CCSS
R.1, R.2, R.3, R.4, R.7, W.2, SL.1, SL.2, L.4, L.6
Girl. Fighter. Hero.
During a terrible war, Sybil Ludington takes on a daring task to save her country. Will she survive?
Art by Allan Davey
CHARACTERS
*Starred characters have larger speaking parts.
The Ludingtons
Loyalists
Patriots
photo credit: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock
photo credit: Andrew Angelov/Shutterstock
photo credit: Maha Heang 245789/Shutterstock
photo credit: everst/Shutterstock
photo credit: BlackBoxGuild/Shutterstock
PROLOGUE
N1: In 1776, America’s 13 Colonies were ruled by King George of England.
N2: But some Americans wanted to be free to rule themselves. These people were called Patriots.
N1: Others remained
N2: Soon, a war broke out. The Loyalists supported the British Army.
N1: On the Patriot side, George Washington led the Continental Army.
N2: This was the American Revolution, a violent time.
N1: Patriots and Loyalists lived next door to each other. You never knew who you could trust.
N2: Our story begins with 16-year-old Sybil Ludington. Her father was a Patriot who led the local Patriot militia.
N1: The militia was made up of ordinary men, like farmers and shopkeepers. They were “called up” to help the army in times of emergency.
SCENE 1
March 1777, Hudson Highlands, New York
N2: On a damp, dark night, a man in a black coat knocks on the Ludingtons’ door.
N1: Sybil cracks the door open. Her mother and seven siblings look on.
Sybil (nervously): Yes?
N2: The man’s face is hidden by a hood.
Mr. Crosby (whispering): I have an important message.
Sybil: Show your face, sir.
N1: The man looks around, afraid. He peels back his hood.
Sybil: Mr. Crosby, dear friend!
N2: Sybil opens the door.
Sybil: Why were you hiding your face?
Crosby: I didn’t know the horse out front. I wasn’t sure who might be here.
Sybil: That’s my new horse. Her name is Star.
Crosby: I’ve come to tell you that the British put up a reward for your father’s capture.
Sybil: He’s out gathering weapons. I must warn him!
Crosby: You stay here. I’ll go.
Sybil: I am perfectly able! Do you think it is fair that women cannot join the militia? I am as skilled as any boy.
Crosby: No one doubts that, brave girl. But we are at war. The danger is real.
Map art by Steve Stankiewicz
Is It History... Or Legend?
The story of Sybil Ludington’s famous ride has been passed down by family members since the early 1900s. For many years, it was accepted as true. Today some experts question whether the ride really happened. They say there are no good records of it from the actual time period.
SCENE 2
Late at night, April 6, 1777
N1: Sybil is standing in front of her house. Mary runs up.
Mary: Men on horseback are coming! One of them is that rat, Mr. Prosser.
Sybil: They’re after the reward for Father. If they find out he isn’t here, they’ll attack us.
N2: Sybil goes inside and wakes up her siblings.
Sybil: Everyone! Light candles and
N1: Prosser’s men ride up to the house. They see shadowy shapes in the windows.
Mr. Prosser: The Colonel is well-guarded tonight.
Aide: It looks like there are a hundred troops in there. Far too many to fight!
Prosser: We shall wait and attack when they leave.
N2: Hours pass and still the “soldiers” pace.
Prosser (annoyed): Move out, men. We will have to return another night.
SCENE 3
Evening, April 26, 1777
N1: The Ludingtons are getting ready for bed. Sybil’s father answers a loud knock on the door.
Messenger (out of breath): Colonel Ludington! The British are attacking Danbury, Connecticut. You must call up the militia!
Colonel: My men live all over. That will take hours!
Messenger: The militia must march to Danbury at once. We have supplies to protect there—food, tents, weapons.
Colonel: Very well. Ride on and tell my men to gather here.
N2: The messenger falls down.
Messenger: I can go no farther, sir. I’ve already ridden 20 miles.
N1: Sybil steps forward.
Sybil: I will go, Father. I know these roads like no one else.
Messenger: Then you know that Loyalist
N2: Sybil stands tall.
Sybil: Father, I can do it.
N1: The Colonel hands her a long stick.
Colonel: Take this. Bang on each house as you ride past.
N2: Sybil rides off on Star.
