BETWEEN THE LINES
“Between the lines” is always a place of peculiar difficulty and danger.
The Border States in our Civil War were the deadliest battle-grounds,
not only the meeting-places of the contending armies but also the scene
of innumerable local feuds and conflicts between the inhabitants, half
of whom inclined to one side and half to the other. A similar position
was held in the Revolution by Westchester and Dutchess counties, lying
between the British at the south and the Americans at the north. As this
was the most fertile and productive agricultural region easily accessible
from New York, it was frequently invaded by British foraging parties,
seeking the supplies which were needed by the army in the city and which
were not easily to be got elsewhere. Nor did the region altogether escape
similar attentions from the American Army. More than once, indeed,
organized raids were made by the latter southward into the part of the
debatable ground lying nearest to the British lines, not only to secure
forage and other supplies for American use but also to prevent them from
falling into the hands of the British. Himself a resident of that region,
Colonel Ludington was well fitted to deal with such local conditions,
and accordingly a large third part of his public services were thus
rendered. Entries in his ledger indicate that he was a member of the
Dutchess County Committee of Safety on June 11, 1776, and for some time
thereafter. This was the committee which was constituted for the purpose
of “inquiring into, detecting and defeating all conspiracies formed in
this State against the liberties of America.” When he was no longer
a member of the committee he was one of its most efficient executive
agents, and much of the services of himself and his regiment were given
in pursuance of the plans of that committee.
[Illustration: Home of the late Frederick Ludington, son of Colonel
Ludington, at Kent]
In the records of the Committee of Safety under date of October 14, 1776,
we find that “Col. Ludington informed a member that he has 20 or more
Arms, taken from disaffected persons, now in his possession, and requests
to know how they shall be disposed of. Ordered, That Col. Ludington send
all arms in his possession, taken from disaffected persons, to this
Committee without delay, and that he sends his account for repairing to
the Auditor-General.” The “account for repairing” refers to the work done
by Colonel Ludington on the captured weapons to make them serviceable for
use in the American Army; many of the Tories deliberately breaking their
muskets or depriving them of essential parts, before surrendering them. A
little later William Duer, one of the foremost members of the Committee,
reported that “large quantities of hay and corn were purchased by the
Quarter Master General for use of the Continental Army in the eastern
part of this (Dutchess) County and the western part of Connecticut, that
it would be hardly practicable to convey the same to the army unless
the roads leading from the Oblong and Fredericksburgh towards Pine’s
Bridge and North Castle were better repaired. He therefore in behalf of
General Mifflin, Quarter Master General of the Continental Army, prayed
that this House would devise ways and means of facilitating the above
mentioned communication, not doubting but so necessary an expenditure
would be cheerfully reimbursed from the Continental Treasury. On taking
the application of Mr. Duer into consideration, Resolved, That it will
be necessary to repair the following Roads in order to facilitate the
cartage of forage to the Continental Army, from the house of Col. Henry
Ludington thence to Samuel Washburn’s, being 8 miles; the road which
runs east from Col. Harry Ludington’s to the Store of Malcolm Morrison’s
and thence south to the Mills of Samuel Washburn, being 12 miles.
Resolved That Col. Ludington detach from his Regiment 100 men for the
purpose of repairing that part of the road which is first mentioned,
being in distance 8 Miles.… Ordered, that copies of these Resolutions
be immediately transmitted to the Supts. above mentioned, who are
directed to communicate them without loss of time to Cols. Fields and
Luddington.” For this road-mending work the Committee fixed the price
of labor at ten shillings a day, exclusive of subsistence, for the
superintendents, and four shillings a day for the men, the latter to
provide their own sustenance. They had power to impress teams and carts,
and to pay for each ox-cart and two yoke of cattle sixteen shillings,
and for each wagon twelve shillings. Those who remember the common
condition of roads in that part of the State a score of years ago, will
appreciate what need there must have been a century before of repairs and
improvements.
The varied character of Colonel Ludington’s services in the first years
of the Revolution is indicated by the entries in his ledger. Thus in
November, 1776, we find him charging the Committee for inquiring into
and detecting conspiracies against the State of New York with “4 days
service riding with Nathaniel Sackett in order to collect evidence, at
21 shillings, 4 days, £4—5—4.” On November 21, 1776: “Then began the
service of buying hay and grain for the use of the Continental Army
by an agreement with Wm. Duer.” On January 1, 1777: “Then stopped the
service of buying hay, being in all 41 days at 20 shillings per day.” In
November, 1777: “Then engaged in the Commissary Department under Deputy
Commissary General and continued on the service until the 8th of January,
48 days in all at 32 shillings per day, 58 £ 16 s.”
A number of persons were arrested and taken before the Committee at
Fishkill in December, 1776, and on December 20 one of them, David
Aikins, made affidavit: “That on or about the 29th day of November
last, he set out from home with a pass from Colonel Henry Ludington to
go to Horse Neck to buy rum; and further stated he was disappointed in
getting it. He then proceeded to find one Barnes Hatfield who owed him
a considerable sum of money, but not finding him he went to see Isaac
Williams who had married his cousin, and while there he was captured by
Rogers’s Rangers (British) and afterwards was taken before a Major near
King’s Bridge. The Major asked him how he could clear himself from the
rebel pass found upon him. He said he came down upon a particular errand
from Captain Alexander Grant’s wife to him and if he would send him to
Capt. Grant or Capt. Archbd. Campbell he would prove his character. Upon
his arrival to Capt. Campbell said he was a prisoner and it was in his
power to discharge him. Campbell said he would discharge him if he would
carry some papers and errands to certain persons in his neighborhood and
be secret about it. He promised and Captain Campbell gave him two printed
papers and protections from General Howe for Malcolm Morrison, John Kain,
Alexander Kidd, Matthew Patterson, Charles Collins and one for himself.”
In an affidavit two days later the Patterson mentioned declared: “That he
told Akins that he did not chuse to have anything to do with such things,
and further saith that there was a Man in the room, meaning Colo.
Luddinton, who if he knew what Aikins said would immediately send him to
Congress, but did not deem it expedient to mention to Col. Ludington.”
Malcolm Morrison appears to have been apprehended on suspicion and to
have been held for a time at Kingston jail, whence he sent, on February
19, 1777, a petition in which he said: “Your petitioner has always been
ready in assisting both officers and soldiers in their publick business
of the States and in a most generous manner has advanced them Cash for
their Different Reliefs, and is at present a very considerable sum out of
pocket on that account and has received no part of such sum except six
pounds lent to Colo. Luddleton and Wm. Griffin to enable them to find out
that pernicious plot of John Miller and Constant Nickerson, Reference
being had to these gentlemen for the truth of his advice & assistance
in bringing that plot to light.” Morrison took the oath of allegiance
and was released. The Nickerson referred to was doubtless Captain “Josh”
Nickerson, of the Swamp, near Fredericksburgh, a notorious Tory. He
enlisted and drilled a large number of men, with the design of taking
them to join General Howe’s army in New York. Their plans and meetings
were all supposed to be kept a profound secret, but Colonel Ludington
learned of them and made counter plans for the capture of the whole
party. To that end he sent one of his tenants as a spy to ascertain the
number, place of meeting, etc., of the Tories. This spy, after some
difficulty, fell in with one of the party and pretended to him that he
was desirous of enlisting in the British Army. He was thereupon taken
to Nickerson and enrolled. He ascertained that a certain night had been
appointed for their setting out for New York, and also that the roster of
the company was kept concealed in a hollow walking-stick which Nickerson
always had by him. This information was promptly conveyed to Colonel
Ludington, who forthwith assembled his regiment, surrounded Nickerson and
his company on the night set for their departure for New York, and took
them all prisoners. The documentary evidence of their guilt was found
on the written roll, and Nickerson was vastly chagrined when Colonel
Ludington bade him give up the cane and then opened it and took out the
hidden paper.
The southern part of Dutchess County, now Putnam County, was, in fact,
one of the most critical danger spots in the whole country, as a passage
in the Journal of the Convention of the State of New York shows, under
date of Sunday morning, May 4, 1777:
Capt. Delavan, who being called before the Convention,
after giving information upon the subject contained in the
letters brought by him, further informed the House, That the
disaffected persons are very numerous in the southern parts of
Dutchess County, and that without doubt they will fall upon
the Whigs whenever the enemy attack our army at Peekskill
or at the forts in the Highlands; they therefore request the
Convention to take some measure in the premises. Thereupon
Resolved, That Mr. Jay, Colo. Thomas, Colo. Ludington be
Commissioners to prevent, quell and subdue all insurrections
and disaffections in the Counties of Dutchess and Westchester,
and to take every measure for that purpose which they shall
deem necessary; and that they cooperate with Messrs. Robert R.
