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 loyal to King George. These people were called Loyalists.

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.

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.

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 pace in front of the windows. Quickly! We must make it look like there are soldiers in the house.

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.

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 bandits hide in the forest. If they catch you, they may not let you go.

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.

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!

Early morning, April 27, 1777

N2: Sybil and Star trudge down the road. She sees men in the distance.

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 emerge from the trees.

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.

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.