Revolutionary Women - 1777 & 2004
by Leandra
Carmone
On April 1777, British
General William Tyron invaded Connecticut from Long Island Sound. He attacked
with 2,000 men. His purpose was to burn down the Danbury depot filled with guns
and cannons so the patriots were disarmed. As Danbury burned, a messenger was
sent to ride 17 miles to the home of Sybil Ludington's father General Henry
Ludington.
Sixteen-year-old Sybil knew the roads,
and where the men lived, because she rode with her father along the narrow, dirt
roads of Mahapac and Carmel. She was sent to ride through 40 miles of dense
woods, on a rainy night, to summon her father's regiment by beating on the
shutters of his sleeping militiamen. It was very doubtful that she would wake
each of the 400 Minutemen
individually.
Key people in each
village heard her banging on their shutters, and in turn, alerted the local
contingent while she rode on to complete her mission. By morning, Colonel
Ludington's regiment was gathered in his yard are preparing to face their
enemy.
If it weren't for Sybil
Ludington's ride, the patriots would have lost the Revolutionary War. If it
weren't for Sybil Ludington's ride, the patriots wouldn't have been ready to
fight.
Author's
note:
To show gratitude to Sybil
Ludington a postage stamp was issued in 1976 as part of the National
Bicentennial series "Contributors to the Cause." A statue was also made of Sybil
Ludington. It was placed in Putnam County.
Posted: Sat
- May 1, 2004 at 04:03 PM