Correspondent: There Were Other Historic Horse Rides
By Staff Reports
Published: May 18, 2010
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Regarding the "Today in History" column: On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere began his famous ride to warn colonists that the British were coming. While Revere's ride was indeed historic, one would think it was the only act of its kind.
The town of Fredericksburgh, N.Y., faced a similar threat from invading British troops on April 26, 1777. The commander of the local militia, Col. Henry Ludington, had been notified that 25 miles away, Danbury, Conn., was being burned by invading British troops. The local militiamen had to be notified, but Ludington could not undertake the task himself. He had to stay at his home and organize the militiamen when they arrived.
Hearing of the colonel's plight, a patriot jumped on a horse and rode out to warn the people and tell the militia to muster at Ludington's. This heroic act lasted all night and covered an area of some 40 miles. By dawn of the next day, some 400 militiamen had gathered at Ludington's, ready to confront the British. The British assault was subsequently halted and in the ensuing Battle of Ridgefield, they were forced back to their boats where they retreated.
The hero who made this daring ride was none other than Col. Ludington's 16-year-old daughter, Sybil. After hearing of the impending situation, Sybil jumped on her horse named Star and set out on a trip that covered an area twice the size of Revere's.
Gen. George Washington personally congratulated the young lady for her heroism. To honor her, the town of Fredericksburgh was later changed to Ludingtonville. In 1975, with the nation's bicentennial approaching, the U.S. Postal service honored Sybil Ludington with a stamp.
While Revere's ride is one of the most famous events in our nation's history, Ludington's ride doesn't even rate a mention in history books. I wonder why.
Alan McCoy.
Richmond.
"There Were Other Historic Horse Rides", Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/opinion/letters/article/ED-MCCOY18_20100517-180603/345093/ (May 18, 2010)