She Came To Be Known As The “Female Paul Revere” After She Bravely Rode Through The Streets To Caution Patriots About A British Attack
Many of us know the story of the famous Paul Revere and how he bravely warned communities outside of Boston about incoming British troops in 1775.
But do you know who was considered the “female Paul Revere” after she rode through the streets of Putnam County, New York, to warn the Patriots about a planned British attack on a Connecticut town?
It was Sybil Ludington, a brave woman who was only 16-years-old when she made her spirited ride in 1777.
Sybil was born in Fredericksburg, New York, in 1761. She was one of 12 children born to Henry and Abigail Ludington. Henry was a former member of the British military who switched over to being a Patriot during the American Revolution.
During the Revolutionary War, Sybil’s father was a commander in the county militia, and they lived on a farm between Connecticut and the coast of the Long Island Sound, which made them vulnerable to British attacks.
The night of April 26th, 1777, was when Sybil made her heroic journey not long after turning 16.
That night, a messenger came to her home and informed her father that the town of Danbury, Connecticut, had been attacked by British troops, as it was the location of an ammunition stockpile.
Sybil’s father knew he needed to warn his men against the British armies and have them protect nearby homes, but his troops were scattered throughout the region at the time. So, in the middle of the night, Sybil hopped on her horse, Star, and took off into the streets to yell and warn her father’s men of the attack.
Sybil bravely rode through the dark in the middle of a rainstorm and spread her message throughout Putnam County, riding approximately 40 miles, which was much longer than Paul Revere’s famous journey.
Photo 42629509 © – Dreamstime.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual horse
By the time she finished spreading the word, Sybil returned home during daybreak. By then, her father’s men had gathered and were ready to go. Although they couldn’t save Danbury, Sybil’s efforts prepared them in time to meet the British troops in nearby Ridgefield, Connecticut, and drove them back to Long Island Sound.
Sybil received great praise from her community and supposedly even received gratitude from George Washington for her heroic act. However, because of her age and gender, her efforts went much more unrecognized than those of Paul Revere.
After the war, Sybil married Edmund Ogden, who was a sergeant during the Revolutionary War. They settled in Catskill, New York, and had a child named Henry together. When Edmund died of yellow fever in 1799, Sybil purchased a tavern and used its profits to help Henry become a lawyer.
He went on to get elected to the New York State Assembly.
Sybil passed away in 1839 at 77. She was finally recognized more in the years following her death.
People love to visit the amazing bronze statue created of her in Camel, New York, where she is depicted riding Star and bravely warning people against the British troops.
In 1975, Sybil was put on commemorative stamps to celebrate the country’s bicentennial, giving credit to some of the overlooked heroes of the Revolutionary War.
Sybil’s story is fascinating and further proves just how valuable brave women, even those young in age, have always been to this country.
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