SYBIL LUDINGTON: THE UNSUNG HEROINE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
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On the night of April 26, 1777, a 16-year-old girl named Sybil Ludington rode 40 miles on horseback to alert the militia of a British attack on Danbury, Connecticut. She braved the dark, the cold, and the danger of enemy soldiers and outlaws, and managed to rally about 400 men to join her father, Colonel Henry Ludington, in the defense of the town. Her heroic deed was largely forgotten until the 20th century, when she was honored with statues, stamps, and books. But who was Sybil Ludington, and what motivated her to undertake such a perilous mission?
EARLY LIFE
Sybil Ludington was born on April 5, 1761, in Fredericksburg, New York (now Ludingtonville). She was the eldest of 12 children of Henry and Abigail Ludington, who owned a gristmill and a farm. Henry Ludington was a veteran of the French and Indian War, and a patriot leader in the Revolutionary War.
Sybil grew up in a time of turmoil and conflict, as the colonies struggled for independence from Britain. She witnessed the hardships and sacrifices of her family and neighbors, who supported the patriot cause with their lives and resources. She also learned to ride a horse and handle a gun, skills that would prove useful in her later adventure.
THE RIDE
On April 25, 1777, a force of about 2,000 British troops, led by Governor William Tryon, landed on the shore of Long Island Sound, and marched towards Danbury, Connecticut. Danbury was a strategic town, where the Continental Army stored its supplies and ammunition. The British intended to destroy the depot and demoralize the patriots.
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The next day, the British reached Danbury and set fire to the town, burning houses, barns, and warehouses. The patriots tried to resist, but they were outnumbered and outgunned. Some of the militia escaped and spread the alarm to the neighboring towns, including Fredericksburg, where Colonel Ludington was stationed.
Around 9 p.m., a messenger arrived at the Ludington house, and informed the colonel of the dire situation in Danbury. The colonel knew he had to act quickly, and gather his men to join the fight. But most of his men lived far away, and he had no means of communicating with them, except by sending messengers on horseback. He also had to stay at his home, to organize the troops as they arrived.
He looked around, and saw his daughter Sybil, who had just finished tending to the messenger and his horse. He decided to entrust her with the task of rousing the militia. He gave her a list of the names and locations of his men, and told her to ride to each of their homes, and tell them to be at his house by daybreak. He also gave her a stick, to knock on doors and windows, and to fend off any attackers.
Sybil mounted her horse, Star, and set off into the night. She rode through the woods, fields, and hills, avoiding the main roads where she might encounter British patrols or loyalist spies. She faced the threats of wild animals, outlaws, and fatigue, as she covered a distance of 40 miles, more than twice as long as Paul Revere’s famous ride. She reached about 40 houses, and delivered her father’s message, sometimes shouting it out loud, to wake up the sleeping residents.
She returned to her home around dawn, exhausted but triumphant. She had succeeded in rallying about 400 men, who gathered at the Ludington house, ready to march to Danbury. They joined forces with other militia units, and fought the British at the battles of Ridgefield and Compo Hill, forcing them to retreat to their ships.
Although they could not save Danbury, they inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, and boosted the morale of the patriots.
RECOGNITION AND LEGACY
Sybil Ludington’s ride was not widely known or celebrated during her lifetime. She received a personal thank-you from General Washington, who visited her home in 1781, and praised her courage and service. She also received a letter of commendation from Governor George Clinton of New York, who called her “a heroine of the first magnitude”.
She married Edmond Ogden, a lawyer, in 1784, and had one son, Henry.
She died on February 26, 1839, at the age of 77, and was buried near her father in the Patterson Presbyterian Cemetery.
Her story was largely forgotten, until the early 20th century, when her descendants and local historians began to revive interest in her.
In 1907, her great-nephew, Louis S. Patrick, wrote an article about her ride, based on family records and oral traditions. He compared her to Paul Revere, and claimed that she was more deserving of fame and glory. His article sparked a series of publications and commemorations, that elevated Sybil Ludington to the status of a national heroine.
In 1961, on the bicentennial of her birth, a statue of her by sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington was unveiled in Carmel, New York, near Lake Glenida, where she began and ended her ride. Another statue of her was placed in Washington, D.C., in 1976, as part of the American Revolution Bicentennial. She has been the subject of several books, poems, songs, and films, that portray her as a brave and patriotic young woman.
Sybil Ludington’s ride is a remarkable example of courage, endurance, and devotion to a cause. She risked her life to help her father and her country, and showed that women could play an important role in the fight for freedom. She deserves to be remembered and celebrated, as one of the unsung heroines of the American Revolution.
