Ageless Heroism

On April 26, 1777, an American patriot courageously rode on horseback through the night to alert the military of an impending British assault on the town of Danbury, Conn.

The rider was not Paul Revere, George Washington or any of the other names we traditionally associate with the Revolutionary War.

Her name was Sybil Ludington, and she was all of 16 years old. Her story is one of tremendous importance.

Ludington was the daughter of Henry Ludington, an American colonel assigned to monitor British forces between Connecticut and the Long Island Sound.

But on that April night, a large part of his regiment had been disbanded — many at home on their farms — meaning Henry Ludington was in a major bind when he received the intelligence.

That’s when Sybil Ludington stepped forward, coming to her father’s aid and riding an estimated 40 miles through the rainy night to alert troops and other townspeople of the ambush.

Danbury ultimately could not be saved, but American forces were able to drive the British toward the Long Island Sound, likely sparing some other towns and saving hundreds of lives. George Washington would later acknowledge her heroism.

Ludington led a challenging life after the war. She lost her husband to yellow fever in 1799 and her son a few decades later. When she applied for a Revolutionary War pension, she was denied.

The U.S. Postal Service honored her with a stamp in 1975. Four years later, the annual Sybil Ludington 50K race was first held in Carmel, N.Y. It continues to this day.

Ludington did not fight in countless battles, didn’t participate in the Boston Tea Party, didn’t cross the Delaware River. But she courageously stepped forward when desperately needed, exhibiting extraordinary bravery and prioritizing the cause over any personal concerns.

That’s what leaders do — even at 16 years old.

Sybil Ludington’s story is one we should know.