up
the east shore, where the defenses were not so strong. Such a movement
must, of course, be resisted at all hazards. Washington, from his camp
on the Delaware, in what Thomas Paine described as “the times that try
men’s souls,” was able to spare enough attention from his own pressing
extremities to write words of warning and exhortation to Governor
Clinton, and in pursuance of his wise counsels the New York Convention,
at Fishkill, on December 21, adopted the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, from various Intelligence received of the motions and
Designs of the Enemy’s Army, it appears highly probable that
they meditate an attack upon the Passes in the Highlands on the
East side of Hudson’s River,
AND WHEREAS, the Term of the Enlistment of the militia under
the command of Brigadier General George Clinton which is at
present stationed to defend the Pass at Peeks Kill expires on
the last of this month, and that a great part of the Division
commanded by Major General Spencer, which is stationed at North
Castle on the 29th inst.
AND WHEREAS, his Excellency Genl. Washington by his Letter of
the 15th instant has warmly recommended to this state to exert
themselves in procuring temporary supplies of militia ’till
the new Levies of the continental army can be brought into the
Field,
RESOLVED, that the whole militia of the Counties of
Westchester, Dutchess and that part of the County of Albany
which lies to the southward of Beeren Island be forthwith
marched to North Castle in Westchester County, well equipped
with arms and ammunition and furnished with Blankets & six days
Provisions & a Pot or Camp Kettle to every six men, except
such Persons as the field Officers of the Respective Regiments
shall judge cannot be called into service without greatly
distressing their families, or who may be actually engaged in
the manufacturing of salt Petre, or of shoes and Cloathing for
the use of the army.
RESOLVED, that the said militia be allowed continental Pay and
Rations, and that such men as cannot furnish themselves with
arms shall be supplied from the continental store.
Colonel Ludington and his regiment therefore remained on duty at
North Castle until word came of the rout of the British at Trenton
and Princeton, and Washington’s triumphant return to the hills of
Morristown for the winter. All imminent danger of a British attack upon
the Highlands was then past, and the militia was permitted to return
home for a time. The respite was brief, however. On January 3, 1777,
Nathaniel Sackett was authorized by the Committee of Safety “to employ
such detachments of the militia of Dutchess County as are not in actual
service, as he may deem expedient, for inquiring into, detecting and
defeating all conspiracies which may be found against the liberties
of America.” Also, on March 25, the Convention took further action,
resulting in the issuance of this order by Governor Clinton:
To Colonel Morris Graham,
Pursuant to a Resolve of the Honorable the Convention of the
State of New York, dated the 25th day of March last, impowering
& requiring me until the first of August next to call into
actual Service all or any Part or proportion of the Militia as
well Horse as Foot of the Counties of Ulster, West Chester,
Dutchess and Orange, for the Defence of the Posts and Passes
of the Highlands, & frustrating the Attempts of the Enemy to
make Incursions into this State you are for these Purposes
forthwith, to draft by Ballot or other equitable Manner, one
hundred & thirty three Men of your Regiment & them compleatly
armed & equiped, cause to march, properly Officered, to Fort
Independence near Peek’s Kill there to join the Field Officers
who shall be appointed to command them. The Companies to
consist as nearly as may be of Sixty two Privates & to have a
Captain & two Lieutenants.
Given under my Hand at Poughkeepsie this 3d Day of April 1777.
GEO. CLINTON, _B. Gen._
Colonel Ludington appears at this time not to have been among those
called to duty at Peekskill, but to have been left for a few weeks among
those “not in actual service” who were to act under Nathaniel Sackett,
as already related, for the suppression of conspiracies. The call to
duty was not very well responded to by the other officers and men. The
militia had been in the field in the early part of the winter longer than
they had expected to be, and now, in the spring, they were desirous of
remaining at home as much as possible to attend to the season’s work on
their farms. This reluctance to respond to the call provoked this action
of the Convention, taken at Kingston on April 24:
WHEREAS it appears that a great Part of the militia of Dutchess
County have neglected to obey the orders of General Clinton
issued in consequence of a resolve of this House, for calling
out a part of the militia of the Counties of Ulster, Orange
and Dutchess to Garrison the forts and Guard the passes in the
Highlands.
RESOLVED that Major Lawrence and Mr. Zephaniah Platt be &
they are hereby appointed a Committee to repair forthwith to
Dutchess County to enquire into the reasons of such neglect,
that they use their utmost endeavours to convince the People
of the necessity of exerting themselves at this critical
Juncture, and that they make report to this Convention with all
convenient Dispatch in order that the most effectual measures
may be taken to induce a compliance with the aforesaid Resolve.
