NEVER MIND MOLLY PITCHER
Women have been fighting for the United States since before we were a country.
In most cases, they weren’t recognized for their service until much later – it took several shameful decades for World War II’s WACS, WAVES, and WASPS to be honored as the veterans they are. With or without recognition, though, women were on the battlefield from the beginning of our country.
Legend has it New Jersey goodwife Molly Pitcher was at the Battle of Monmouth bringing water to the troops (hence the nickname) when her cannon-jockey husband was killed. The story, and the many paintings immortalizing it, say she took the ramrod from his dead hand, stepped into the empty spot, vowing vengeance, and kept on firing at the redcoats.
She was pretty much everything Colonial America wanted in a woman hero: supporting her man – and the troops – in a traditionally feminine role, then jumping in with masculine courage when the moment required,
She’s still everywhere. Her name is all over the Eastern Seaboard, from a rest stop on the Jersey Pike, to a microbrewery in Pennsylvania, to a no-tell motel in Vermont. Molly Pitcher is right beside Betsy Ross any time people want to celebrate the Founding Mothers.
What Molly Pitcher was not, however, was real.
At least two women are associated with parts of the Molly Pitcher story, and both were, at different times, celebrated for their bravery. Mary McCauley is the woman most often credited as the “real” Molly, because she was awarded a pension for “services rendered” during the war instead of one in her husband’s name. But, there’s no contemporary evidence placing her at the Battle of Monmouth. Another woman, Margaret Corbin, definitely fired a cannon in combat…but she did it at the Battle of Fort Washington.
While the dramatic picture of Molly Pitcher at her cannon, hair and skirts flying, is the conventional image of a woman Revolutionary War hero, there’s actually a much more realistic one out there: just another soldier fighting in the Continental ranks. Maybe a little shorter and slimmer – but remember, people were smaller, then, anyway.
Her name was Deborah Sampson, but she served as Robert Shurtliff.
She enlisted in 1782 and served with the New York Light Infantry. If she hadn’t ended up in the infirmary, and a doctor discovered her identity, no one would have known. Instead, she was sent home with a military pension, and eventually went on a speaking tour, celebrated as a heroine of the Revolution.
It’s worth noting here: she’s one of the ones we know about. There are no good numbers, because until the 20th century, women didn’t serve openly. But because of Deborah Sampson, and a number of similar women in the Civil War, we know they did. We also know they were part of a long tradition – there are stories going back to ancient and medieval times of women disguising themselves to fight. And fight they did, bravely and with distinction, just like the men beside them.
Until the modern era, women also played all kinds of informal support roles on the battlefield, cooking, cleaning, and nursing, sometimes praised for their help, more often denigrated as “camp followers.” Critical work, and absolutely thankless at the time.
Well, unless you consider the praise lavished upon the mythical Molly Pitcher as thanks. Maybe it’s time to honor real women’s real service…
Got a #ThrowbackThursday idea? Drop it in the comments!
In most cases, they weren’t recognized for their service until much later – it took several shameful decades for World War II’s WACS, WAVES, and WASPS to be honored as the veterans they are. With or without recognition, though, women were on the battlefield from the beginning of our country.
Legend has it New Jersey goodwife Molly Pitcher was at the Battle of Monmouth bringing water to the troops (hence the nickname) when her cannon-jockey husband was killed. The story, and the many paintings immortalizing it, say she took the ramrod from his dead hand, stepped into the empty spot, vowing vengeance, and kept on firing at the redcoats.
She was pretty much everything Colonial America wanted in a woman hero: supporting her man – and the troops – in a traditionally feminine role, then jumping in with masculine courage when the moment required,
She’s still everywhere. Her name is all over the Eastern Seaboard, from a rest stop on the Jersey Pike, to a microbrewery in Pennsylvania, to a no-tell motel in Vermont. Molly Pitcher is right beside Betsy Ross any time people want to celebrate the Founding Mothers.
What Molly Pitcher was not, however, was real.
At least two women are associated with parts of the Molly Pitcher story, and both were, at different times, celebrated for their bravery. Mary McCauley is the woman most often credited as the “real” Molly, because she was awarded a pension for “services rendered” during the war instead of one in her husband’s name. But, there’s no contemporary evidence placing her at the Battle of Monmouth. Another woman, Margaret Corbin, definitely fired a cannon in combat…but she did it at the Battle of Fort Washington.
While the dramatic picture of Molly Pitcher at her cannon, hair and skirts flying, is the conventional image of a woman Revolutionary War hero, there’s actually a much more realistic one out there: just another soldier fighting in the Continental ranks. Maybe a little shorter and slimmer – but remember, people were smaller, then, anyway.
Her name was Deborah Sampson, but she served as Robert Shurtliff.
She enlisted in 1782 and served with the New York Light Infantry. If she hadn’t ended up in the infirmary, and a doctor discovered her identity, no one would have known. Instead, she was sent home with a military pension, and eventually went on a speaking tour, celebrated as a heroine of the Revolution.
It’s worth noting here: she’s one of the ones we know about. There are no good numbers, because until the 20th century, women didn’t serve openly. But because of Deborah Sampson, and a number of similar women in the Civil War, we know they did. We also know they were part of a long tradition – there are stories going back to ancient and medieval times of women disguising themselves to fight. And fight they did, bravely and with distinction, just like the men beside them.
Until the modern era, women also played all kinds of informal support roles on the battlefield, cooking, cleaning, and nursing, sometimes praised for their help, more often denigrated as “camp followers.” Critical work, and absolutely thankless at the time.
Well, unless you consider the praise lavished upon the mythical Molly Pitcher as thanks. Maybe it’s time to honor real women’s real service…
Got a #ThrowbackThursday idea? Drop it in the comments!
date
newest »
newest »
It's crucial to honour the real women who have served and continue to serve, often without the recognition they deserve. Their contributions have been vital throughout history, and it's high time they receive the acknowledgment and respect they are due.