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Show CAPTAIN MOLLY PITCHER. Some two years since a monument was placed over the grave of Captain Molly Pitcher, at Carlisle, Pa., the Irishwoman who displayed great bravery at the battle of Monmouth, on the 28th of June, 1778, and who in a well-known picture of the conflict is represented as managing one of the cannon against the enemy. Monmouth, now the village of Freehold, in Monmouth county, New Jersey, is 18 miles southeast on New Brunswick. The principal part of the battle was fought about a mile and a half northwest of the village, on the road to Englishtown. Captain Molly was buried at Meeting-house springs, on the banks of the Connodogwinet creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna, two miles northwest of Carlisle. Major Andre was at one time during the war a prisoner at Carlisle, and was, on his parole, permitted to go three miles from the town, and this very spot where Captain Molly is buried was a favorable resort of his, and it is said he was fond of making sketches of the place. There is also a story told of his saving a young lady's life near this spot by seizing the reins of her runaway horse as the animal was about to dash over the bluff overhanging the creek. The battle of Monmouth was one of the bloodiest fought during the Revolution. Twenty thousand men were engaged; Washington, Lafayette, Wayne, Greene, Morgan, Lee and other distinguished American officers were present. The English were commanded by Sir Henry Clinton. The battle commenced before dawn and continued all day, ending in the defeat of the English. About two o'clock P.M., a desperate struggle ensued between Greene's Brigade and the Hessians and Grenadiers, commanded by Colonel Moncton. It was at this juncture that an Irish girl, seeing her husband fall, rushed up to the gun, snatched the rammer from his dying grasp, charged and fired the piece right into the face of the advancing English, and continued to do so until the battle was won. Lessing describes the occurrence in his "Pictorial Book of the Revolution," Vol. II. page 361: It was during this part of the action that Molly, the wife of the cannoneer, displayed great courage and presence of mind. She was a sturdy young camp-follower, only 22 years old, and in devotion to her husband she illustrated the character of her countrywomen of the Emerald Isle. In the action in question, while her husband was managing one of the field-pieces, she constantly brought him water from a spring near by. A shot from the [unreadable lines]. She dropped her bucket, seized the rammer, and vowed she would fill the place of her husband at the gun and avenge his death. She performed the duty with a skill and courage that attracted the attention of all who saw her. On the following morning, covered with blood, General Greene presented her to Washington, who, admiring her bravery, conferred upon her the commission of sergeant. By this recommendation her name was placed on the list of half-pay officers for life. After leaving the army she retired to Fort Montgomery, among the Hudson highlands, where she died. She usually went by the name of "Captain." The venerable widow of General Hamilton, yet living (1852) told me that she had often seen "Captain" Molly. She described her as a tall, fair-haired young Irishwoman, with a handsome piercing eye. The French officers, charmed with the story of her bravery, made her many presents. She would sometimes pass along the French lines with her cocked hat, and almost got it filled with crowns. |