RESOLVED that General Clinton be & he hereby is empowered to
make such disposition with respect to the officers of the
militia under his Command as he shall judge most advansive of
the Public Service and where any extra expense shall accrue in
consequence of this Resolve which cannot be considered as a
Continental Charge this Convention will pay the same.
Extract from the Minutes.
ROBT. BENSON, _Secry._
There was, however, no question concerning the activity and zeal of
Colonel Ludington at this time. On April 25, the very day after the
adoption of the foregoing resolution by the Convention, a force of two
thousand British troops landed at Compo, near Fairfield, Connecticut,
under command of General Tryon, the former British governor of New
York, under whom Henry Ludington had once held a commission. It marched
hastily inland, and on the afternoon of the next day reached Danbury,
Connecticut, where there were large stores of provisions, tents, etc.,
for the American Army, many of which had been sent thither from Peekskill
for—as was supposed—greater security. Not only these, but also most
of the private houses in the town, were at once set afire, while the
soldiers made themselves drunk with looted spirits, and gave themselves
up to an unrestrained orgy. It was one of the most brutal and disgraceful
performances of British arms in all the war, and was unhesitatingly
denounced as such by self-respecting British officers. It does not appear
that the raid had any other object than the destruction of Danbury,
or the stores at that place, for as soon as the soldiers could be
sufficiently sobered up thereafter, a retreat toward the British shipping
on the Sound was begun. But on the American side the incident gave
occasion for one of the most thrilling and gallant exploits of the war.
It was on Friday afternoon that the landing was made at Compo, and it was
on Saturday afternoon that Danbury was burned. Patriot messengers rode at
top speed in three directions—toward New Haven to hasten Generals Arnold
and Wooster, who were already on their way; to meet General Silliman, to
expedite his juncture with the others; and to Fredericksburgh to tell
the news to Colonel Ludington, that he might furnish the troops which
the generals would need. Railroads, telegraphs and other annihilators
of time and space were unknown in those days. But the personal factor,
which after all dominates all the problems of this world, was active and
effective. At four o’clock Danbury was fired. At eight or nine o’clock
that evening a jaded horseman reached Colonel Ludington’s home with the
news. We may imagine the fire that flashed through the veteran’s veins
at the report of the dastardly act of his former chief. But what to do?
His regiment was disbanded, its members scattered at their homes, many at
considerable distances. He must stay there, to muster all who came in.
The messenger from Danbury could ride no more, and there was no neighbor
within call. In this emergency he turned to his daughter Sibyl, who, a
few days before, had passed her sixteenth birthday, and bade her to take
a horse, ride for the men, and tell them to be at his house by daybreak.
One who even now rides from Carmel to Cold Spring will find rugged and
dangerous roads, with lonely stretches. Imagination only can picture what
it was a century and a quarter ago, on a dark night, with reckless bands
of “Cowboys” and “Skinners” abroad in the land. But the child performed
her task, clinging to a man’s saddle, and guiding her steed with only a
hempen halter, as she rode through the night, bearing the news of the
sack of Danbury. There is no extravagance in comparing her ride with
that of Paul Revere and its midnight message. Nor was her errand less
efficient than his. By daybreak, thanks to her daring, nearly the whole
regiment was mustered before her father’s house at Fredericksburgh, and
an hour or two later was on the march for vengeance on the raiders.
They were a motley company, some without arms, some half dressed,
but all filled with a certain berserk rage. That night they reached
Redding, and joined Arnold, Wooster and Silliman. The next morning they
encountered the British at Ridgefield. They were short of ammunition and
were outnumbered by the British three to one. But they practised the
same tactics that Paul Revere’s levies at Lexington and Concord found
so effective. Their scattering sharpshooter fire from behind trees and
fences and stone walls, harassed the British sorely, and made their
retreat to their ships at Compo resemble a rout. Nor were instances of
individual heroism in conflict lacking. Arnold had his horse shot under
him as, almost alone, he furiously charged the enemy, and the gallant
Wooster received a wound from which he died a few days later. There were
far greater operations in the war than this, but there was scarcely one
more expeditious, intrepid and successful. Writing of it to Gouverneur
Morris, Alexander Hamilton said: “I congratulate you on the Danbury
expedition. The stores destroyed there have been purchased at a pretty
high price to the enemy. The spirit of the people on the occasion does
them great honor—is a pleasing proof that they have lost nothing of that
primitive zeal with which they began the contest, and will be a galling
discouragement to the enemy from repeating attempts of the kind.… The
people of New York considered the affair in the light of a defeat to the
British troops.”
