Sybil Ludington

Sybil Ludington
Statue of Sybil Ludington in Carmel, New York by Anna Hyatt Huntington.
Born	(1761-04-05)April 5, 1761 Kent, New York, U.S.
Died	February 26, 1839(1839-02-26) (aged 77) Catskill, New York, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Edmond Ogden (married in 1784)
Children	1

Sybil Ludington (April 5, 1761 – February 26, 1839), daughter of Colonel Henry Ludington, has been celebrated as a heroine of the American Revolutionary War who, mounted on her horse, Star, became famous for her night ride on April 26, 1777, to alert militia forces to the approach of the British regular forces. This action was similar to that performed by Jack Jouett, William Dawes and Paul Revere, although she rode more than twice the distance of Revere and was only 16 years old at the time of her action. This deed, however, was not mentioned in print until 1880, more than a hundred years after it was alleged to have taken place, and there is no evidence that it happened. The legend, nevertheless, has been very widely disseminated, and Paula D. Hunt concludes her extensive study of it by saying, "The story of the lone, teenage girl riding for freedom, it seems, is simply too good not to be believed." Sybil Ludington was an aunt of Harrison Ludington, a Governor of Wisconsin.

Sybil was born in Fredericksburg (now Ludingtonville), Kent, New York. Sybil was the eldest of twelve children. Sybil’s mother, Abigail Knowles Ludington, married her first cousin Henry Ludington after meeting him during the French and Indian War. Sybil was conceived a year after the couple married. The small family moved to Dutchess County, New York, where it expanded. They lived on and farmed a very large piece of land.

On April 26, 1777, Sybil Ludington rode forty miles through the night to warn approximately 400 militiamen under the control of her father that British troops were planning to attack Danbury, Connecticut, where the Continental Army had a supply depot. On her way to gather her Father’s troops she warned the people of Danbury. Sybil’s father, Colonel Henry Ludington, fought in the French and Indian War and following that he volunteered to head the local militia during the American Revolution. Due to her father’s position, Sybil had to move from town to town following her father, and unknowingly playing an important role in the success of the colonies. The afternoon after Sybil’s ride through Danbury the British troops burned down three buildings and destroyed multiple houses, but did not kill many people. Unlike Paul Revere, little was spoken of Sybil Ludington's ride for personal reasons and the only record of this event was written by her great grandson. Ludington's ride started at 9 p.m. and ended around dawn. She rode 40 miles (64 km) into the damp hours of darkness. She rode through Carmel on to Mahopac, thence to Kent Cliffs, from there to Farmers Mills and back home. She used a stick to prod her horse and knock on doors. She managed to defend herself against a highwayman with a long stick. When, soaked with rain and exhausted, she returned home, most of the 400 soldiers were ready to march.