Sybil Ludington rides a horse as British soldiers aim their rifles

Illustration by Allan Davey

The Teen Hero of the American Revolution

During the war for independence, a brave girl made a daring ride to protect her community.

March 15, 2021

One night in April 1777, a messenger arrived at a house in Fredericksburg, New York. He had come with a warning: British troops were attacking the nearby town of Danbury, Connecticut.

The messenger had ridden several hours to reach the home of Colonel Henry Ludington. He was the leader of the local militia of farmers and laborers. The colonel’s men were needed to fight the British, but they were spread out over many miles. Someone would have to ride into the night to alert them, but who? The colonel needed to stay home to organize his fighters as they arrived.

It would be up to Ludington’s eldest child, 16-year-old Sybil, to spread the word.

When many people think of the American Revolution (1775-1783), leaders such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton come to mind. But many of the colonists who joined the fight for independence were unsung teens, like Sybil Ludington.

Path to Independence

When Sybil was growing up, New York was still one of the 13 Colonies ruled by Great Britain. By the 1770s, many colonists were fed up with the British controlling their lives. They were forced to pay a series of taxes without having a voice in the British government (see “The Road to Revolution,” below). The outraged colonists called this “taxation without representation.”

At the time, about half of the 2.5 million people living in the Colonies were 16 or younger. So when the war broke out, young colonists played an important role.

“The promise of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is certainly on the minds of a lot of teens of the period,” says Matthew Skic, of the Museum of the American Revolution. “They are thinking about how they can take action to help determine their future.”

Boys 15 and older could sign up to fight with their parents’ permission—and many did. But others as young as 10 joined the war effort by hiding their age.

Girls supported the cause too. Some took care of and defended farms while their fathers and brothers were away fighting. And then there was Sybil.

A Midnight Ride

On that night in April 1777, she mounted her horse and began her dangerous ride through the dark. At homes scattered across the countryside, Sybil woke families and called the men to battle. She finally returned home just before dawn. By then, her father’s men were assembling nearby to rush to Connecticut to fight.

In the end, the British forces got away. But the actions of Sybil and everyday people like her would eventually help the colonists win the war.

The story of Sybil’s daring ride wasn’t widely known during her lifetime. In 1880, long after her death, one of her descendants shared it with a historian. Since then, the legend of Sybil Ludington has grown. Today, her midnight ride is a symbol of the courage shown by ordinary citizens in the struggle for freedom.