[Illustration: View of highroad and plains from site of Colonel
Ludington’s house]
It was not long before there was a still more serious menace than the
Danbury raid. In June, 1777, there were indications that the British were
planning anew to gain possession of the Hudson River, and thus unite
their own northern and southern forces while dividing the eastern from
the middle and southern colonies. Colonel Ludington and his regiment
were therefore summoned to Peekskill, to strengthen the defenses of the
Highlands, and it was not without some difficulty that he was enabled to
respond to the call. Some of his men had become half mutinous. They had
been willing enough to rush to Danbury, but now, in the busy time of
the early summer, they objected to leaving their farms when there was no
enemy actually in sight. The same trouble was experienced by the other
militia commanders. On this occasion the period of service at Peekskill
was short. But on July 1, Washington wrote to Clinton that the British
were believed to be operating against Ticonderoga and its dependencies;
that Howe was preparing to evacuate the Jerseys to coöperate with the
northern army, and that there was danger of a sudden attack upon the
Highlands and the passes of the Hudson. He urged therefore, in the
strongest manner, that all available militia should be called out to
strengthen the garrisons at Peekskill and other places on the river.
The next day Governor Clinton reported the gist of this letter to the
Committee of Safety, adding that in consequence thereof he had “issued
Orders to Colonels Brinckerhoff, Ludington, Umphrey & Freeze of Dutchess
County to march their Regiments to Peek’s Kill.” But the result was not
altogether satisfactory. The men were ready enough for active service;
but they demurred at waiting idly in the camp while their farms at home
were suffering. On July 9, Clinton, in a quandary, wrote from Fort
Montgomery to the president of the Convention:
The Militia which I ordered to this Post & who came in with
great Expedition almost to a Man according to Custom begin
to be extreamly uneasy. They want to go Home, their Corn is
suffering, their Harvest coming on, and they cant see that it
is likely there will be any Thing for them to do here suddenly.
They have been frequently on the Dunderbergh to look down the
River & cant see a single Vessel in it; What shall I do with
them?
If I consent to their going Home they will Return when ordered
again with great Chearfulness. If I dont, they will go (many
of them at least) without Leave. I dont know what to do with
them &, therefore, shall not do any Thing, without your Honor’s
Directions which I should be glad to have this afternoon.
As a result of this appeal, General Putnam on July 11 issued an order
to the effect that, “considering the Busy Season of the Year, & how
important it is to the public as well as to themselves that the Militia
be at home in their Business at this Time, and not being wanted,
Altho’ he cannot say how soon they may be,” the three regiments which
first responded to the call, to wit, Ludington’s, Humphrey’s and
Brinckerhoff’s, were “dismissed with the General’s thanks for their
Alertness and for their good Services, relying upon it that the Zeal &
Ardor they have shewn in the great Cause we are engaged in will prompt
them to turn out without (_sic_) the utmost Alacrity on all future
Occasions.”
Another occasion was quickly supplied by the British, with their
activities at the north and their renewed menace against the Highlands.
On June 30, General Howe evacuated New Jersey, moved into Staten
Island, and prepared to advance up the Hudson. On July 1, Burgoyne with
his army appeared before Ticonderoga, and on July 6, the Americans
evacuated that fortress. Washington, then at Morristown, wrote on July
10 to the president of the Continental Congress: “In consequence of the
probability that General Howe will push against the Highland passes to
cooperate with General Burgoyne, I shall, by the advice of my officers,
move the army from hence to-morrow morning towards the North River.”
Though delayed somewhat by bad weather, he proceeded to Sufferns, and
thence to Galloway’s, in Orange County, New York, where he remained until
he ascertained that Howe was not going up the river, but was really
making a feint to cover a swift dash upon Philadelphia. Accordingly,
on July 23, Washington’s army was set in motion toward the Delaware,
leaving the Highlands to their local defenders. The inefficient and
half treacherous Gates presently superseded Schuyler in command of the
American Army at the north after the disastrous affair at Ticonderoga,
and it is probable that Washington doubted his ability to cope with
Burgoyne. At any rate, despite what he regarded as Howe’s “unaccountable
abandonment” of Burgoyne, Washington regarded the latter’s movements
with much apprehension, and frequently warned Clinton at the Highlands
to be on his guard against him. On July 31, he urged Clinton to call out
the militia to reinforce the garrisons, and Clinton wrote as follows
to the Committee of Safety, a letter which throws much light upon the
embarrassments from which he suffered:
The Proportion to be furnished by this State is 500 and it
shall be my first Business to issue the necessary Orders for
march’g them to the respective stations for which they are
intended.
I am nevertheless apprehensive that I shall find it extremely
difficult to compleat even this small Number. The Continental
Pay and Rations being far below the wages given for ordinary
Labor the Difference becomes a Tax rendered by personal Service
and as the Train Band List from the Exemptions arising from Age
Office & other Causes consists chiefly of the Middling & lower
Class of People this extraordinary Tax is altogether paid by
them.
