SYBIL LUDINGTON
Sixteen-year-old young woman rode 40 miles
to muster troops against the British
APRIL 5, 1761 BORN IN NEW YORK
APRIL 26, 1777 RODE 40 MILES TO CALL PATRIOTS TO ARMS
1784 (age 23) MARRIED EDMOND OGDEN
FEBRUARY 26, 1839 DIED--CATSKILL, NY.
BURIED IN PATTERSON PRESBYTERIAN CEMETERY
Thunder cracked and lightning lit up the sky on the night of April 26, 1777. However, the downpour wasn’t the only storm brewing as Colonel Henry Ludington sat in his home near Carmel, New York. The former British loyalist turned American Patriot listened intently trying to decipher if what he was hearing outside his home was more than the evening tempest.
As the sound grew louder, he left his comfortable chair to investigate. His suspicions were confirmed when, peering through the cascading rain on his window he saw a man on horseback hollering as he approached the house at full speed.
Ludington ran out to meet the exhausted messenger who had galloped 25 miles to inform the colonel that Danbury (Connecticut) was under British attack. Ludington’s minutemen were urgently needed.
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Helping the rider into the house, the colonel wondered how he would ever muster his men in time to be of any service. It was planting season and the patriots had all returned to their farms to sow seeds. The bone-soaked rider couldn’t possibly survive the nearly 40-mile journey necessary to call his men to arms. It was obvious that he had spared no speed to deliver his message. Now, both horse and rider were spent from the marathon.
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Abigail, Henry’s wife, wrapped a towel around the shoulders of the horseman as the two men contemplated how to get the word out. The colonel couldn’t go, he needed to prepare for the battle, but without men he would be of no use to the citizens of Danbury.
“I’ll go!” exclaimed the oldest of the Ludington children.
“Nonsense,” replied her mother. “On a night like this?”
But 16-year-old Sybil had already draped her rider’s cape over her shoulders and was pulling on her boots.
Colonel Ludington at first sided with her mother, but soon realized he had no other option and time was wasting.
“Take my steed” Henry exclaimed, “and go quickly!”
The words had barely left his mouth before young Sybil was out the door and headed to the stable.
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She whispered a silent prayer as she saddled the horse, then grabbed a thick stick—just in case she was met by outlaws or worse British loyalists. After kicking the barn door open, she pulled herself into the saddle and with firm command and nudge of her equine companion rode into the stormy night.
Rain smacked her face and mud from the steed splattered on her legs and back, but she didn’t have time to notice. She had a message to deliver and nothing was going to deter her.
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Young Sybil rode approximately 40 miles on rough country roads in the dark. Never dismounting, she saved time by using her club to pound on walls or doors of the houses as she cried out to the farmers. “The British are attacking! Grab your muskets and meet at Ludington’s farm.”
By morning the men had gathered at her father’s home and began their march to Danbury (CT). They arrived too late to save the town but continued south to pursue the Red Coats. They caught up with them in Ridgefield (CT), where they joined other patriots and finally forced the British to retreat.
