New-York tribune., 1907-10-12
COLONEL LUDINGTON.
Ihc Life Of an officer in the Ameri-
can RerOIutiOn.

+ Inc literature of old family life in America
possesses special interest for students of our
history. The publication of much of il has been
due 10 private initiative. which has really served
puohc purpose. for the printing Of personal
RECORDS often aids the historian Of larger is
sues. valuable contribution TO this literature
mas been made by DR.. Willis Fletcher Johnson
In memoir of Colonel Henry Ludington."
printed by the Iatter's grandchildren Lavinia
Elizabeth Ludington and Charles Henry Lud-
lhgton The subject of this monograph was
man whose forefathers came from England in
the earlier part of the seventeenth century. and
IohG thereafter did useful work in our colonial
development. He himself was born at Bran
ford. Conn, in 1889 He was young man
when he first turned his thoughts 10 a military
career In fact, he was only seventeen when
! he took part in that bloody engagement of 1859
which Is known as the Battle of Lake George
mat as colonel OF militia, he acquitted
himself we'll in the course of the Revolution is
a3undantly shown in DR.. Johnson's pages His
position in Duchess County was one of pecul-
lar delicacy and peril The British authorities
IN New York regarded him, says his boErapher
as one of the chief obstacles to the raising of
troops and the securing Of supplies for the
brlush army in the border region" and efforts
were 'hade 10 remove him by death or capture
,Il3o on more than one occasion he was shot at by
Huuen IarkSmen by the yvavside and uar~oxrIy-
TreP ePeu otIhG Killed. The British authorities Of
11 r1GTa reward OF 300 Euineas for his person, and
more than one of mis- disaffocted neighbors sought
n 70 VII Ihat prize. Much of the time his house was
guarded by a detachment of his regiment hui
pileH LOT DAYS and weeks when he was at home
nS only sentinelS his two older daurhters
SIoNl ana Rebecca. These children would sit for
Hours. armed with heavy muskets at the MINER
windows, behind casks the piazza or in
hSlEhtornE cornheld. watching FOR the approach
W suspicious or openly hostile characters and ready
tIea number OF moving figures lurking behind
trees ana fences. and at walked their father
NiuI lHe warning that Tories surrounding the
mouse colonel LudingTOn. having no aid at hand
nurredIy aroused the inmates and distributed them
HrouEh All the rooms. each with musket and a
ut'.IuIuE, ihe signs or commotOn and the shadows
OF moving and armed figures every window blind
persuaded the Tories thar company of soldiers
was IN the house. They therefore feared 10 make
me attack which they had intended but conteuted
themselves with yelling and hootlng IN the nd joln-
ing woods until day began TO break when they
OF the village Of Carmel
No painted engraved portrait Of Colonel
Ludington exists but with the aid Of many au-
thentic documents Or. Johnson makes us so vel!
acquainted with his character that we scarcely
need memorial Of his appearance In time OF
war, and afterward a Justice Of the Peace
this sturdy American first and last "A man
OF energy and man OF duty This memoir
gives a vivid survey Of his career. with some
interesting passages on his ancestors and de-
scendants. Well illustrated with facsimiIes
portraits and few pictures and carefully
printed at the De Vinne press the volume is a
welcome addition 70 the geneaIoEy of America.