Add to this that unless a proportionate Number is called out
of each County which in most Cases is inexpedient the County
affording the most Men is upon the same Principle charged
with a Tax to which the other Parts of the Community do not
contribute.
These Reasons are so clear as to be generally understood and
complained of by the Militia and unless those exercising the
Legislative Power of the State shall in their Wisdom devise
some Plan in which those Inconveniences will be obviated and
the Militia Duty become more equal I am extremely apprehensive
that any Orders for calling Detachments to the Field for a
limited Time will not hereafter be so duly obeyed as the Nature
of Military Command and the good of the service absolutely
requires. It wo’d be needless to observe to you, Gentlemen,
that tho my Office as Governor gives me the Command of the
Militia I am not vested with authority to promise even the
ordinary Continental Pay and subsistance to any greater
Number of Men than those required of me by his Excellency
the Commander in Chief, whose Requisition entitles those who
are called into actual Service in Consequence thereof to a
Compensation from the Continent at large.
In consequence of this letter of Clinton’s the Committee of Safety the
same day ordered that “Continental pay and rations be advanced on behalf
of the Continent, to all such Militia as his Excellency the Governor
shall think proper to call out.” Colonel Ludington was not included in
the summons to the Highlands, but was selected by Clinton for other
and, as it proved, actually more active service, in the borderland of
Westchester County. Clinton wrote to him as follows, from Kingston, on
August 1, 1777:
The Operations of the Enemy ag’t the State to the Northward as
well as the exposed Situation of some of the Southern Counties
to the Incursions of the Enemy from that Quarter, render it
expedient to call into actual Service, a very considerable
Proportion of the Militia in the Classing of the different
Regiments for these Services your Regiment & Colo. Fields’ with
the other Regiments of W. Chester County are to furnish 310
Men, including Non Commissioned Officers & Privates properly
officered armed & accoutred, as you’l see by the inclosed
Order; and, as you are appointed to take the command of this
Detachment, I desire that you will, immediately upon the
Receipt hereof, direct and forward to the Commanding Officers
of the other Regiments who are to furnish Men towards this
Detachm’t, one of the inclosed Resolutions & Orders, and exert
yourself in having them raised with all possible Expedition and
march them to such Stations in W. Chester County as will tend
most to the Protection of the Inhabitants and best conduce to
the Public Safety. Taking your Directions occasionally from the
Command’g Officer at Peeks Kill.
The Inclosed Resolutions of the Council of Safety subjecting
Exempts to a Proportion of the Common Burthen will, I hope,
enable you to carry these Orders into Execution with greater
Ease, especially as every Other Regt. in the State will furnish
an equal if not a greater Number of Men for the Service.
I am &c.
(G. C.)
Colo. Ludington.
The Troops will be allowed Continental Pay & Rations & a Bounty
to be raised agreeable to the within Resolve from the Fines
levied on the Exempts refusing Service.
A few days later another alarm was caused by the uncertainty which
attended the movements of the British fleet, which, after sailing from
New York to the capes of the Delaware as if to attack Philadelphia,
suddenly put to sea again and disappeared for a time. Washington
communicated his observations and suspicions to Clinton, and Clinton, on
August 5, countermanded his orders to Ludington in the following letter:
By Dispatches just Rec’d from his Excellency Genl. Washington
dated at Chester in Pensylvania 1st Aug’t, I am informed
that the Enemy’s Fleet have left the Capes of Delaware & are
steering Eastward & his Excellency is fully of Opinion they
intend (proceeding) up Hudson’s River. From this Intelligence
& the great Preparations making by the Enemy at Kings Bridge
for an Expedition, I have not the least Doubt but that their
Designs are against this Quarter & by vigorous Exertion they
hope to join their two Armies before ours can arrive to
oppose them. His Excellency is apprehensive of this also &
has requested me to call out all the Militia of this State to
oppose the Enemy till he can arrive with his Army. You will,
therefore, on receipt hereof with the utmost Expedition march
your Regt. to Fort Montgomery compleatly armed and accoutred,
leaving the frontier Companies at Home embodied & on Duty to
guard ag’t any small Parties of Tories or Indians. I mean to
repair to the Fort with all Expedition & take the Command.