Livingston, Zephaniah Platt and Matthew Cantine, a committee
appointed yesterday, for the like purpose in the Manor of
Livingston and Rhinebeck Precinct. Resolved, That the said
Commissioners immediately collect with the assistance of
General McDougall, or General George Clinton, or from the
militia of the County of Dutchess, whichever shall appear to
them most expeditious, a force sufficient for the purpose
and also to comply with the following instructions, to wit:
Gentlemen: You are to begin in the southern part of the County
of Dutchess and proceed to the northward, and in your progress
secure the disaffected, call out the whole militia, and destroy
all such as shall be found in arms to oppose you. When you
shall meet with the Committee above mentioned you are to act
in concert with them, to secure the prisoners you shall have
respectively made, to dismiss such of the militia as you may
think proper, and with the remainder march into the County of
Westchester by different ways, concerting at the same time such
measures with General McDougall or other commanding officer at
Peekskill as will effectually clear said county of Westchester
of all dangerous and disaffected persons. You are on every
occasion, by every means in your power (torture excepted) to
compel the discovery and delivery of spies or other emissaries
of the enemy, who you may have reason to believe are concealed
in any part of the country through which you may make progress
and upon due proof immediately execute them _in terrorem_.
A copy of the resolutions was sent to Livingston, Platt, and Cantine,
with additional instructions to conform with the resolutions sent them,
and after having cleared the manor of Livingston and the precinct of
Rhinebeck of all dangerous and disaffected inhabitants, to proceed
southward until they met with Jay, Thomas, and Ludington, conducting
themselves in accordance with the resolutions; and when they had met with
them, immediately to form a proper plan and endeavor to carry the plan
into immediate execution. Discretion was given to vary from instructions
as the circumstances might require. Copies of the intelligence received
by the Convention were sent to the commissioners. A few days later, under
date of May 8, Livingston, Platt and Cantine reported that the number of
conspirators was far greater than they had imagined, almost everybody in
the upper manor, particularly the eastern part of it, being disaffected,
and they urged that courts martial were absolutely necessary for dealing
with the chief offenders. As for Jay, Thomas, and Ludington, they entered
upon their part of the work with zeal, but found themselves somewhat
hampered by other demands made upon them and by the unwillingness of some
of the militia to engage in the service of the Continental Army. On June
25 this matter was brought before the Convention, and it was—
Resolved, That whereas information hath been given to this
Congress that certain Captains in Col. Luddington’s regiment of
militia in Dutchess County have refused to draft out of their
respective companies for the purpose of brigade of militia
to be raised in this county for the Continental service as
recommended by this Congress in pursuance of the resolves
of the Continental Congress of the 1st, 3rd and 4th inst.
Resolved, That the general committee of the said county be
requested to make inquiry into the premises, and upon due proof
of the charge against the said captains, to send them under
proper guard to this Congress to be dealt with according to
their deserts.
During that summer Colonel Ludington seems to have been much engaged with
duties in Westchester County. Thus in General Putnam’s general orders we
find, under date of White Plains, September 19, 1777, the following:
Colo. Ludington to furnish guards and patroles from the camp to
the North River. Majr. Gray to Send a guard and patrole on the
road between Stephen Woods and the North River.
Two days later, on September 21, the order ran:
Officer of the Day to-morrow Colo Ludenton the same No to go on
Piquit to-night as Last night & on the same roads great care
to be taken not to put any on this Piquit but such in whose
Fidelity the greatest Confidence may be Placed. Colo Ludington
& Major Gray will guard the same Roads as yesterday. Patroleing
Partys are Constantly to be kept up.
Again, the next day, the order ran: “The guards and Piquits are to be
kept up also Majr. Gray & Colo Ludington as has been kept before.”
The work of detecting and arresting traitors within the American lines
occupied much of Colonel Ludington’s attention, and in it he seems to
have been particularly energetic and effective. His wide knowledge of men
and affairs in Westchester and Dutchess counties caused frequent appeal
to be made to him for information concerning suspicious persons. Thus
Lieutenant-Colonel Dimon in September, 1777, wrote to General Putnam as
follows:
Harrison’s Purchase Sept’r 12th 1777.
Hon’d Sir,
Enclosed I have sent a Return of the Regt. Also have sent for
your Honor’s Examination, three Prisoners (viz) John Crabb, an
Inhabitant of Fredericsburg, taken up at White-plains, who said
he was going to Horseneck to buy Salt, but on being searched,
it appeared that 2/6 in paper & 4/6 or 5/ in hard Mony was all
the Mony he had in Possession, & what renders his Conduct
still more suspicious, was that, James Knox, another of the
Prisoners, was in Company with him, when first discovered by
our Men, but made his Escape from them, & was next Day taken up
near New Rochelle, & who confesses he was going to the Enemy:
s’d Crabb desiring a Man might be sent to Col. Luddington,
to obtain his Character, to whom he said he was known; I
acordingly desired Col. Luddington (to) send his Character,
which he did, & which I have sent enclosed. But the third, as I
imagine the greatest Villian of three, named Hachaliah Merrit
was taken in East Chester early in the Morning after being
out all Night with his Great Coat & Blanket, & armed with a
loaded Pistoll, & who does not pretend to say any thing in his
own Justification. I am with great Esteem, your Honour’s most
humble Servant.
DAVID DIMON, _Lt. Col._
Major Genl. Putman.
Accompanying this was Colonel Ludington’s reply to the appeal for a
“character” for the prisoner Crabb, which could have given that worthy
little comfort:
Dear Sir,
I have Inquired into the Character of the Said Jno. Crabb and
find him to be an Enemy to his Country therefore shall Expect
he will be Treated as Such and am Sir
Your Very humble Serv’t
HENRY LUDINTON, _Colo._
Sept’r 10: 1777.
To Colo. David Demmon.
A few days later Colonel Ludington himself wrote to Putnam:
Philipse Burgh Sept’r 12th 1777.
Sir,
I have sent you one Elijah Taylor; his Crime is as Follows: he
pretends he came from below our Lines because he was Suspected
to be a friend to us; a few days after he came to me with his
Brother in Law from Milesquare pretending he had lost a Horse
and applied to me for Orders to take him where he could find
him. I gave him permission to search for his Horse any where
he pleased above our Lines but not to Return home without
calling on me, but Instead of Calling, Returned home and soon
after came up again. I found by his Conduct that was not his
Arrent (errand) for at the Same time he and the said Taylor was
Laying a Plan to steal our horses. The way I got Information
was that one Dudely Bailey, a Sutler to our Regiment, was in
Conversation with the said Taylor concerning their Losing
Horses, whereupon the said Taylor told him they had Lost Horses
and knew where to find them but did not care about them for he
could take them off in the Night; then he ask’d Bailey where
the Horses belonging to the Regiment were kept, and where our
Centenals were posted, in order that he might Carry his plan in
Execution; and he further told him it would not be Long before
we should be Routed, for a few men might do it, as we were
Obliged to post ourselves in Houses. He further agread with
Baily for him to go down as far as Milesquare to one Benjamin
Taylor’s and there stay until the s’d Taylor could go to the
Hessian Generals and when he Return’d he would put him in good
Business where he might Earn a Dollar pr day. he further said
that When he makes his Report to the General that he might live
like a Gentleman without doing any work. He further Acquainted
him he had been through your Camps at Peekskill as far up as
Poughkeepsy and there were Several Spies out among whom was an
Hessian Officer, and upon them Circumstances I have sent you
the Said Taylor. For further Information Refer you to the said
Bailey as an Evidence to the truth of the Matter who shall be
sent up to you whenever I Receive your Order for that purpose.
I have Likewise sent up three other prisoners, Jacob Read,
Abraham Aston & Joseph Brown, the two former were taken up on
Suspicion of Carrying on a dangerous Correspondence with the
Enemy and the Latter is a deserter from Colo. Willis’s Regt.
and Capt. Champion’s Comp’y of the Continental Troops. I am
your honour’s Humble Serv’t
HENRY LUDINTON, _Col._
P.S. Should be Oblig’d to your Honour to give the Bearer some
direction where he may draw some Cordage for the use of the
Teams. I am as above
H. L.
To Genl. Putnam at Head Quarters Peekskill.
Jacob Read, or Rhead, promptly wrote to Clinton, protesting that he had
always been a true friend of his country and had repeatedly been employed
in its service, and that therefore he conceived himself to have been
most unjustly treated in being arrested as a traitor. He begged to be
examined immediately and to be set at liberty on proof of his innocence.
