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Not Many women are mentioned during the Revolutionary War. If they are,
they are not always titled a "heroine." However, Molly Pitcher broke the trend
by not only being a war hero, but a loyal wife and hard worker.
Born to German immigrants on October 13, 1754, the future hero was given
the name of Mary. In 1769 Mary became a servant to Dr. William Irvine. Later
Mary's employer became a colonel and a brigadier general in the colonial
army. he also commanded men during the Battle of Monmouth.
Leaving her career as a maid, Mary married a soldier by the name of John
Casper Hays. When he enlisted in the Colonial artillery in 1775, the couple
shadowed one another all the way out into the battle field. During the cruel
Battle of Monmouth, Mary would bring pitchers of water from a nearby creek
to the thirsty soldiers. This act of courage and kindness earned Mary the
nicknames of "Sergeant" and the more popular name of "Molly Pitcher." Both
were good humored and well deserved names. Molly's acts did not stop at the
pitcher. When Molly's husband collapsed while manning his cannon, Molly
took over for him. This brought attention to Molly from George Washington
who complimented her works.
Molly's happiness came to an end when her husband died in 1789. Instead of
staying a widow Molly married her second husband, George McCauley.
However the two were not a happy couple. Mary was treated as a servant by
her new spouse. It would seem all was lost for Molly Pitcher, but in 1822 the
legislator of Pennsylvania awarded Mary with annuity for life to repay her for
her acts of kindness.
Mary died on January 22, 1832. However, the example she set for thos women
who think they can't will live on forever. Molly Pitcher was definitely a heroine
THE STORY OF MOLLY PITCHER:
Courtesy of "The Valley Forge Historical Society"
Born in 1754, Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley was the daughter of a New Jersey
Dairy Farmer, who, along with his wife, were emigrants from Saxony-Anholt,
Germany. At the age of 13, she went to work as a domestic/servant. During
the year - still at 13 - she married a man by the name of William Hays (a barber).
When the Revolutionary War began, William enlisted and became a gunner in
the Pennsylvania Artillery. Mary eventually joined her husband as a
campfollower during the Philadelphia Campaign (1777-1778) in New Jersey
eventuallly wintering with the Army at Valley Forge, where General Baron von
Steuben and his friend Lafayette were training the recruits.
We all have come to know her as "Molly Pitcher." She gained this title later on
at the Battle of Monmouth. The only contemporary witness to the scene in
June of 1778 describes the scene of the husband and wife - Mary and William -
working together." A woman whose husband belonged to the Artillery and
who was then attached to a piece in the engagement, attended with her
husband at the piece the whole time. While in the act of reaching a cartridge
and having one of her feet as far before the other as she could stand, a
cannon shot from the enemy passed directly between her legs without doing
any other damage than carryhing away all the lower part of her petticoat.
Looking at it with apparent unconcern, she observed that it was lucky it did
not pass a little higher, for in that case it might have carried something else,
and continued her occupation."
At the close of the War, William and Mary Ludwig Hays returned to
Pennsylvania. They settled in Carlisle. After the death of William, Mary
remarried another Revolutionary War Veteran by the name of John McCauly.
She was awarded a pension in 1822 by the Pennsylvania State Legislature and
it wasn't until the anniverswary of the War in 1876 that a marker - noting her
exemplary service - was placed on her grave. She died on January 22, 1832.
Another "Molly Pitcher" was Margaret Corbin (born 1751) - who took up a
cannon when her husband was killed at Fort Washington on Manhattan Island,
New York in 1776. She was seriously wounded there hersel when her arm was
almost severed and her breast was lacerated by grapeshot. She lived until
about 1800 after receiving charity payments from the Invalid Regiment and
later a small pension from Congress. She was known throughout her
community as a bad-tempered, hard-drinking eccentric by the nickname of
"Captain Molly."
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