Clinton then notified Putnam at Peekskill that he had ordered Ludington’s
and also Field’s and Brinckerhoff’s regiments to join him forthwith, and
on August 9 reported this action to Washington. But it was one thing
to order and another thing to have the order fulfilled. The militia
exhibited their former reluctance to go into camp unless the enemy
were actually in sight. This applies, however, to the other regiments
rather than to Colonel Ludington’s. No complaint of his inactivity or his
inability to furnish his quota of men appears. But on August 20, Colonel
Humphrey reported that his regiment was unwilling to march northward,
meaning, no doubt, to go up the river beyond the Highlands to the aid
of Gates against Burgoyne, as there was some desperate talk of doing;
and John Jay and Gouverneur Morris reported that Gates’s army could hope
for no militia reinforcements excepting from Albany County, and that
garrisons should be provided for the Highland forts when the terms of
enlistment of the militia should expire. This was the more essential as
the regular garrisons had largely been sent north to aid Gates. A little
later, on September 4, Colonel Dirck Brinckerhoff wrote from Fishkill to
Clinton in answer to some strictures as follows:
Sir,
You Blame me in Your Letter for Disobeying the Orders I first
Receiv’d for all the Militia to go to Peekskill, but it was by
Consent of General Putnam, that Only part should go, and be
Reliev’d by the Same number from time to time in Such Manner as
I thought proper, which has Strictly been done.
Agreeable to your Last I have Order’d half the Militia out,
but it is allmost impossible to get them to go, on account of
the Exempts not going, Aledging this is not a General Alarum;
therefore, should be Glad of Some further Regulation in that
Respect, and Possitive Orders from you how to act in that
affair, I am Sir,
Your Ob’t. Hble. Serv’t
DIRCK BRINCKERHOFF.
To His Excellency George Clinton Esq.
Colonel Ludington, meanwhile, was busy elsewhere, in another department
of his public duties, of which we shall speak hereafter. At first
commissioned to serve in Westchester County, then ordered to the
Highlands, he seems to have been permitted to remain in Westchester and
lower Dutchess counties, where some strong hand was sorely needed. But
on September 15 came news of the battle of the Brandywine, in which
the Stars and Stripes was first unfurled in battle, but in which the
Americans were defeated. The news was ominous of the fall of Philadelphia
and of the martyrdom of Valley Forge, and it caused some consternation
along the Hudson. Clinton at once ordered eleven New York militia
regiments to reinforce the Highlands, among them Colonel Ludington’s,
which was to proceed at once to Peekskill to serve under General Putnam.
For the first time Ludington seems to have had some difficulty in
complying with orders, for, on September 29, we find Clinton writing to
him, as well as to the other colonels of militia, expressing surprise at
the circumstance that, although he had ordered the whole of the regiments
to reinforce the garrisons, not more than 300 men of six regiments had
responded; and adding a peremptory command that one half of each regiment
should go into service immediately for one month, and then be relieved by
the other half.
There was indeed cause for these preparations, for the British were
at last actually beginning their advance up the Hudson in aid of the
hard-pressed Burgoyne, though all too late to save him. At the beginning
of October the British fleet appeared in the Hudson, and on October 4
a landing was made at Tarrytown. Of what occurred there, we have two
contemporary accounts. One was given in the New York “Journal” of May
11, 1778, by one of the garrison of Fort Montgomery, which, as we shall
see, was presently captured by the British. “On Saturday night,” says
that narrator, “we had advice that a large number of ships, brigs,
armed vessels, &c., had arrived at Tarrytown, where they had landed a
considerable body of men, supposed to be about one thousand, and had
advanced toward the plains. Colonel Lutlington being posted there with
about five hundred militia, they sent in a flag to him requiring him to
lay down his arms and surrender himself and men prisoners of war. Whilst
he was parleying with the flag they endeavored to surround him, which he
perceiving ordered his men to retreat. The British then returned to their
shipping, and the next morning we had advice of their being under sail,
and coming up as far as King’s Ferry.” The “Colonel Lutlington” referred
to was, of course, Henry Ludington. By “the plains” it is to be supposed
White Plains was meant, that village being distant from Tarrytown about
seven miles.
The second account, much more circumstantial and authoritative, is that
of Colonel Ludington himself in his report to General Putnam. He was
at that time stationed at Wright’s Mills, between Tarrytown and White
Plains, guarding the inhabitants from the depredations of Tory and Indian
marauders. He wrote to General Putnam as follows:
Sir. I must acquaint you of my yousage in this place. I find
the militia was to join and I have not had the assistance of
one man. you must well Remember you ordered Capt Dean and Capt
Stephens. Stephens I never have seen. Dean I showed your order
and Rote a few days ago Begging him to assist me scouting. I
have inclosed his answer to me. You must not depend too much
upon my little party, if I am to gard the inhabitants I must be
Reinforced speadily or shall be obliged to post my men in some
Better place of Security
and am Sir Your obedient Humble Servant
HENRY LUDINGTON
3 oclock october 4th 1777
at Rites mills
P. S. I beleive the inhabitants are entirely stript where they
go.