In the fall of 1777 there was a scarcity of provisions in Westchester
and Dutchess counties, and the Tories sought further to embarrass the
American cause by shipping all provisions they could secure to the
British Army. On this account the following letter was addressed by
Colonel Ludington and others to the Council of Safety for the State of
New York:
Dutchess Co.
3rd December, 1777.
Gentᵐ:
Nothing but the strongest necessity could induce us to trouble
you with an application of so extraordinary a nature, but
if we are esteemed worthy of your confidence as friends to
our struggling country our sincerity will atone for what in
common cases might appear indecent. Our invaded State has
not only been an object of the special designs of our common
enemy, but obnoxious to the wicked, mercenary intrigues of a
number of engrossing Jockies who have drained this part of the
State of the article of bread to such a degree that we have
reason to fear there is not enough left for the support of the
inhabitants. We have for some months past heard of one Holmes
who has been purchasing wheat and flour in these parts with
which the well affected are universally ill-provided. This man
with us is of doubtful character, his conversations are of the
disaffected sort entirely. He has now moving from Fishkill
toward Newark we think not less than one hundred barrels of
flour, for which he says he has your permit, the which we have
not seen. However we have, at the universal call of the people,
concluded to stop the flour and Holmes himself until this
express may return. We ourselves think from the conduct of this
man that his designs are bad.
We have the honor to be your humble servants,
HENRY LUDINGTON,
JOSEPH CRANE JR.,
JONATHAN PADDOCK,
ELIJAH TOWNSEND.
To the Honorable the Council of Safety for the State of N. Y.
More than two months later Crane and Ludington wrote to Governor Clinton
on the same matter:
Southeast Precinct, 16th February, 1778.
May it Please Your Excellency,
We about Two Months ago presumed to stop a parcel of Flour said
to be the property of one Helmes made immediate Report thereof
to the Council of Safety in answer we were favoured with a
coppy of the Licence Granted by the Council to the said Helms,
with a Coppy of the Oath on which said Licence was Granted &
with Directions from the Council that in Case the Conduct of
sd Helms was not Correspondant with the Tennor of sd Oath and
Licence to apprehend and committ him for Tryal and Detain the
Flour. Previous to the Return of the Express Dispatched with
our Report to the Council Helms made his Escape and has not
appeared here since. The Flour was Hurried up some in old
Cyder Hogsheads the Rest in Barrels not well secured has been
exposed to wett and is in Danger of Spoiling. Your Excellencies
Directions Respecting this matter will be Esteemed as a favour
done to your most Obedient and Humble Servants
JOSEPH CRANE JUNR
HENRY LUDINTON
His Excellency Governor Clinton.
The man Holmes mentioned was Colonel John Holmes, one of the most
wary and energetic Tories in that part of the country. He was famed
as a breeder and racer of horses, and had a stock farm near Colonel
Ludington’s. Indeed, he and Ludington were neighbors and friends before
the outbreak of the war, but in the animosities engendered by that
conflict they were involved as bitter foes. Holmes had a commission
from the British authorizing him to enlist men for their service, and
for this purpose he had a recruiting station on Fishkill Plains in an
out-of-the-way place—a field covered with scrub oak. There he gathered
Tories and drilled them for the British service. He often boasted
privately that his friend Ludington would one day accompany him on a
visit to General Howe at New York—meaning, of course, as a prisoner.
Colonel Ludington, however, completely turned the tables upon his old
neighbor and would-be captor. Learning from his secret agents that
Holmes was collecting a company of Tories on the Fishkill Plains, he
quietly gathered his own regiment for what he warned them was to be
an undertaking of much activity and danger. After several days of
preparation, he led his men at night to the Tory rendezvous. Dividing
them into companies, he caused them completely to encircle the scrub oak
field and close in upon it from all sides. So quietly and effectively was
the work done that Holmes and every one of his followers were captured,
without the loss of a life or the firing of a single shot. There were,
however, several severe hand-to-hand struggles, in one of which Colonel
Ludington himself had a brand new suit of clothes almost entirely torn
from his back. Holmes was furious at being thus trapped, and the more so
when he found that Ludington was his captor. He was compelled to give up
as spoils of war his watch and purse, and a large sum of British money
which had been given to him for the conduct of his recruiting operations.
Colonel Ludington then marched the whole party off to Poughkeepsie and
deposited them in jail. He appears to have had no personal grudge against
Holmes, however, and on a subsequent occasion saved his life at much
danger to himself.
The ardent patriots of the border counties were not content with merely
these acts of forcible suppression of traitorous conduct, but desired
to strike still more strongly and effectively at the foes of their
own neighborhood. An act of the Convention had already authorized
the occupation and leasing at moderate rentals of all lands owned by
those who had entered the British service. At first there was little
disposition to enforce the measure, but as the Revolution proceeded, and
the “pernicious activity” of the Tories became more marked, the people
of Dutchess County moved for the execution of the law. The following
letter was accordingly addressed to Governor Clinton by the Board of
Sequestration of that county:
To his Excellency George Clinton, Esq.
Governor of the State of New York, General of the Militia, and
Admiral of the Navy of the same.
The Memorial of Theodorus Van Wyck and Henry Livingston Jun.
Commissioners of Sequestration for the County of Dutchess.
Sheweth, That, whereas, on the 13th day of May, 1777, The
honorable the Convention of the Representatives of the State
of New York came to the following resolution “Resolved that
the Commissioners of sequestration be directed & impowered to
lease out the lands & Tenements of all such persons as already
have gone, or hereafter shall go, unto & Join the Enemies of
this State, under Moderate rent, from year to year, to persons
friendly to the cause of America & who will Covenant to keep
the same in repair & to suffer no waste to be done thereon”—And
again “Resolved, that in all such leases the Inhabitants of
this State who have been driven from their Habitations by the
Enemy should be preferred by the Commissioners to others who
have not that claim to the favor of the public.”
Agreeable to the above resolutions your Memorialists have put
numbers of well affected Refugees Inhabitants of this State
into the possession of lands and tenements deserted by the
former disaffected proprietors. As yet your Memorialists have
stipulated with but very few of the Refugees aforesaid, what
rent they shall pay for the lands & tenements they Occupy. Your
Memorialists wish to have pointed out to them, what proportion
of the highest rent they could obtain from others, for lands
and tenements above described, the said Refugees should pay.
Your Memorialists would also beg leave to represent to your
Excellency, that numbers of persons now with our Enemies own
large tracts of land in this County; Many of the tenants on
which are desirous of discharging their rents, and have in many
instances applyed to your Memorialists for direction. By virtue
of any Resolutions made by the Legislature your Memorialists do
not think themselves authorized to receive the Same.
If the Legislature see fit to direct to have the above
rents collected your Memorialists wish the Estates may be
particularized.
Your Memorialists would also inform your Excellency that
they have in their possession a quantity of plate late the
property of Mess. John Livingston, Peter Stuyvesant and Stephen
Crossfield, and be given direction in the disposition of it.
And your Memorialists will &c.
THEODORUS VAN WYCK,
HENRY LIVINGSTON JUN’R.
March 16th 1778.
The governor’s reply to this appeal was not altogether satisfactory
to the more ardent patriots, who were suffering much in their private
estates from the ravages of British irregulars and their Tory allies,
and accordingly a memorial was soon presented to the Convention asking
for further legislation of a particularly stringent kind. Made by the
freeholders and citizens of Dutchess County, this memorial was doubtless
signed by Colonel Ludington together with many others, and expressed his
vigorous opinions. It ran as follows:
To the Honorable the Senate and Assembly of the State of New
York,
The respectful address and petition of the Freeholders and
Others, Inhabitants of the County of Dutchess, Friends to the
freedom and Independence of the United States of America,
Humbly Sheweth:
That the nefarious and most cruel Designs of the King and
parliament of Great Britain, to reduce our Country to Vasalage,
have been and still continue to be executed with a degree of
Malice and Rancour, altogether inconsistent with the character
of a Nation professing Christianity, or even a regard to common
Justice and humanity; that while your petitioners in defence
of their Rights and freedom have opposed the devices inspired
by Tyranny, and have suffered severely, many of them in their
own proper persons, and effects, and all in those of their
friends and fellow citizens; they have always had, as they
hope, a well grounded confidence in the Wisdom and Justice of
an honest, impartial Legislature, by whom they trust such an
adequate adjustment of forfeited property will be effected as
may duly punish the authors of the publick Calamities, relieve
the distressed and be the most conducive to the General good of
the State.
