Sybil Ludington rides a horse as a British soldier aims his rifle.

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 30, 2021

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

The messenger had ridden several miles to reach the home of Colonel Henry Ludington. He was the leader of the local militia. His men were needed to fight the British, but they were spread out over miles. Someone would have 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 come to mind. But many who joined the fight for independence were unsung teens, like Sybil Ludington.

The Road to War

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

The Northeastern Colonies, 1777

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 taxes without having a voice in the British government (see “The Road to Revolution”). The 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. These young colonists played an important role in the war.

“They are thinking about how they can take action to help determine their future,” explains Matthew Skic. He works at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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 at war. 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 across the countryside, Sybil called the men to battle. She finally returned home just before dawn. By then, her father’s men were gathering 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.

In 1880, long after Sybil’s death, her family shared her story with a historian. Since then, the legend has grown. Today, Sybil’s midnight ride is a symbol of the courage shown by ordinary citizens in the struggle for freedom.