Sybil Rides

The True Story of Sybil Ludington the Female Paul Revere, The Burning of Danbury and Battle of Ridgefield

Larry A Maxwell

• Publisher: 1775 Productions
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781949277050
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

Sybil 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 raid planned and executed by the British Commanders to bring an end to the Revolution.

As a teenage female heroine Sybil Ludington is part of many school’s history curriculum yet many people never heard of her. Even fewer know what led to Sybil’s 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 Howe’s plan to end the Revolution. During the raid a messenger was sent to the home of Colonel Henry Ludington appealing for help. The Colonel’s 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. Sybil’s courageous ride earned her the nickname, The Female Paul Revere.

This story starts at the beginning of the Revolutionary War with Paul Revere in a rowboat in Boston Harbor, two years before Sybil’s ride. From there it goes to Lexington, Massachusetts, where we see the Militia who responded to Revere’s 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 Ludington’s Mili

Table of contents

• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 - Paul Revere’s Dangerous Ride
• Chapter 2 - War Begins
• Chapter 3 - Meet Sybil’s Family
• Chapter 4 - A Plan to End the War
• Chapter 5 - Enoch Crosby the Spy
• Chapter 6 – The Loyalist Plot
• Chapter 7 - Crosby Warns Ludington
• Chapter 8 - Attempt to Capture Ludington
• Chapter 9 - Conflict at the Ganong’s Home
• Chapter 10 - Sybil’s Birthday Party
• Chapter 11 - British Fleet Embarks for Norwalk
• Chapter 12 - Shooting Muskets
• Chapter 13 - Crown Forces Land at Norwalk
• Chapter 14 - Conflict Between Father and Son
• Chapter 15 - Confrontation at Bethel
• Chapter 16 - Danbury Attacked
• Chapter 17 - American Officers Meet at Redding
• Chapter 18 - Messenger Arrives at Ludington’s
• Chapter 19 - Sybil Arrives at the First House
• Chapter 20 - The Looting and Burning Continue
• Chapter 21 - Sybil and The Bandits
• Chapter 22 - Americans Arrive in Bethel
• Chapter 23 - Sybil Arrives at Another Home
• Chapter 24 - Making Ammunition
• Chapter 25 - Sybil Faces an Obstacle
• Chapter 26 - Militia March off to Battle
• Chapter 27 - Sybil at the Ganong’s
• Chapter 28 - Crown Forces Leave Danbury
• Chapter 29 - Sybil Rides as the Sun Rises
• Chapter 30 - American Officers Plan Response
• Chapter 31 - Opposition South of Danbury
• Chapter 32 - Sybil at the Last Home
• Chapter 33 - Wooster Attacks the Crown Forces
• Chapter 34 - Sybil Returns Home
• Chapter 35 - Barricades in Ridgefield
• Chapter 36 - Battle in Ridgefield
• Chapter 37 - Crown Forces South of Ridgefield
• Chapter 38 - Ludington Meets Arnold
• Chapter 39 - Back at the Ludington’s Home
• Chapter 40 - British Officers Before Last Battle
• Chapter 41 - Battle in Norwalk
• Chapter 42 - The Smoke Clears
• Chapter 43 - The Return
• Epilogue
• About the Author