Honoured Sir: in haste I am to acquaint you that they came up
Last night with 2 frigets and five or six Royale and tenders
and about 40 flat Bottommed boats and landed about 3 thousand
men under the command of governor Tryon. They immediately took
the heights above Tarrytown and from thence kept the Heights
until they thought they had got above our party. But Luckily we
had got above them and paused at mr Youngses where we thought
Best to move towards them where we were in open view of them
and found them vastly superior to us in numbers and moved off
to Rights mills, Having no asistance more than our Little party
belonging to our Regiment. I found on our Retreat before we
got back to Youngses they had sent forward a flag, But found
that was in view of trapping us as they had flanking parties
who we discovered in order to surround us. But after clearing
the Regiment I rode Back and met the flag within a quarter
of a mile of their main body. The purport of his errand was
that governor Tryon Had sent him to acquaint me that if we
would give up our arms and submit they would show us mersy or
otherways they were determined to take us and strip the contre
(country). Sent in answer that as Long as we had a man alive I
was determined to oppose them and they might come on as soon as
they pleased. We have not lost a man and the last move of the
enemy was from Youngses towards the plains.
N. B. the maj. is Gone home on furlow
HENRY LUDINTON.
[Illustration: Fac-simile of Col. Henry Ludington’s signature.]
This report is unquestionably authentic, although the “P. S.” has no
address, date nor signature, and is on a separate sheet of paper from
the letter and the “N. B.” But it is in Henry Ludington’s handwriting,
precisely the same as the signed letter, and is on precisely the same
kind of paper. Doubtless, then, the “P. S.” was hurriedly written after
the letter, the British attack having occurred between the two writings,
and was enclosed with the letter without taking time to sign it in any
way. The MSS. were in the possession of the late Douglas Putnam, of
Harmar, Ohio, a great-grandson of General Putnam, and were left by him to
his daughter, Mrs. Francke H. Bosworth, of New York. It is interesting
to observe that it was with his old chief, Tryon, that Ludington had
on this occasion to deal again. He estimates the number of the British
three times as high as does the other and less authoritative chronicler,
and is probably more nearly correct. It may be assumed that the former
statement that he had “about five hundred militia” was much exaggerated.
His own official report of the day before shows his entire force at
Wright’s Mills to have comprised “One Colonel, 1 Lt. Colonel, 5 Captains,
10 Leutennants, no Ensign, no Chaplain, 1 Adjutant, 1 Quartermaster,
1 Surgeon, no Surgeons mate, 19 Sergeants, 9 Drummers and Fifers, 182
present fit for duty, 19 sick present, 3 Sick Absent, 19 on command, 10
on Furlough, Total 233.” With such a mere handful, he certainly acquitted
himself most creditably against the vastly superior force of Tryon.
Putnam was at Peekskill for the express purpose of guarding the passage
up the river. He had there about 600 regulars and a much larger number of
militia. Governor George Clinton was at Fort Montgomery, and his brother
James Clinton at Fort Clinton, with combined forces variously reported
at from 600 to 1200 men, mostly militia. Putnam had scout boats along
the river, and an elaborate system of scouts on land. Yet, says General
De Peyster, “the British Clinton … took advantage of a fog, transferred
his troops over to the western side of the river, to Stony Point, made
a wonderful march across or rather around the Dunderberg Mountain, and
carried Forts Clinton and Montgomery by assault, performing the most
brilliant British operation during the seven years’ war.” George Clinton
suffered heavy losses in troops, and narrowly escaped capture; the State
capital, Kingston, was exposed to the enemy’s advance; and Putnam retired
to the mountains, sending word to Gates that he must prepare for the
worst as he could not prevent the enemy from advancing up the river to
the aid of Burgoyne. “The enemy can go to Albany with great expedition
and without any opposition.” In the presence of this disaster two things
were uncommonly fortunate for the American cause. One was that Gates was
not alone in the north, but had Arnold, Schuyler, and Morgan with him
to brace him up. The other was that the British did not attempt to go
on up to Albany. After garrisoning Fort Montgomery, Sir Henry Clinton
returned to New York. On October 15, he sent an expedition, under General
Vaughan, up to Kingston, and the next day burned that village, the State
government having previously fled to Poughkeepsie. Other ravages, of
looting and burning, were committed along the river, to the disgrace of
the British arms. But there was some consolation to the stricken patriots
in the news that the very day after the burning of Kingston, Burgoyne,
beaten by Arnold, Schuyler, and Morgan, surrendered to Gates with all his
army.
During the winter of 1777-78 Colonel Ludington was chiefly busied with
other features of his public duties, and appeared little in the field.
