Sybil Ludington

On this day in 1777 Sybil Ludington (1761–1839) became  a hero of the American Revolution

Sybil Ludington, daughter of a New York militia officer, is New York’s Paul Revere. In 1777 the 16-year-old patriot rode 40 miles in the dark, mustering the militia to face down the British after the British attacked nearby Danbury, Connecticut. After the battle, George Washington traveled to the Ludington home to thank her personally for her role in stopping the British advance into New York. She rode twice the distance of Paul Revere and, unlike Revere, was not apprehended. (And if the paintings and statues of her are accurate—she did it sidesaddle!)

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