Chapter VI: Between the Lines (2)

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.

(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.

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.