He was a valuable adviser to the State government on military affairs,
and, realizing from experience the great difficulty of maintaining
a satisfactory militia service in time of actual warfare, urged the
formation of another regiment of regulars. On December 18, Governor
Clinton referred to this project in a letter to General Putnam. He urged
the necessity of strengthening the defenses of the Hudson River, and
said that he expected the Committee of Safety at Poughkeepsie in a few
days. He would then lay before them the proposal for a new regiment of
regulars and added, “I should be glad to have Colo. Ludington’s Plan.”
That winter, the winter of Valley Forge, was a hard one in which to raise
recruits of any kind, especially in view of the fact that the troops
had received no pay for their services for a long time past. Colonel
Ludington felt this keenly, and on being asked by Clinton to furnish a
certain number of men from his regiment for the new regiment of regulars,
he wrote very frankly on the subject:
Honoured Sir, I am under the Disagrable Nesesity of acqainting
you, that I find it to Be out of my power to Comply with your
Orders in Regard of Raising the Coto (Quota) of men aloted me
to Raise out of my Regiment, and that for Sundry Reasons. In
the first place, the money Raised in the other Regments By
their asesments amounts to one Hundread pounds Bounty to Each
Soldier By Reason of the Exempts Being able and among whom are
a number of Quakers. But it is not the Case in my Regment, For,
By the Best Computation we Can make, we Cannot Raise more than
30 Dolars a man, though I would not Be understood that we have
gone through with the asesments and that for this Reason: the
act for asesing the Exempts Expresly says that the officers
who aseses the Exempts Shall Be Freeholders, and I have not
Such an officer in my Regiment. We have met Sundry times in
order to try to Raise the men and I yoused my Best Endevours
that they Should Be Raised, But I have not an officer that will
asist the Exempts. The officers tell me they posatively will
not Call their Companies out until they get pay for their Past
Servises in order to avoid Service; on that account I have had
their pay roles maid up in time and Signed By the general,
and Have weighted on the pay master for the money Everry few
Days, and yesterday for the Last time, and He then told He had
no prospect in geting the money in Sum months. That Being the
Case I am Sory I must Tell your Honour that I know not what
further measures to take until I have Sum further instructions
in Regard of the matter. It is my opinion that we Shall never
Raise the men, unles the State asists us in Raising a part of
the Bounty and the Soldiers gets their wages for their past
Servises. Sir, a few lines from your Honour in Regard of the
above, By way of instructions, will mutch oblige your Humble
Servant,
HENRY LUDINTON.
Fredricksburgh February 20th 1778.
To His Excelency George Clinton Esqr. Governor.
P. S. Sir, if there Be a late act past in Regard of Raising the
men and a Bounty for them, please to Convey the Same as I have
Had no opportunity of acquainting my Self with it. The Returns
of the Regment you Shall Have next week, which Should Have
Had Before now, Had it not Been for the neglect of sum of the
Captains not sending in their Returns.
Colonel Ludington had, however, rather better success in holding his
own regiment together than did some other colonels of militia, as the
following return shows:
Return of the Regiment of Militia of the County of Dutchess and State of
New York. Command’d by Collonel Henry Ludinton.
Fredricksburgh Precinct March 23rd 1778.
| Field Officers. | Comm’d Officers.
+---------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------
| | Lieut’t| | | |
COMPANIES |Collonel.| Coll’l.| Major.|Capt’ns.|Lieut’s.|Ensigns.
--------------------+---------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------
John Crane’s | | | | 1 | 2 | --
David Waterbury’s | | | | 1 | 2 | 1
John Haight’s | | | | 1 | 2 | 1
Hezekiah Meed’s | | | | 1 | 2 | 1
George Lane’s | | | | 1 | -- | 1
Nathaniel Scribner’s| | | | 1 | 2 | 1
Joel Meed’s | | | | 1 | 2 | 1
Total Strength +---------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------
of the Regiment | | | | 7 | 12 | 6
| Staff Officers. | Non Comm’d.
+---------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------
| | |Quart’r| | |Rank and
COMPANIES |Adjutant.|Surgeon.|Master.|Serg’ts.|Drum’rs.| File.
--------------------+---------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------
John Crane’s | | | | 4 | 1 | 60
David Waterbury’s | | | | 4 | 1 | 57
John Haight’s | | | | 4 | 0 | 51
Hezekiah Meed’s | | | | 4 | 1 | 74
George Lane’s | | | | 4 | 0 | 49
Nathaniel Scribner’s| | | | 4 | 2 | 58
Joel Meed’s | | | | 3 | 1 | 72
Total Strength +---------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------
of the Regiment | | | | 26 | 6 | 421
Colonel Ludington and his regiment were again called to the defense
of the Hudson at Fishkill in June, 1779, on the alarm caused by the
British seizure of Verplanck’s Point, and a few days later returned to
the vicinity of Crom Pond to resume the local police work which formed
so large a part of their duties. There, before daylight of June 24,
they were surprised by an attack of about two hundred British cavalry,
which had made a dash all the way up from New York. Nearly thirty of the
militia were killed and wounded in the sharp skirmish which ensued. At
the same time 130 British light infantry came across from Verplanck’s
Point and made a demonstration in aid of the cavalry. On another occasion
a similar attack was made while the Americans were at breakfast, close by
the church, which at the time was used as an arsenal.
