The Story of Sybil Ludington
Sybil Ludington was born on April 5, 1761, in Fredericksburg, New York, now called Ludingtonville. At just 16 years old, she rode 40 miles through Putnam County on April 26, 1777.
Her mission was urgent – alert militia members that British troops were burning the American supply depot at Danbury, Connecticut. Her father, Colonel Henry Ludington, commanded the local militia during the American Revolution.
Many compare Sybil’s ride to Paul Revere’s, but she covered twice his distance and did it as a teenager.
A Messenger Brings Urgent News
On April 25, 1777, a force of 2,000 British soldiers under General William Tryon landed in Connecticut. They marched toward Danbury, where Americans stored weapons, food, and medicine.
Around 9 PM the next day, an exhausted messenger reached the Ludington home with alarming news. The British were burning Danbury to the ground.
Colonel Ludington faced a problem. He needed to stay home to organize the militia when they arrived, but someone had to spread the alarm to the scattered troops.
A Teenage Girl Volunteers
Sybil stepped forward to ride through the countryside and alert the militia members about the British attack. She had just turned sixteen three weeks earlier.
This wasn’t her first brave act. She had previously stopped her father from being murdered by loyalists, which were Americans who stayed faithful to Britain during the war.
Setting Out In Darkness
Sybil mounted her horse “Star” and left home around 9 PM. She carried only a stick for protection as she rode into the rainy night as the burning town of Danbury lit up the distant sky with an orange glow.
The Dangerous 40-Mile Route
Sybil rode from Kent through Carmel and Mahopac, then through Mahopac Falls and Cold Spring. She continued through Farmers Mills to Stormville before heading home.
Her path crossed both Putnam and Dutchess counties through forests, over streams, and across rough land. Today, markers along roads in eastern Putnam County show her route and just how far she traveled that night.
Alerting The Countryside
At each militia member’s home, Sybil knocked hard on doors with her stick. She called out, “Muster at Ludington’s!” to tell troops to gather at her father’s home.
In Carmel, a church bell rang after her warning, spreading the alarm further. When a man offered to ride with her for safety, Sybil sent him east instead to warn the town of Brewster and continued her mission alone.
Facing Multiple Dangers
The night held many threats beyond darkness and rain. For one, Sybil had to avoid British soldiers and their American supporters. “Skinners” posed another danger – outlaws who attacked travelers for money and goods. Several accounts tell how Sybil fought off robbers with her stick or her father’s gun.
Returning At Dawn
Sybil reached home as the first light appeared on the horizon. Her clothes were soaked from riding all night in the rain, and her amazing 40-mile journey took between eight and nine hours.
By the time she returned, about 400 militia members had gathered at her father’s house. They were ready to march against the British forces thanks to her warning.
The Battle of Ridgefield
The militia arrived too late to save Danbury, since the British had already burned the supply depot and much of the town.
On April 27, American forces fought the British at nearby Ridgefield. About 700 American soldiers and militia faced 2,000 British troops, and this clash became the only inland battle fought in Connecticut during the entire Revolutionary War.
The Impact of Her Ride
Sybil’s ride let American forces attack the British during their retreat to the coast. After this battle, the British never again tried to raid deep into Connecticut. The burning of Danbury also angered many neutral citizens, who then joined the fight against Britain.
Historical Debates About The Ride
Some modern historians do question the veracity Sybil’s ride. The first written account of her ride appeared in 1880, more than a hundred years after it supposedly happened. This gap raises some doubts, though more details appeared in 1907 in Colonel Ludington’s family memoirs.
Visiting The Sybil Ludington Statue
The Sybil Ludington statue stands proudly on the shore of Lake Gleneida at the intersection of Routes 52 and 6 in Carmel, New York.
Consider following the the historical markers throughout Putnam County that trace her actual 40-mile route. The annual Sybil Ludington 50K race in April also follows a similar path.
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