Table of Contents
Sybil Rides
The True Story of Sybil Ludington
The Female Paul Revere
The Burning of Danbury
and Battle of Ridgefield
By
Larry A. Maxwell
Dedicated To
The Unsung Everyday Heroes Among Us
Special Thanks to Jonathan OHara
Cover Designed by Matthew R. Maxwell
Featuring a 13 Star American Flag
And the Sybil Ludington Monument
on Route 52 in Carmel, NY
1775 Productions
599 Route 311, Patterson, New York 12563
1130 Perry Rd., Afton, New York 13730
GoodInformation.US
ISBN-13: 978-1-949277-01-2
Creative Non-Fiction
New York History ; Connecticut History; History of the American Revolutionary War; Military History; Biographies of Women; Biographies of Adolescents; Biographies of Military History
Reenactors in pictures in this book belong to the Brigade of the American Revolution, Continental Line, British Brigade
and/or the Living History Guild.
These organizations help keep history alive.
All illustrations in this book are either in the public domain or used by permission. Photographs by Larry A. Maxwell and Gary Vorwald are copyrighted with this book. All rights reserved.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Larry A. Maxwell
Table of Contents
Chapter
Chapter 16 Danbury Attacked
Chapter 38 Ludington Meets Arnold
Approximate Route of Sybils Ride
Approximation on David Burrs 1829 Map.
Historically Accurate Portrait of Sybil Ludington
This image by Hal Bailey is based on an original image of Sybil.
This appeared on a First Day Postal Cover for Artcraft in 1975.
Incorrect Portrait of Sybil Ludington
This portrait was displayed in the National Womens Museum
In the late 1800s, identifying this person as Sybil Ludington.
It is an 1801 Watercolor on Ivory of Eliza Izard Pinckney .
by Edward Green Malbone.
Introduction
S ybil Rides tells the inspiring true story of events during the American Revolution, which resulted in sixteen-year old Sybil Ludington becoming known as the Female Paul Revere . Her ride took place during a significant event in American History designed by the British Commanders to end the Revolution.
As a teenage female heroine Sybil Ludington is part of many schools history curriculum yet many people never heard of her. Even fewer know what led to Sybils ride or the intense drama and events connected with it.
On a cold rainy night in the spring of 1777, the British Regular Army, along with a regiment of Loyalists bent on revenge against their Rebel neighbors, plundered and burned Danbury, Connecticut. That raid was part of Lord William Howes plan to end the Revolution. During the raid a messenger was sent to the home of Colonel Henry Ludington appealing for help. The Colonels sixteen-year old daughter, Sybil, disregarded the danger and bravely rode forty miles on that cold rainy night throughout the Hudson Valley to call the Militia to action.
On her ride Sybil stopped quickly at each home, banged on the doors and windows, and yelled, Call to arms! The Regulars and Tories are burning Danbury! The Militia is needed! Call to arms! Families awoke. Men dressed quickly, grabbed their muskets, and headed out into the night to face a powerful foe. Sybils courageous ride earned her the nickname, The Female Paul Revere.
A larger than life monument honoring Sybil Ludington, stands in Carmel, New York, along the route where she made her historic ride. It portrays her dramatically riding on her horse as she rode to call out the Militia.
The United States Postal Service issued a special stamp to honor Sybil during Americas Bicentennial celebration.
This story starts at the beginning of the Revolutionary War with Paul Revere in a rowboat in Boston Harbor, two years before Sybils ride. From there it goes to Lexington, Massachusetts, where we see the Militia who responded to Reveres call, facing the might of the British Army. We learn what really happened and are there as the shot heard round the world is fired and the Revolutionary War starts. We then watch the war shift with a vengeance to New York.
All the events and characters in this book are historical. Some of the dialogue in this book is verbatim; some of the dialogue is conjecture but based on historical events.
This story not only tells the true compelling story of Sybil Ludington but also of her father, Colonel Henry Ludington, his family, and other unsung heroes.
In this book you meet British officers and their Loyalists allies and see the conflicts between them.
You will see the brave, yet humorous way Sybil and her siblings foil the Loyalists attempt to capture their father, Colonel Henry Ludington.
You will meet Enoch Crosby, a friend of the Ludingtons, who disregarded the danger and served as a spy in the struggle for independence.
You will meet Jacob Angevine, a former slave who earned his freedom and that of his family, by serving in the French and Indian War. You will also meet Joseph, his teenage son who is a friend of Sybil Ludington, and a brave member of the Colonel Ludingtons Militia.
You will also meet John Gano the famous Fighting Preacher and his friend, Haym Salomon, a Jewish immigrant who helped secure funding for the Revolution.
You will meet Daniel Nimham, Sachem (chief) of the Wappinger Indians and his son Abraham, true unsung American heroes who sacrificed everything during the war.
You will see how Luther Holcomb, another brave young unsung hero, helped delay the entire British Army and its attack on Danbury.
One of the surprising characters you will meet is Benedict Arnold who later becomes Americas most notorious traitor. He was once an admirable hero and played an inspiring important part in this story.
There is an Expanded Edition of this book, which includes a Historical Background section with more than ninety pages and forty more illustration. That book will help you learn a significant amount of historical background about the Revolutionary War. It also contains educational activities and a large Bibliography.
Hopefully this book will inspire you and help bring history alive as you read this true story about Sybil Ludington and some unsung American heroes.
Royal Naval Ships in Boston Harbor
Drawing by Paul Revere.