After these services the regiment was marched home to Fredericksburgh and
for a time disbanded. On this occasion Colonel Ludington wrote to Clinton
as follows:
Honoured Sir, I embrace this opportunity of acquainting you
that according to Colo. Swartwout’s orders to me of Yesterday
I thought Proper to discharge my Regt who I must beg leave to
acquaint you have acted with the greatest Spirrit since they
have been hear and have gon home with a full determination to
turn out at a minute’s warning. In my last I wrote you to know
the mode adopted for Punishing those who have not turned out
according to their being Warned, for I am highly sensible that
if they are not brought to a sevear Punishment it will give
offence to those Who have dun their Dutey. I must allso Return
your Excellency thanks for Recommending to me Mr. McClennen
who has truley answered the Character I have had of him as I
have Experienced his services in Spiriting the Militia in these
Parts and my Regt in Particular. I remain in the mean time
with Respect your Excellencys most obedient Humble Servt
HENRY LUDINTON.
Fredh Burgh Juley 11, 1779.
To Governor Clinton.
Later in the same year a radical reorganization of the militia forces was
effected under the following orders:
Poughkeepsie Oct. 11th, 1779.
Brigade Orders.
Agreeable to General Orders of the 10th Instant issued by his
Excellency the Govr., 1078 Men, including Non Commissioned
Officers, drums and fifes, are to be Detached out of Colo.
Comdt. Swartwout’s Brigade of Militia to Continue in Service
for the term of three Months unless the particular service for
which they are drawn out shall be sooner Completed.
The Detachments from the several Regiments in this Brigade to
be as follows, viz.—
From Colo. Graham’s Regt 196 Men
Colo. Frear’s do 156
Colo. Hopkins do 192
Colo. Field’s do 117
Colo. Luddenton’s do 144
Colo. Van Der Burgh’s do 118
Colo. Brinckerhoff’s do 155
----
Total 1078
The above Detachment to be formed into Two Regiments under
Command of Colos. Graham and Hopkins, in the following manner,
viz.,
The Detachments of Colos. Graham’s, Frear’s, Van Der Burgh’s
and 69 Men of Colo. Field’s Regiments to be formed into one
Regiment under Command of Colo. Graham.
The Detachments of Colos. Hopkins, Luddenton’s, Brinckerhoff’s,
and 48 Men of Colo. Field’s Regts. to be formed into another
Regiment under Command of Colo. Hopkins.
Colo. Graham’s Field Officers to be Lieut. Colo. Birdsall and
Majr. Hill,
Captains. Subalterns.
Andw. Heermans Colo. Graham’s Regt. John Seton
James Wilson Andw. Heermans Junr.
Hustid John Wilson
Jonathan Darling
and ⸺
Lemuel Conklin Colo. Frear’s Regt. Montgomery
Hugh Van Kleeck Weeks
Hendrickson
Van Der Bogart
Israel Vail Colo. Van Der Burgh’s Regt. Tredwell
Bently
Hall
Pierce Colo. Field’s Regt. Elliot
Colo. Hopkins Field Officers are Lieut. Colo. Griffen and Majr. Paine.
Captains. Subalterns.
Wheeler Colo. Hopkins Regt. Wm. Chamberlain
Waters Elijah Parks
Talmadge Elliot
Parley
Jonas Parks
Hoskin
Geo. Brinckerhoff Colo. Brinckerhoff’s Regt. Christian Dubois
Jno. Van Bunschoten Abraham Shults
William Swartwout
Abraham Hoogland
Barnum Colo. Field’s Regt. Chandler
Colo. Luddenton and his officers being absent, he will with
advice of his field officers nominate and furnish one Captain
and Three Subalterns, to join Colo. Hopkins’ Regt.
The above Detachments to be Compleated and at the place of
Rendevous without Delay, Compleatly Equipped, Agreeable to
Genl. Orders, to which the most strictest attention is to be
paid.
By Order of Colo. Comdr. Jac. Swartwout
HEND. WYCKOFF MB
Thereafter Colonel Ludington and his regiment were frequently engaged in
important work, especially during the time of doubt and dread caused by
the treason of Arnold, and in the operations preliminary to Washington’s
epoch-making march from the Hudson to the Chesapeake. But those services
belonged to the other phases of public duty to which reference has been
made and of which fuller consideration must be reserved for another
chapter.