That as you are now entering upon the Business of the second
year of the Legislature of this State, we Doubt not but a
Variety of important matters presents themselves to your
consideration, among which, in our opinion, one of the greatest
is the confiscation and sale of the property of the Traitorous
Enemies of this State; that our Debts contracted in prosecuting
this necessary War, are become enormous; that the whole of this
Burden will be as intolerable for us and our children to bear,
as it will be cruel to exact it of us; That the only expedient
for our relief will be the appropriation of the property within
this State, of those unnatural Enemies, (whether now within
or out of it) by whose wicked practices the War, with all its
horrors, Calamities and consequent charges, was brought upon
us and is continued to this present period in the American
States by them devoted to destruction. To this end have they
not exerted every faculty, cancelled every social and sacred
Obligation, and to the utmost assisted the Enemies of their
Country, irritated them against it, and urged them to compleat
its distruction? Have not many of them embodied with the
British Troops, assisted in their councils, aided and abetted
them in contriving and executing all their infernal measures?
Lenity to such atrocious offenders, we conceive to be cruelty
to the State in General, and to mankind, unwarrantable either
by the Laws of God or Man.
These are, therefore, with all due deference and respect, to
desire and request you, as the representative body of this
State, forthwith to proceed upon, and before the close of the
present Session, effectually form and accomplish a Law for the
confiscation and sale of the Real and personal property of
the Enemies of this State, in such way and manner as may be
for the good of the people at Large, and we Doubt not, in the
Completion of so important an Act, but you will readily forego
every private Conveniency to yourselves and particular families.
We have with surprise and concern understood that several
members of your honorable Houses are impatient to close the
Session, on account of their Domestic concerns. We would humbly
beg leave to remind such gentlemen that, however pressing their
private affairs may be, the publick Demands ought to be first
attended to, as in them the Interest of every Individual is
devolved; and in particular this Act ought by no means to be
postponed. The publick Debts, the alarming Depreciation of
our paper money, are pressing, and will admit of no delay.
The present and not the future is in your power, and were it
necessary to use arguments on this subject to patriots, it
would be easy to show that the delay of this Act to another
Session is big with uncertainty of its passing at all, and
therefore of the most dangerous consequences to this State.
Especially as it will occasion universal uneasiness and in all
probability produce Tumults and insurrections, and tend to a
Domestic Tyranny and confusion as much to be dreaded as the
evils brought upon us by our connections with Great Britain,
the Effects of which we thus wofully experience. Tho’ thro’ the
smiles of Heaven upon our past endeavors, we are now arrived
within view of our native inheritance, the promised Land of
peace and freedom, to which we look with longing Eyes. But our
unremited exertions are still necessary to bring us to the
Haven of rest. Else all our past Labors may still prove in
vain, all our fair prospects be darkened by Intervening Clouds,
that may drive us again upon a tempestuous sea of trouble till
we are overwhelmed and Lost. To prevent this we and all your
Constituents look up with Anxious Expectations to you, on whom
is devolved the care of the State Vessel, and on whom we depend
to pilot it into a port of safety; and we trust your vigilance
and unwearied application to the important Duties of your
Station will be continued till the great End is Obtained, for
which as in Duty bound we shall ever pray, &c.
Poughkeepsie, October 22nd, 1778.
It was inevitable that his activity and zeal in promoting and executing
such measures should make Colonel Ludington an object of especial
antipathy to the local Tories and also to the British authorities in
New York. He was regarded by them as one of the chief obstacles to the
raising of troops and the securing of supplies for the British Army in
the border region. Accordingly the strongest efforts were made to get
rid of him, either by death or capture. On more than one occasion he was
shot at by hidden marksmen by the wayside and narrowly escaped being
killed. The British authorities offered a reward of three hundred guineas
for his person, and more than one of his disaffected neighbors sought to
win that prize. Much of the time his house was guarded by a detachment of
his regiment, but often for days and weeks when he was at home his only
sentinels were his two older daughters, Sibyl and Rebecca. These children
would sit for hours, armed with heavy muskets, at the upper windows,
behind casks on the piazza, or in a neighboring cornfield, watching for
the approach of suspicious or openly hostile characters and ready to give
their father warning. One night they espied a number of moving figures,
lurking behind trees and fences, and at once waked their father with
the warning that Tories were surrounding the house. Colonel Ludington,
having no aid at hand sufficient to offer defense, resorted to a ruse. He
hurriedly aroused the inmates and distributed them through all the rooms,
each with a musket and a lighted candle. The general illumination of the
building, the signs of commotion, and the shadows of moving and armed
figures on every window blind, persuaded the Tories that a company of
soldiers was in the house. They therefore feared to make the attack which
they had intended, but contented themselves with yelling and hooting in
the adjoining woods until day began to break, when they retired down the
road to the southward, through the little settlement which then occupied
the present site of the village of Carmel.
The next day Colonel Ludington ascertained that his nocturnal visitors
were Tories from Quaker Hill and Pawling, under the leadership of Dr.
Prosser, who has already been mentioned in this narrative, and were
about forty in number. Prosser was a neighbor of Colonel Ludington’s,
but was also his bitter enemy, and was one of the most virulent Tories
in all that region. He was that night leading his company down to New
York to join the British Army, and had planned to kill or capture Colonel
Ludington and thus secure the reward of three hundred guineas which
General Howe had offered. After the war Prosser returned to Dutchess
County to live, thinking his Toryism would be forgotten or condoned. But
Colonel Ludington had not forgotten nor forgiven his midnight attempt at
murder or capture. One day the two men met on the highway at Patterson,
both being on horseback. As soon as Prosser caught sight of the man whom
he had tried to “remove,” he turned and attempted to avoid him. But
Colonel Ludington and his horse were too quick for him. Overtaking him
the Colonel belabored him with a heavy rawhide whip and gave him a most
thorough flogging, which of course Prosser could not venture to resent by
legal means.
On another occasion during the war two gentlemen and their servants,
strangers, stopped at Colonel Ludington’s house and asked for
entertainment for the night. They were received with some misgivings as
to their loyalty. Some time after they had retired the watching members
of the family perceived that the house was surrounded by armed men.
Suspecting that the strangers were in league with the besiegers, they
went to their room, roused them, and at the muzzles of muskets demanded
to know who they were and what was their business. The strangers managed
to assure them that they were friends, and thereupon joined the family in
lighting up the house and giving it the appearance of a well-garrisoned
stronghold. As on the former occasion the ruse was effective and the
attacking party withdrew.
Colonel Ludington’s activities and also his difficulties in raising
troops for various purposes are suggested in some of his correspondence
with Governor Clinton:
I would inform your Excelency that I have proceeded to Raise
the Companey aloted me to Raise as my Quota and Expect them
to march on Munday next; in Regard of officering the Companey
I have Been obliged to Borow a point, and thought it my Duty
to acquaint his Excelency in that manner; the man apointed
as Capt. Did not Belong to the militia—who is Capt. Elijah
Tounsand the Barer—But has Been the most of the time in
Service Since the war Began and has Been Captain with me in
the 3 months Service at the Plains and I Conceive him to Be
more Suitable to Command a companey than one of the militia
Captains; would therefore take it as a favour if you would
give him his Comision; the 1 Lieut. is John Berrey, a militia
officer; the 2 Lieut. is Mr. William McTine a young man who
formerly Lived at the White Plains and now has moved among us,
has never Born a commision in the militia, But is Lookt upon to
Be a proper person for it, as he is a man well acquainted with
the part of the Country where he is going and very Capable of
performing the office. Sir I hope it will Be agreable to his
Excelency to grant Commisions to the above mentioned persons
and in So doing you will mutch oblige your Humble Servant
HENRY LUDINTON.
Fredricksburgh May 1d 1778.
To his Excelency George Clinton Esqr. Governor.
To this Clinton promptly replied:
Poughkeepsie 1st May 1778.
Sir, I have rec’d your Letter of equal Date. By the Law for
raising the 700 Men for the Defence of the State the Officers
are to be taken from the Militia. If, therefore, Capt. Townsend
is to Command the Company you must have him appointed a Capt.
in your Regt. & the other Gentleman a Lieut., otherwise it
will be impossible to give them the Command tho’ I wish to do
it. I have convened the Council of Appointment to meet at this
Place this Day to compleat the Military Appointments. I must,
therefore, again call upon you for the proper Returns of your
Regiment, agreable to former Orders to enable us to perfect
the Appointments therein. I think it would be best for you to
attend here in Person on Monday next at farthest. I am your
Most Obed’t Serv’t
GEO. CLINTON.
Colo. Ludington.
