[1][2] In April 1775, during the American Revolutionary War, he served as a fifer under his father's command and witnessed the burning of Charlestown, Massachusetts.

As Hutchins writes in his autobiography: During this time, my fellow-soldiers and I desired to obtain something to eat besides the salt provisions supplied by Government.

This was the only punishment I received while with the army ; but truth compels me to add, that my comrades and I often helped ourselves to musk and water-melons that grew in profusion on patches of ground in Brooklyn.He was later posted to Red Hook, where he remained until the end of his enlisted year in September 1777, after which he returned to his family in Concord, New Hampshire.

In about 1815, Levi built a large building and set up five looms to manufacture cloth; this business lasted three years before it was sold off.

Hutchins continued to build brass clocks, as well as surveying compasses and other precision instruments, for an additional 20 years.