Messenger: You have sent her to her doom.
Colonel: You do not know my Sybil.
Art by Allan Davey
The War
Many people in the 13 Colonies wanted freedom from England. They believed that Americans should rule themselves as their own country. The Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, and the Declaration of Independence was signed a year later. The war went on for another seven years.
SCENE 4
Later that night in the Highlands
N1: The wind howls. Sybil races along the dirt road.
N2: She bangs on the first house she sees.
Sybil: The British are attacking Danbury! Gather at Ludington’s!
N1: It starts raining as Sybil rides on to the next town, Carmel. She raises her stick to bang on the next house.
N2: Suddenly, a man with a long gun steps out.
Mr. Scribner: Who’s there?
Sybil: Sybil Ludington.
Scribner: What’s the news?
Sybil: The British are attacking Danbury! Gather at Ludington’s!
N1: The storm gets worse. Sybil’s clothes are soon soaked through. Her legs ache.
N2: She leans out to bang on another cottage. She slips, falling into the mud.
N1: A woman appears in the doorway.
Mrs. Shaw: Why, Miss Sybil, what are you doing out here?
Sybil: Calling up the militia.
Shaw: A little thing like you? That’s a man’s job. Come warm yourself at the fire, dear.
N2: Mrs. Shaw helps Sybil up and leads her toward the door. Sybil breaks free.
Sybil: If the British take Danbury, they will burn our homes next. They will kill my father. Our dream of freedom will be dead.
N1: Sybil rides away on Star.
Sybil: To arms! To arms!
Art by Allan Davey
The Women and Children
Women were not allowed to join the Patriot army. But they helped in important ways. Women cooked for the army, sewed military clothes, and cared for the wounded. Many also had to keep their homes safe while the men were away fighting.
SCENE 5
Early morning, April 27, 1777
N2: Sybil and Star
Sybil: Whoa, girl.
N1: A group of bandits steps out in front of her.
Sybil: Get back, you thieves!
Bandit: Now, now. We mean only to take your horse.
Sybil: I’d die before I’d see a Loyalist on my horse.
Prosser (appearing): That can be arranged.
N2: Someone pulls Sybil off Star and she hits the ground.
Sybil: You’ll never get away with this, Mr. Prosser.
N1: Sybil stands and hits at the bandits with her stick.
N2: They step back, surprised. Sybil hops back up on Star.
Sybil (as she races off): You shall pay for your evilness!
N1: She and Star start off toward home.
N2: Finally, they
N1: In front of her house stand some 400 men: the militia.
N2: One of the men sees Sybil.
Scribner: Sybil Ludington the Brave! You have done it! We are off to defend Danbury!
All: Cheers for Sybil! Hooray!
N1: The men clap and cheer.
Colonel (proudly): I knew you could do it, Sybil.
SCENE 6
May 1777
N2: Sybil is fixing Star’s saddle when Mary rushes over.
Mary: Come quick! There’s someone here to see you!
N1: Sybil follows Mary out to see her father with General George Washington.
Washington: I want to shake the hand of the person who gathered our troops.
Sybil: Thank you, sir. But I understand we were too late. Danbury was destroyed.
Washington: We may not have saved our supplies, but we kept many people safe.
N2: Sybil smiles.
Washington: Young lady, you rode 40 miles in the dead of night! Many of my best men couldn’t have done that.
Sybil: I hope I have shown you that it is not only the best “men” who can fight for freedom.
Anthony 22 via Wikipedia
A Local Hero
A statue honors Sybil Ludington’s midnight ride in Carmel, New York.
ACTIVITY:
Inference
You've just read “Girl. Fighter. Hero.” Now it’s time to try this activity.
Tip: An inference is something that is not stated but can be figured out from clues in the text.
What to do: Imagine that you are Sybil Ludington, writing a letter to a friend to describe the events of spring 1777. Make inferences to complete each sentence below. For clues, go back and look at the play.
In March 1777, the British offered a reward for my father’s capture because
Hint: Look in the prologue and Scene 1 for clues.
Even though it was dangerous, my father let me call up the militia because he knows I am
Hint: Look in Scene 3 for clues.
I hope the story of my nighttime ride will show people that women
Hint: Look in Scenes 1 and 6 for clues.