The British raid up the Hudson, with the burning of Kingston, already
mentioned, provoked much activity throughout the border region, and
resulted in added suffering to the unfortunate inhabitants. Immediately
after the burning of Kingston the Committee of Safety, meeting at
Marbletown, adopted the following:
Whereas, The late destruction of the town of Kingston, and a
vast number of dwelling houses, improvements, grain and fodder
on either side of Hudson’s River, by a cruel, inhuman and
merciless enemy, has deprived many persons and families, the
good subjects of the State, of shelter and subsistence for
themselves and their cattle—calamities which by the blessing of
God on the fruits of this land those who have not shared in so
uncommon a misfortune are enabled in a great measure to relieve;
Resolved, Therefore, that it be, and it is hereby most
earnestly recommended to the several and respective general and
district committees of the counties of Ulster, Dutchess, Orange
and Westchester, to make, or cause to be made, a proper and
proportionate distribution of the aforesaid distressed persons
and families, and their cattle, to the end that they may all be
provided for as the circumstances of the country will permit;
and it is hereby most strenuously urged on all those who may
not have shared with them in their afflictions to receive the
aforesaid persons, families and cattle, and furnish them with
shelter and subsistence at a moderate rate.
To this humane appeal the patriotic part of the population cordially
responded, but of course the British sympathizers were reluctant to
do so. Their reluctance and refusal brought upon them, however, the
increased wrath of the patriots, and incited to increased zeal the
committees whose province it was to deal with the disaffected. Among
these, Colonel Ludington was prominent, though he exercised his powers
with a certain humane discretion and was not inclined to be cruelly
vindictive even toward the most malignant Tories. A letter of his to the
Commissioners of Sequestration, now in the possession of Mr. William
E. Dean, of Fishkill, runs as follows, its reference being to the “Red
Mills,” near Lake Mahopac:
Gentlemen
Mr. Cox has been with me this day and informed me that the
Mills are likely to be taken from him and to Be put into the
Hands of Mrs. Cammels and 2 other persons. the two Mrs Camels I
am well acquainted with and would do Everything in my power to
serve them But when you come to consider upon this matter You
may find they may Be Settled at preasent in such a manner that
they may Remain where they are for a while and be Less Damidge
to them than it will be to Mr. Cox to turn out at this season
of the year and so sudden as he is Required to Do. it will Be
easy for you to Judg what a bad plight it will naturally put
him to. therefore should take it as a favour if you would Let
Him Remain until he can have an oportunity of settling Himself
in Some other place. this far can be said of Mr. Cox it is
generally Believed that He Has done Justice to the publick
while He has occupyed the mills and in the Commisary Department
which he has been in since Last fall. But However gentlemen
I would not Be understood that I am to dictate you in those
affairs and am and remain your Real Friend
and Humble Servant
HENRY LUDINTON.
Fredericksburgh January 29th, 1779
Mr Henery Livingston & Theds Van Wick
The Comitioners Sequestration Dutchess County.
Another letter, also in the possession of Mr. Dean, runs as follows:
Dear Sir
I have just had an information of a score of Sheep in the hands
of one Josiah Swift Rented to him By a person who Hath Been
Sundry years with the Enemy and Likewise Sum Cattell in the
Hands of Henry Charlick which Belonged to one Ellston which
the Bearer can inform you of, and the Bearer is the person who
moved Ellston’s wife and family and John Millars and wishes
that the Discovery he had maid of those Cattel might be an
inducement to the Commisoners to give him Sum Satisfaction for
moving the 2 families Down to the Lines
am Sir your very humble Servant
HENRY LUDINTON
To Theodorus Van wayk Esqs
P S I believe I am on track of a very Considerable deal of
property conseald Belonging to Kain and Morison
This letter was addressed to “Theodorus Vanwayk Esqs pr Mr. Daniel
Haselton For want of wafer this is not seald”.
The sternness of the dealings of the State with British sympathizers was
strikingly shown in the law which was made by the State Convention on
October 22, 1779, which ran in part:
Whereas during the present war … divers persons holding or
claiming property within this State have voluntarily been
adherent to the King, his fleets and armies, enemies of this
State … whereof the said persons have severally and justly
forfeited all right to the protection of the State and the
benefit of laws under which property is held or claimed …
Be it enacted that the said several persons hereinbefore
particularly named shall be and are hereby declared forever
banished from this State, and each and every one of them who
shall at any time hereafter be found in any part of this State
shall be and are hereby declared guilty of felony, and shall
suffer death as in cases of felony, without benefit of clergy.
[Illustration: A mahogany table belonging to Colonel Ludington, at which,
according to family tradition, Washington and Rochambeau dined.
(Now in the possession of Charles Henry Ludington)]
Fredericksburgh and the neighborhood were frequently traversed by
officers and bodies of troops, especially in making the journey from
Hartford and New Haven to Fishkill. Washington himself often made that
journey, and was a familiar guest at Colonel Ludington’s house. On
one occasion Washington and Rochambeau, on their way from Hartford to
Fishkill, called there for dinner.
In the journal of Captain William Beatty, of the Maryland Line, the
following entry occurs under date of Sunday, September 20, 1778:
“We marched about four miles past Fredericksburgh, where we lay until the
22nd, on which day our division marched about 12 miles towards Fishkill.
At this place we lay until the 28th, when we marched to Fishkills.” It
seems probable that on this march the troops, presumably under Baron De
Kalb, passed by Colonel Ludington’s house, and were halted there for the
two days mentioned. If so, their stopping there and paying in scrip for
the food supplied by the Ludingtons form the basis of the tradition in
the Ludington family, that at one time Colonel Ludington received so much
depreciated currency from the soldiers that he scarcely knew what to do
with it, and finally stored it under the floor boards of his house for
safe keeping. Mrs. Ludington collected it from the soldiers in her apron,
and got her apron running over full. Long afterward Colonel Ludington
burned a trunkful of the stuff, as worthless litter.
The Ludington house, standing, as before mentioned, on the great highway
from Hartford to the Hudson, was often resorted to by travelers as
an inn, and while the British held New York City, the greater part
of all travel between New England and the other colonies passed that
way. William Ellery, of Massachusetts, a signer of the Declaration of
Independence, traveled that road and stopped at Colonel Ludington’s in
the fall of 1777, on his way from his home at Dighton, Massachusetts,
to York, Pennsylvania, to attend the session of the First Continental
Congress. He was accompanied by the Hon. Francis Dana and his servant,
whom he calls, in his whimsical diary, respectively Don Quixote and
Sancho Panza, while to himself he gives the title of Pill Garlick. Under
date of “Road to Danbury, Nov. 5th,” he records:
We intended when we reached Litchfield to have gone to
Peekskill, and there crossed the North River, but when we got
to Danbury we were dissuaded from it by the Person at whose
house we breakfasted, who told us that there were Tories and
Horse stealers on that road. This account occasioned us to
take the Fishkill road. Accordingly we set off, baited at the
foot of Quaker Hill, about 7 miles from Danbury, and reached
Colonel Ludington’s 8 miles from the foregoing stage at night.
Here _mens meminisse horret_! We were told by our landlady the
Col. was gone to New Windsor, that there was a guard on the
road between Fishkill and Peekskill, that one of the guard had
been killed, about 6 miles off, and that a man not long before
had been shot at on the road to Fishkill not more than three
miles from their house and that a guard had been placed there
for some time past, and had been dismissed only three days.
We were now in a doleful pickle, not a male in the house but
Don Quixote and his man Sancho and poor Pill Garlick, and no
lodging for the first and last but in a lower room without any
shutters to the windows or locks to the doors. What was to be
done? What could be done? In the first place we fortified our
Stomachs with Beefsteak and Grogg and then went to work to
fortify ourselves against an attack. The Knight of the woeful
countenance asked whether there were any guns in the house.
Two were produced, one of them in good order. Nails were fixed
over the windows, the Guns placed in a corner of the room, a
pistol under each of our pillows, and the Hanger against the
bedpost, thus accoutered and prepared at all points our heroes
went to bed. Whether the valiant Knight slept a wink or not,
Pill Garlick cannot say, for he was so overcome with fatigue,
and his animal spirits were so solaced with the beef and the
grogg, that every trace of fear was utterly erased from his
imagination and he slept soundly from evening till morning,
save that at midnight, as he fancieth, he was waked by his
companion, with this interesting Question, delivered with a
tremulous voice, “What noise is that?” He listened and soon
discovered that the noise was occasioned by some rats gnawing
the head of a bread cask. After satisfying the Knight about the
noise, he took his second and finishing nap.
