Written by Renae Trauger
Peering into the darkness, Sybil leaned over her horse’s neck and guided him along the road, urging him to trot a little faster. Gathering the reins in one hand, she approached a farmhouse and knocked loudly on the door with the stick she gripped in her opposite hand. “Wake up, wake up!” Sybil shouted loudly as light began to glow behind the shutters. A man’s sleepy face appeared in the doorway, “Why, it’s Colonel Ludington’s daughter!” he exclaimed.
“Mr. Miller, the British are ransacking and burning the town of Danbury and my father asks that the militia muster before daybreak at our house in Fredericksburg.” Sybil spoke quickly as she turned her horse to leave and push on to the next house. Henry Miller came to attention, all vestiges of sleep erased as he answered, “My son and I will come straight away.”
When 16 year old Sybil Ludington, weary and rain soaked, arrived back home at dawn, almost all of the 400 members of her father’s regiment were there, due in no small part to her efforts. The militia caught up with the British troops and beat them back, making them pay dearly for the attack. There were four other riders who were out that April night in 1777, warning of the British approach, the most famous was, of course, Paul Revere.
Every April since 1979, the Sybil Ludington 50K foot race has been held in Carmel, NY. The course of the footrace approximates Sybil’s historic ride and finishes near the statue commemorating her heroic effort.
Throughout the course of the Revolutionary War as a young nation struggling for independence, there are names which have become a part of our history, well known and easily recognized. But there are others, such as Sybil Ludington, ordinary people in extraordinary times, who did not hesitate to step up and do their part for the cause of liberty and freedom.
Subjects of an overbearing king, yearning to become citizens of a new nation, they stood for what they believed in. Will you step up, speak out and unite with others in the shared goal of upholding the principles envisioned by our founding fathers? We can no longer be complacent and take our liberties and freedom for granted, most of all our freedom to gather and worship God.
Factual data verified via various Internet sources
