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.