Again, in Colonel Israel Angell’s diary, cited by Mr. Patrick, we find:
29th Nov, 1779. This morning after breakfast I got my horses
Shodd, Crost the North River over to fishkill. Went on
for Danbury, Col Greene and Mr. Griffen. Greene went for
Springfield so we parted about six miles from fishkill, but
Still could get nothing for our horses, till riding ten or
twelve miles, there Dind and fed our horses, then went to Colo
Luttentons Tavern among the Mountains 21 miles from fishkills
there put up for the night. One of Col. Livingston’s Officers
came to this Tavern in the Evening on his way home on a
furlough.
Nov. 30th, 1779. Left my lodgings this morning after breakfast
went on for Danbury.
It is probable, indeed, that for a time Washington himself made Colonel
Ludington’s house his headquarters. In the late summer and fall of
1778 he had his army in that region, and made his own headquarters at
Fredericksburgh, as related by Irving and Lossing. He wrote, under date
of Fredericksburgh on September 12 and 23, describing the disposition
of his army, “the second line, with Lord Sterling, in the vicinity
of Fredericksburgh.” He was there with the exception of a week from
September 12 to the end of November. Part of the time his headquarters
were at the house of John Kane—also spelled Kain and Keane. This house
stood on the site since occupied by the house of Mr. Charles H. Roberts,
at Pawling, and was a large house, connected by a stone-walled passageway
with another large stone building, the ground floor of which was used as
a store and the upper story for dwelling purposes. The land was a part of
Beverly Robinson’s estate. Kane, of whom mention has already been made
in Colonel Ludington’s correspondence, was a Tory and was particularly
obnoxious to the patriots. Under the law of October, 1779, his estate was
confiscated, and he, a dignified and venerable magistrate, was tied to
the tail of a cart and drummed out of town.
[Illustration: Reduced Fac-simile of Letter, from Governor George
Clinton, to Col. Henry Ludington.
(Original in possession of Charles H. Ludington, New York City)]
We have already quoted correspondence between Governor Clinton and
Colonel Ludington, showing the difficulties which were encountered in
raising troops for various services. As time went on these difficulties
increased rather than diminished, so that now and then the governor was
impatient at the unavoidable delay. Thus he wrote on one occasion as
follows:
Pokeepsie 9th June 1779.
Sir,
I wrote to you a few Days ago requesting you to expedite the
raising of the Levies to be furnished by your Regiment but
as I have not since heard from you I conclude the Letter has
miscarried. I have now therefore to repeat my Orders that your
Quota be raised with all Dispatch and marched down under the
Command of an active subaltern to join the Detachment from
Major Crane’s and Colo. Drake’s Regimts (stationed at Crompond,
to cover the Country there from the Depredations of the Enemy)
until my further Orders.
I will send an Officer to relieve, as soon as possible, the
subaltern you shall appoint for this service.
As I think it more than probable that I shall be under a
Necessity of employing the Levies from your Regiment, in the
Quarter to which they are now directed, I expect it will be an
Inducement to the Officers to exert themselves in raising them
and that the Men may more easily be obtained. I have only to
add that I expect also a speedy and effectual Compliance with
these Orders and that you will make me immediate Report of what
shall be done in consequence of them.
I am
Sir
Your most obed
GEO. CLINTON.
Colo. Ludington.
Public Service, GEO. CLINTON.
To Colo. Henry Ludington Fredericksburgh. By Express.
Colonel Ludington was, however, more successful in securing recruits than
some other militia commanders in that region. Colonel Roswell Hopkins, at
Amenia, seems to have met with many troubles, which ultimately led to his
resignation of his commission. In the summer of 1780 much trouble arose
over trafficking in certificates of exemption, and this correspondence
took place:
Amenia, July 12th, 1780.
Sir, In Obedience to Brigade Orders of the 30th ult. I now
return to your Excellency the number of Classes in my regiment
for raising the present Levies for three months; the number
is Sixty-two; the men are to be Delivered the 14th Instant at
Major Cook’s & the 15th at Capt. Roger Sutherland’s to such
Officer as your Excellencey shall appoint. I am, Sir, your most
obedient Hum. Serv’t,
ROSWELL HOPKINS, _Colo._
His Excellency Gov’r. Clinton.
* * * * *
May it please your Excellency, We, the Subscribers, beg leave
to inform your Excellency that Difficulties have arose in this
Regiment respecting Exemption from Militia Drafts Certificates
which have been transferred for a valuable Consideration by
the procurer to another Person—that is whether the Purchaser
of such Certificate is by act of the Legislature, Pass’d the
25th of March 1778, for Exempting persons from Drafts are as
much exempted from Militia Duty as the first Procurers would
be in case he had not transfer’d it. There being several such
Instances in the Regiments and different Opinions in the Matter
which is likely to produce uneasiness, and we being Inform’d
that it has been the Practice in other Regiments to exempt the
Purchasers of such Certificates. There is James Hildreth &
Lemuel Brush—under this predicament the men that they purchas’d
of have done duty in this regiment ever since they transfer’d
their Certificates to the present Holders. As their appears to
be no fraud or collusion respecting the said James Hildreth
and Brush, we pray your Excellency’s advice and Direction
respecting such purchas’d Certificates which will oblige your
Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble Servants
ROSWELL HOPKINS, _Colo._
WILLIAM BARKER, _Lt. Colo._
BRINTON PAINE, _Major_.
EBEN. HUSTED, _Maj’r_.
Amenia, July 12 1780.
His Excellency Gov’r Clinton.
* * * * *
thes may sartify that I am knoing to the truth of what is in
the above, as I then Commanded the Ridgment, & am knoing to
theas 2 men mench’ed dus now due duty in the Ridgment.
DAVID SUTHERLAND.
* * * * *
Poukeepsie 13th July 1780.
Sir, I am this Moment favoured with your two Letters of equal
Date. His Excellency Genl. Washington in Consideration of the
Busy Season of the year & other Reasons has prolonged the Day
for the Levies to rendevous at Fishkill till 25th Instant. This
I notified Brig’r Genl. Swartwoudt of by after Orders which I
concluded he had issued to his Brigade. I will send an Officer
to receive & take Charge of your men in Season to march them
to the Place of Rendevous. This Delay I flatter myself will be
agreable as they may be employed in gathering in the Harvests &
it will afford them Time fully to prepare & provide themselves
for the Campaign which is the more necessary as they are not to
be relieved.
I wish it was in my Power to relieve Mr. Brush & Hildridge as I
believe they meant to act honestly & uprightly; but it is not
as they have not proceeded agreeable to Law and none but such
are exempted—neither am I vested with any Discretionary Power
of determining in such Cases. I have explained myself more
fully to Mr. Brush & am, Sir, your &c.
(G. C.)
(to Colonel Hopkins)
A little later Colonel Hopkins had a lively experience with a
press-master from Connecticut, which he reported to the governor—his
letter being of interest for the picture which it gives of the times and
customs in which Colonel Ludington was a participant:
Amenia Aug’t 19th 1780.
May it please your Excellency, I beg leave to trouble
your Excellency with a Remonstrance Concerning a certain
Press-master, one George Tremble, who is a transient person
that lives in Connecticut, who came to me on the 8th Instant
and told me he wanted my team to carry forrage to the
Fishkills. I told him my Circumstances was such that I could
not let them go, for it would Ruin me for my wheat, about 130
bushels, all I had was in the field and it would spoil. My
oats, 200 or 300 busshels all lay in the Swarth, and would be
lost, for I had no help but one Son, and could not hire any
man; my flax a fine Crop was all in the field and some hay in
the meadow, and my grass lodged and rotting, but he said he
cared not for that, but I should go myself with my team the
next day. I told him if I could secure my grain I would send my
son and team the next week, but he said I should go the next
day. I told him I would not; he showed me a Coppy of a press
warrent from your Excellency to Colo. Hay with a line from him
on the back authorizing said Tremble to impress teams & drivers
in this state.
I told him that was no legal warrent to him; he rode off saying
he would get a warrent for me, & then told all about he had
got a warrent for me; but on the 14th he came again with a
Sergeant & 8 men & entered my field, Siezed my son & confined
him under guard, drove out my fatten oxen that I was fattening
for the army, took my horses & forced my son to drive them
with a lode of my own oats to the Fishkills, altho I consented
if they must go they might carry my oats, he told me I was a
disaffected Person, had done nothing to support the cause, held
bad Princeples, was a dam’d Lyer and a dam’d Rascal.
I have fined him for cursing; sued him for trespass & issued a
warrant against him in order to bind him to his good behaviour
& recorded a riot against him.
