Monday, July 4, 2011

History: Sybil Ludington Outrides Paul Revere

On April 26, 1777, a 16-year old woman named Sybil Ludington rode 40 miles to rouse the militia for the defense of Danbury, CT.  Her ride was twice as long at 40 miles as that of Paul Revere's poem-recounted ride.

"The British are burning Danbury. Muster at Ludington's," Ludington shouted to inform the militiamen.

See the rest of the story here:

http://radio.mikehuckabee.com/Article.asp?id=1401472&spid=33201

http://wn.com/sybilludington    See video in Memory.
http://www.suite101.com/content/sybil-ludington-colonial-heroine-a146150

And here is another amazing rider that many don't know about:  Wentworth Cheswell also rode that night.  He went west to recruit blacks to the cause.  He was a black man and a judge and remained so for 47 years.  

From Wikipedia:  "Wentworth Cheswell (11 April 1746 – 8 March 1817) was an African-American teacher, American Revolutionary War veteran, assessor, auditor, selectman and Justice of the Peace. He is considered by some[who?] the first African American elected to public office, as well as the first archaeologist in New Hampshire, despite being perceived by local contemporaries as white."

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