Colonel Henry Ludington: A Memoir

by Willis Fletcher Johnson

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.