I think its a pity that there is not a man in this Precinct
County or state that can be trusted with a press warrant, but
such an outlandish Irish, malicious, abusive fellow must be
sent into this Precinct to press all the whiggs teams, & none
in Charlotte, which is near 3 times as big, and half tories,
for I cant learn of one being pressed there; after all the
malicious fellow wrote a letter to Colo. Hay sent by the
Soldiers that my team Capt. Shepherd’s & Mr. Ingersoll’s teams
were disaffected teams, and requested they might be kept in
Service a month; he abused others besides me. I am, Sir, your
most obedient Hum’e Serv’t
ROSWELL HOPKINS.
P. S. One Stack of my wheat is spoiled being wet thro & grown &
I shall loose about six tons of hay. R. H.
His Excellency Governour Clinton.
At the beginning of May, 1781, however, Colonel Hopkins gave up the
struggle to maintain his quota of men in the field, and insisted upon
resigning his commission:
Amenia, May 1st 1781.
Sir, I wrote to your Excellency about a fortnight ago to
acquaint you that the Classes of my Regiment were to Deliver
their men yesterday, and requested an officer might be sent to
recive them agreeable to general orders, but no man or orders
came. I was greatly non-plushed & knew not what to do, but have
mustered the men and ordered them to meet at Peleg Tabors near
Mr. David Johnston, on Saturday this week at 10 O’clock, to
march immediately off, when and where I hope your Excellency
will give some one orders to take care of them. I fear they
will not appear at that time as no one has the care of them. I
fear they will desert, they have got their bounties.
Sir, I must still insist on resigning my Military commission
as I am wore out with the trouble & expence of it. I think it
unaccountable that the vacancies in my Regt. are not filled up,
when I have made so many returns and requests, and have had no
adjutant for near 2 years and orders to send to my Capts. very
offen indeed. Sir, I desire if any officers are appointed this
way to go with these Levies, I might be informed by the bearer
who they be; pray excuse the want of Paper for I have wrote up
4 quire in a short time lately in orders &c. all gratis, and
know not where I can get more. I have collected some money from
the delinquent classes for during the war. I am, Sir, your most
Obed’t Serv’t
ROSWELL HOPKINS, _Colo._
His Excellency Gover’r Clinton.
Colonel Ludington also appears to have had many troubles and vexations
at this time, though his “staying qualities” were superior to those
of Colonel Hopkins. He wrote to the governor on the very day on which
Colonel Hopkins resigned, as follows:
Fredericks Burgh, May 1st 1781.
Honoured Sir, I was yesterday a Coming to wait on your
Excellency, but hearing of my little Son (who is at School at
Danbury) lying very dangerous with the plurisy, was obliged
to turn my Course that way, for which Reason obliges me to
commit my Errand in writing. Your Excellency no dought has been
inform’d of our troubles of late in Regard of a large party of
Robbers being for four weeks past near me in the mountains,
which has occasioned me in some measure of being behind hand in
turning out my men for the nine months Service, for the chief
part of my Regiment has been out ever since the Robbers came
among us, And, Sir, were you to be fully acquainted with the
Difficulty I now labour under you would think is impossible
for me to do it, as I have but one field officer, which is
Major Robinson who lives so near the lines that he has enough
to take care of himself, The Circumstances of my wife and
family renders it inconvenient for me to move immediately if I
intend to save my life, or anything for my family’s support.
My Captains seeing the Distresses that is daily comeing upon
themselves by Reason of haveing their Sergents sued and torn to
pieces for what Necessity required them to do among the tories,
while we was under the authority of Committees, and many of
their best men are beat and robbed by persons who say they are
Refugees from below. It is only for them to call a man a tory,
be him ever so good a man, himself, wife and Children get beat
in such a manner that he’s obliged to turn out his Substance
to save their lives. And at best the Regiment are verry poor
when compared with other Regiments and are call’d on to raise
an eaquil number with the others, when I can affirm that ten
farmers in Coll. Brinckerhoff’s Regiment is able to purchase
the whole of mine. In this uneaquil way, I have been obliged to
turn out my men untill they are so much impoverish’d that they
almost dispair.
It seems the power of Earth and Hell was let loose against
me and my Regiment. Even one of the most abandant Ruffins is
indulged to hold me up to public view for Cowardice, for
challenging him to fight a Duel. It is what I never thought
on, neither did he think I did, but was let loose upon me by
the Instigation of a set of Ruffins who Conspired together to
take my life, and I knowing this Kees to be a transient person
who had neither Connection, Credit, Money or friends, nor no
place of Residence here, that it was out of my power to get
Recompence from such a fellow as he, unless it was by giveing
him a floging, and that he had put out of my power by Secreting
himself. This being my Situation shall expect from your
Excellency some Directions and advice by a line what will be
best for me to doe. I something expect that General Swartwout
will wait on you this day, who will be able to state some of
the Difficulties I have mentioned and whether it will not be
best to anex my Regiment to some other Regiment, or give me
some field officers, who in time of turning out my men will be
better able and more willing to assist me.
Am, Sir, with due Regard your Excellency’s Most Obed’t and
verry Hum’e Serv’t
HENRY LUDINTON.
His Excelency George Clinton, Esqr.
The governor regarded Colonel Ludington’s request for more officers as
reasonable, and promptly complied with it as follows:
Sir, In Answer to yours of the 1st Instant I have to inform you
that Lieuts. Johnson, Duel & Becker of your Regt. are appointed
Officers in the Levies. These will have orders to receive &
march your Quota to the Place of Rendevouz. The last I received
from you I answered a Day or two after it came to Hand. My
Letter was forwarded by Judge Paine. If you apply to the
Secry. I imagine you will find that the appointments for your
Regt. agreable to your Return have long since been perfected.
Agreable to a Notification in the public News Papers the
Council mett at this Place on the 26th Instant. It would have
been proper to have applied to them at that Time either to have
had the vacancies in your Regt. filled up or to have made your
Resignation as they only have the Power of doing the former or
of accepting of the latter. I am &c.
(G. C.)
There may be some other gentlemen residing within your Regt.
appointed officers for the Levies but of this I cant be certain
as I am neither acquainted with its Limits or their Places of
Residence. (To Colonel Ludinton.)
A fortnight later new orders as to the distribution of levies were
issued. Colonel Ludington was to be retained on duty in Westchester
County, where he was much needed. But a sharp controversy arose over his
alleged dilatoriness in raising his quota of men. These letters indicate
the general trend of affairs at that time:
Fishkeels 13th May 1781.
D’r Governor, I have just Returnd from three days fortague
receving Colo. Vanderburgh Levies.
I beg to no what part of Ulster County I shall derect that part
of the Levis to purposed for that Quarter. I have proposed
Capt. Livingston for that Command & beg he may be as ney my
post as posable. I am your Excel’cy most Obt. Hbl. Serv’t
E. V. BUNSCHOTEN.
His Ex’ly G. Clinton.
N. B. I expose my poverty as to paper.
May 13th 1781.
S’r, I have rec’d your Letter by Capt. Livingston. The
Detachm’t intended for the frontiers of Ulster are to proceed
to Kingston. Colo. Graham’s Regt. will furnish 50 so that
no more are to be sent than with them will make up 100. I
am anxious that those for Albany be dispatched as soon as
possible, and it is my wish that a Part of those already on
the ground be sent there as their appearance on the Frontier
will give Confidence to the Inhabitants. Field’s & Ludington’s
Levies are intended for West Chester. Call in all the absent
Officers immediately. Capts. Marshall & Whelp who belong to
Willet’s Regt. ought to join & take Charge of the Detachm’t
intended for Albany.
(G. C.)
(Major Van Bunschoten.)
Poughkeepsie, May 13th 1781.
Sir, I am informed by Letter from Colo. Luddenton that he has
not yet done any Thing towards raising the Levies from his
Regt., that they are not even formed into Classes. I must,
therefore, insist that you immediately take the measures
directed by Law for drawing forth his Proportion of men,
together with the Deficiencies from all the other Regiments, a
Return of which will be furnished you by Major Buntschoten on
your application. The Service will by no means admit of Delay
in this Business. I, therefore, expect your utmost exertions. I
am &c.
GEO. CLINTON.
Brig’r. Genl. Swartwout.
Fishkill May 16th 1781.
D’r Sir, Agreable to your Exlancey’s order, I wated on Colo.
Luddenton to Receive the Levies from his Ridgment; he promisd
to have them Ready the next week, but hearing he made no stur,
I sent Lt. Dyckman to know when I might expect them, but he
could not see him. I then went myself several times before
I could see him; he at length set a day to Receive them but
neighther he nor his men mad ther appearance. I cald on him
the nex day to know the Reason, but he was out of the way. I
then concluded to report to him but by chance I met him on the
Road; he then promised to turn them out the twenty first of the
month. Should I bee disapointed again, I shall wait on your
exlancey with the perticulars and remain, with the greatest
esteem, your exlancey’s most obediant and most umble serv’t
D’NL WILLIAMS.
