Sybil Ludington Statue

On April 26, 1777, a messenger arrived at the home of Henry Ludington, a farmer and militia leader living in the town of Kent, New York. He brought word that troops from the colony’s British governor were attacking nearby Danbury, Connecticut to destroy the militia’s stockpiles of arms, goods, and supplies.

The militiamen had all dispersed to their farms for planting season and were spread throughout Putnam County, New York, miles away from town. As Henry made ready for battle, his 16-year-old daughter, Sibyl, volunteered to ride out to the farms to muster the men.

According to local tales, Sibyl rode almost 40 miles throughout the night to summon the soldiers from their beds. Though the men arrived too late to stop the attack on Danbury, they did harry departing British troops.

A bronze statue located outside the Danbury Public Library commemorates Sibyl’s ride to save her town.