On April 26, 1777, a 16-year-old girl climbed onto her horse and rode 40 miles through a driving rainstorm in the dark, covering twice the distance of Paul Revere’s famous ride two years earlier. Her name was Sybil Ludington — and most Americans have never heard of her.
Sybil was the eldest of Colonel Henry and Abigail Ludington’s 12 children, living in Fredericksburg, New York. Her father was a gristmill owner and veteran of the French and Indian War who commanded the local militia. The British considered him so effective that they offered a reward of 300 English guineas for his capture, dead or alive.
On April 25, 1777, British General William Tryon came ashore with 2,000 troops at Compo Beach in Westport, Connecticut. Their target was Danbury — about 24 miles inland — where the Continental Army had stockpiled a large supply depot. Tryon’s men torched storehouses containing 5,000 barrels of pork and beef, 5,000 pairs of shoes, 2,000 bushels of grain, 1,600 tents, and medical supplies desperately needed by Washington’s army.
Colonel Ludington had dismissed his militiamen to plant their spring crops. The men were scattered across a 40-mile radius, tending to their farms and families. Then, at 9 p.m., an exhausted messenger arrived with news of the attack. The colonel needed someone to ride out and muster his troops — but he also couldn’t leave his post to do it himself. Sybil volunteered.
She mounted her horse, Star, and left home around 9 p.m., carrying only a stick for protection as she rode into the rainy night. The burning town of Danbury lit up the distant sky with an orange glow. She rode from Kent through Carmel and Mahopac, then through Mahopac Falls and Cold Spring, continuing through Farmers Mills to Stormville before heading home — crossing both Putnam and Dutchess counties through forests, over streams, and across rough terrain.
At each home along the route, she banged on doors with her stick and called out: “Muster at Ludington’s!” 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 the mission alone. At one point, she reportedly fended off highwaymen with her stick.
Sybil reached home as the first light appeared on the horizon. Her clothes were soaked, and her 40-mile journey had taken between eight and nine hours. By the time she returned, roughly 400 militia members had gathered at her father’s house.
The militia marched but arrived too late to save Danbury. On April 27, American forces fought the British at Ridgefield — about 700 Americans against 2,000 British troops — in the only inland battle fought in Connecticut throughout the entire war. Sybil’s warning had allowed American forces to harass the British during their retreat to the coast. After this battle, the British never again tried to raid deep into Connecticut.
General George Washington personally thanked Sybil for her service. Alexander Hamilton also wrote to her father, saying: “I congratulate you on the Danbury expedition.” Sybil later married Continental Army veteran Edmund Ogden and had one son named Henry. She died on February 26, 1839, at age 77.
It’s interesting to note that the earliest written account of Ludington’s ride appeared in an 1880 local history book — more than 100 years after the event. And a 2015 report in The New England Quarterly found little contemporary evidence backing it. Whether or not every detail is verified, the story has become an enduring part of Revolutionary War history. New York State placed historical markers along her purported route beginning in 1934, and an annual 50-kilometer race has followed her path every April since 1979.
Click here to see a statue in Carmel, New York honoring Sybil’s ride.
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I know this area well having lived in Pound Ridge for years. I never quite put the entire picture together although I passed the historical markers for the Battle of Ridgefield many times. The hole area is filled with American history. Thanks for putting this all into perspective.
Very interesting point of history we never learned in school. Keep up the good work.
You are so right. It is even worse today in school. It was and is a a sorry history of our school systems.
Thanks I knew of her before.
Interesting. I had never even heard of Sybil. Where are the writers of school history books when you need them? Unfortunately, today the liberal lying media has become the exact same way. Either lie about what happened or don’t tell about it at all.
Noah, you are so right. We can’t learn from our history if it has been changed for political correctness.
More likely the conservatives wanting to keep it buried that a mere woman could have made a contribution.
Sybil’s story is amazing – she’s an unknown hero from our past. A great example of what made this country great and young women today would do well to delve into her past and do more research and learning. If young women are looking for a true role model, they should check Sybil out…..courage, action and results.
Had history, like this, been included in the school curriculum, I would have retained more of what was taught. It is only as an adult that I have really learned about our American history because of the all of the information available, including your “History for the day”. Thank you…
Put Sybil on the on the $20.
Truly a D.A.R. 113 years before the organization was formed.
Excellent! I’ve seen this historical event depicted on the history channel. . BIG FAN. I recommend it.
Thank you, I never knew this, being from southeastern PA this was an interesting bit of history
What a joy to read. Informative. Fun to read. Kudos to the author. Good choice and well written.
Our country’s history now spans over 500 years. Even though we are exposed to it in elementary school, a couple secondary schools and, possibly, a first-year U. S history college class, those courses can hardly do more than introduce us to our country’s political history. This delightful anecdote, about Sybil Ludington’s ride of April 26, 1777, calls attention to what enlightenment and joy may lie ahead for those people who acquire a lifelong habit of learning more about our country’s history.
And, kudos to Mystic Stamp Company for bringing these daily snippets of U. S. history to us. Rara avis!
A unique tribute to women and minority groups who played important roles in the development of this great nation.
Reading American Revolution history is a hobby of mine now that I’m 78. What a great history America has. Over the 240 years since the beginning of the Revolution, millions have given their lives to keep all of us free. It’s great to be retired and able to do anything I want to do – thanks to those who gave their lives to give us a free society.
Thank you, I had never read this account before. Imagine, what other stories have yet to be told…
Longfellow wrote “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.” If he had written “The Midnight Ride of Sybil Ludington,” she would be more famous. But unlike what a couple of the writers above have said, it’s not “political correctness,” it’s an effort to get the whole story out. Our history wasn’t just played out by white men.
Actually, it and much more is and was in the history books, in libraries, text books, encyclopedias and now on the internet. You have to pay attention, go to class and listen, not come on a stamp blog when you’re old and blame it on the liberals or the conservatives. It’s not them, it’s you.
Your daily day of interest is the best. It is so good to have a cup of coffee and read your three stories, especially during these sequestered times. It would be wonderful if you had more stories for each day. The stories are great for kids to read or hear during the no school problem. All of your days should or could be put in a book and be available for families with shut-ins, school kids and stamp collectors like me. Wonderful job Mystic. Keep them coming.
Good job Mystic I had never heard of this episode of History before. To have George Washington visit in person must have been an extraordinary happening an extraordinary event keep up the good work
That’s what I so love about stamps; they bring to light the hidden corners of our history we otherwise wouldn’t know that much about.
Paul Revere is remembered and has not been forgotten …and Sybil Ludington should ALSO be remembered and NOT forgotten. This is the FIRST time I have ever heard about Sybil Ludington … and her 40-mile night ride in rain and gun fire involvement in total darkness was heroic ! She was indeed a great American patriot and her interest, bravery and action to help the U.S. better itself against the British attacks in CT at the time was honorable, successful and prevented the British from re-entering CT for the remainder of the war. After reading this notable historical update, I will always remember Sybil Ludington … just as I have never forgotten Paul Revere. Thank you, Mystic !!