His exlancey Governor Clinton.
Colonel Ludington appears to have fulfilled his word and to have
completed his quota in a satisfactory manner, for there is no indication
of any further complaints, and he is known to have continued in the
service in the best of standing. His next correspondence with Governor
Clinton had to do with the petitions of two deserters for clemency, and
with the case of a woman who had become an outlaw. Colonel Ludington’s
letter and the petition, and the governor’s reply, were as follows:
Fredericksburgh, September 21d, 1781.
Honored Sir: Being acquainted with the contents of the petition
sent you enclosed from Sem’r Arnold and Cowin should esteam
it as a favour Dun unto them and my Self if it should have
its Desired efect. But be that as it may an answer from His
Excelenz Consearning the Same will Mutch oblige your very
Humble Servant
To his Excellency George Clinton, Esqr. Governor.
Petition of Daniel Cowing and Seymour Arnold.
To his Excellency George Clinton Esquire Governor
of the State of New York:
The Humble Petition of Daniel Cowing & Seymour Arnold.
Humbly Sheweth—That your Petitioners were by undue influence
and evil Example unhappily led to desert their Station in
the levies under Captain Williams on the Lines in the county
of Westchester and though your Petitioners upon the first
reflection were sensible of the enormity of their Crime &
inclined to return to their Duty, the dread of Corporal
punishment prevented them till pardon could be procured from
their officers; that many applications for that purpose have
been made by persons employed by your Petitr. without Effect,
that your Petitr. are heartily sorry for, and ashamed of their
conduct, are fully determined and solemnly promise never to
be guilty of the same Crime again under any Circumstances or
treatment whatsoever, that your Petrs. hope some indulgence
from their known attachment to the Public cause as your petrs.
have been in the service a great part of the time since the
war Commenced and are now willing to make every amend in their
power to the state by serving longer than the time limited or
Otherways as your Excellency or their officers may appoint, if
by your Excellency’s interposing in their favour your petrs.
may be exempted from Corporal punishment for this offence
and at Liberty to return to their duty immediately this your
Petitrs. implore & hope from your Excellencys known Clemency.
And your Petrs. as in duty bound will ever Pray.
* * * * *
Poughkeepsie, Septr, 21st 1781.
Sir, I have rec’d your letter of this Date with the Petition of
the Deserters from Capt. Williams’ Company & the request of
the Overseers of Poor relative to Mrs. Webb.
The levies you may remember are by the Law put under the
Command of the Commander in Chief & made subject to the
Continental Articles of War. Genl. Heath has now the command of
the Department & the application in behalf of the Petitioners
should be to him. I cannot with Propriety interfere in the
matter. But at any Rate they ought first to deliver themselves
up & offer to return to their duty before they can expect a
remission of the Punishment they have incurred.
With respect to Mrs. Webb—the law makes it the duty of the
Justices to warn her out of the State and she is to depart
within twenty Days after Notice given her accordingly, or be
out of the protection of the law, I am,
(G. C.)
Colo. Luddinton Fredericksburgh.
Later in the war, much difficulty was again experienced in raising the
desired levies:
Fredricksburgh, aprill 14th, 1782.
Honoured Sir, it will be neadles for me to State to your
Excelency the Difficulties and Disadvantiges my Distresd
Regment Labours under as in Regard of Raising their quota of
men, for Sure I am that if it was Consistant his Excelency
would give us every Asistance in his power. This one Request
I shall atempt to make that we should Have an offisar or two
apointed in the Regiment. If that should Be the case I think
it would Have a tendancy to aleviate us in the pain of Raising
them and prevent Desartions which hath Been verry preverlent
2 or 3 of the Last Campains. The men I Raised the Last year
were as good men as I would Evr wish to Command, were put
under Capt. Williams And Desarted all to a man. As it is so
Burthensom to Rase the Money to pay their Bounties pray Let us
indeavour they shall Do the Service intended. It is my opinion
that Lt. Charles Stewart that was with Colo. Wesenfell Last
year will answer well for a capt. and his son for a 2 L’dtant.
am Sir His Excelencys verry Humble Servant
HENRY LUDINTON.
Governor Clinton.
A few days later he wrote again:
Fredricksburgh Aprill 23, 1782.
Honoured Sir,
I must Beg Leave to trouble his Excelency this once more with
my Request that Lt Charles Stuart shall Be indulged with the
Same offise he held last year under Colo. Wiesenfelt. I should
not so Strenuously insist upon it only that I am Sensable it
will have a tendancy to induce the young men of his aquantance
to inlist and that for a mutch les sum than if they were to go
with Strangers. Sir for the Reasons above Resited I shall hope
his Excelency will grant this my Request as well as others. I
am Sir his Excelencys most obedient and Humble Servant
HENRY LUDINTON.
To George Clinton Esqr. Governor.
P. S. Sir a line By way of answer if it should be agreable.
Thus Colonel Ludington served through the war to its close, in his
various capacities, and at the end was much concerned with securing
settlements of the pay due to himself and his troops. His own rate of pay
is indicated in several entries on the pay-rolls. Thus we find—
Abstract of Pay & Rations due Col. Henry Luddington’s Regt. of Dutchess
County Militia in the Service of the United States at different Periods
between March 1779 & November 1780.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Names. Rank Commencing Ending Time
-----------
Months days
-----------------------------------------------------------
1779 1780
Henry Luddington Colonel March Novemr. 1 5
-----------------------------------------------------------
Rations
Dollars pr ------------- Amount of Amount of Pay
Month Rations Price Rations. and Rations.
75 210 10d 8:15:--. 43:15:--.
Apparently it was long after the war before all these matters were fully
adjusted, as the date of the following affidavit shows:
I Henry Ludinton do solemnly and sincerely swear that the
List hereunto annexed contains an Account of all Certificates
that remained in my Hands of those that were issued by the
Treasurer and delivered to me for Paying my Regiment; That the
remainder were to the best of my knowledge and belief delivered
to the Persons who performed the services or their legal
representatives and that the names subscribed to the vouchers
produced were bona fide subscribed by them.
HENRY LUDENTON.
Sworn before me this 13th Day of Septr. 1792.
Gerard Bancker Treasr.
Voucher No. 306, of “The United States to the State of New York, Dr. for
payments on Certificates for Military Services performed in the late
War,” presumably covering all payment made to Colonel Ludington for
federal services, shows a total of £1330:19s:2d.
[Illustration: Pay certificate of a member of Colonel Ludington’s
regiment]
Colonel Ludington appears to have been the purchaser, for cash, of some
of the lands apportioned to soldiers as bounties for their services.
Thus in the “Manuscripts of the Colony and State of New York in the
Revolutionary War,” on file in the controller’s office at Albany, Mr.
Patrick has found this entry:
We the subscribers members of a class in Capt. William Pierce’s
Company and Colo. John Field’s Regiment who have Procured a
man to wit Christian Null to serve in the Levies of this State
Until the First Day of January Next who has been Delivered
and a Certificut Taken for Such Delivery According to Law
whereby the said Class Is Entitled to two hundred acres of
Unappropriated Land we do therefore in Consideration of the sum
of five Pounds to us in hand paid By Henry Ludenton Esqr the
Receipt Whereof we do acknowledge and Do grant and transfer
unto the said Henry Ludenton Esqr. his heirs and assigns the
Whole Right of the said two hundred acres of Land which said
Class is Entitled To In persuance of a Law of this State
Entitled an act for Raising Troops to Complete the Line of this
State In the service of the United States And the two Regiments
to Be Raised on Bounties of Unappropriated Lands and for the
Further Defence of the frontiers of this State Passed the 25th
of March 1782 To have and to hold the sd two hundred Acres of
Land Unto the sd Henry Ludinton His heirs and assigns to his
and their proper use and Benefit and behoof forever as witness
our hands and seals this the 3d of March 1783.
Henry Ludinton
Assignee and Assignor
EDMUND FERRIS
ASA SABIN
JOHN CASWELL.
JOHN PEASLEE
RICHD FURNISS
JAMES FERRIS
STEPHEN STEVENSON
WARREN FERRIS.
Seald and Delivered in presence of
Jathro Sherman
James Ferriss
This document is endorsed as follows:
Be it remembered that I Henry Ludinton do Assign over this
within Conveyance unto Benjamin Conklin and to his Heirs and
Assigns to Reserve and injoy the Land therein mentioned.
HENRY LUDINTON.
Dated November 1st 1783 in presence of Eleazar weed.
With such transactions the military service of Colonel Ludington was
concluded, and the remainder of his busy life was reserved for civil
duties and his private affairs.