In my past few blog posts I’ve discussed quite a few women who have been overlooked throughout US history; and I am going to continue that trend this week by focusing on Sybil Ludington.
Ludington was born in New York in 1761. She was the eldest of twelve children. Her father, Henry Ludington, worked as a farmer and a gristmill owner. He also served in the military for roughly sixty years, fighting in conflicts like the French and Indian War. He was a staunch loyalist [to the British throne] until around 1773, when he joined the Patriots in the fight for independence / the American Revolution. Eventually he was promoted to Colonel of a local regiment, which was based between Connecticut and the coast of Long Island Sound–meaning that his regiment was incredibly vulnerable to British attack.
On the 26th of April of 1777, Colonel Ludington learned [from a rider from a nearby town known as Danbury] that they were under attack from British troops. Ludington’s regiment was meant to go help defend the town of Danbury from British attack; however, at the time of attack they were disbanded for planting season, meaning that all of Ludington’s men were at their respective farms–miles apart and miles away from Danbury.
The rider was too exhausted to travel any farther, so Ludington simply decided that he must focus on preparing for a battle. As he prepared for the inevitable, Sybil Ludington decided to rise to the cause. The circumstances of her decision, however, are unknown, as some believe that she choose / volunteered to fight, while others believe that her father asked her to help. Regardless, she rode [on horseback] throughout that night to alert her father’s men of the danger, encouraging them to come back from their break and fight. It is estimated that she covered anywhere between 20 to 40 miles of terrain that night, priding though dark woods and rainy weather. By the time her ride concluded she had managed to get hundreds of soldiers to return to the fight. Unfortunately, the soldiers didn’t arrive soon enough to defeat the British, but they did manage to put up a fight with the British soldiers as they departed.
Regardless of the success of the battle, Ludington’s efforts should not be overlooked. As a woman of the 18th century she did not have to partake in the revolution–in fact some may have argued that it wasn’t her place–but she did anyway. Her action and her courage is impressive and commendable. Her efforts can also be associated with other women who partook in similar events, but failed to get recognition. Moreover, it is important that we understand and know of impactful figures like Sybil Ludington, who contributed, in spite of challenges, to the greater good.
Following the war, she got married at the age of 23 in 1784 to Edward Ogden. They had one son named Henry and lived together in Catskill, New York. Just 15 years into their marriage, her husband died of yellow fever in 1799. Then in 1803, she purchased a tavern to help earn money to help her son become a lawyer. She ended up selling the tavern for a profit of three times what she paid for it. With her profit she purchased a home for her, her son, and his family. Eventually, however, her son died in 1838. After his death she decided to apply for a Revolutionary War pension, since her husband had served in the military. Her request was denied, as it was claimed that she lacked proof of marriage. So, unfortunately, Ludington died at the age of 77 in poverty.
Following her death, however, she ended up being honored far more for her accomplishments. For example, she received a stamp by the Postal Service in 1975. She also has a statue by Lake Gleneida in Carmel, New York. There are also historical markers that trace along the route of her ride in Putnam County.
Another great story about a woman in American history, and one I have never heard before! It is honorable that Sybil decided to step up in times of trouble, risking her life and her reputation for the greater good of the American Revolution, at a time when women did not have much of a role in fighting the war. Not only that, but she sacrificed a lot to give her son and family a good life, which is inspiring. It is great that she was honored for her contributions after her death, but too bad that she died in poverty and without the glory that she deserved for her actions. I enjoyed reading this story for your last blog post, good job!
Hi! Once again this was a great post and I wish I had heard of Sybil Ludington sooner! She was so courageous and risked everything for the American Revolution, inspiring women everywhere. I’m glad she got honored for her actions, even though it is sad she never got to see it. I have loved reading your blogs this entire year and this post was no exception. These blogs have truly educated me on so many people that I would never have learned about otherwise. Great work and I hope you are able to continue studying this topic!