The ride of Sybil Ludington

By, Clayton Overstreet

Gather children and you will hear,

Of a greater rider than Paul Revere.

I tell you now of the night-time run,

Not by father or by son.

The day was saved by a brave young girl,

Named Sybil Ludington.

The British marched on Danville,

So the story goes,

And the people of that small town fell,

To the hated foes.

The call went out for help to come,

A messenger fled through the lines,

To their local hero, Colonel Ludington,

In the hope that he could come in time.

With the colonel stuck at home to gather men and plan the fight,

Who could go out into the night?

Who could be a guiding light?

Who would call them all to serve?

With enemies at ever turn, was there one among them who had the nerve?

To call the men and let them know,

It was time to strike a blow!

Young Sybil took her father's steed,

To ride out herself and do the deed.

In dead of night alone she went,

To make sure that the call was sent.

Through woods haunted by cutthroats, soldiers, bandits and thieves,

Her horse's hooves stomped blindly over broken branches and fallen leaves.

"Come to help us, the enemy is near!"

Her cry went out for all to hear.

Forty miles in the dark and gloom,

Racing against impending doom.

She faced a foe with just a stick in hand,

And with nothing else struck down a man.

Without a pause on she rode as the skinner fell,

Continuing her fearsome yell.

Never stopping she rode her mount from home to farm,

To stop the redcoat clad invaders from doing much more harm.

When the sun arose and exhausted she was finally able to end her ride,

An army stood before her at her father's side.

She smiled at the sight and stumbled to her bed,

While the men folk rushed to battle and Sybil could rest her weary head.

They drove the British from the land,

Leaving not a one to behind to see.

Patriots and heroes all who made that stand,

To leave their mark on history.

But when all is simply said and done,

The fight was only won,

Because of our brave young heroine:

That most amazing sixteen-year-old woman,

Little Sybil Ludington.