The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-11
molly Pitcher at the Battle OF Mon.
month.

Molly Pitcher at the Battle Of Mon
The battle OF Monmouth was one of the most
severely contested engagements of the reyolu-
ton. From the rising to the setting sun, on
that suitry Sabbath in Tune, the two contend
ing armies strove for the mastery of that en-
Esangulned field, until heaps of dead and diving
strewed the plain and marked the path of the
serried ranks as the ebb aud flow of battle
changed their relative positions. Both armies
fought with desperate determination to con-
quer and instances of personal bravery and
daring were memorable; yet, when night drew
her sable mantle DER the earth and shrouded
from sight the heart-rending and soul-sicken-
ing scene, neither party would claim the need
OF victory. Of the many thrilling incidents of
that eyentful day, that which brought into
conspicuous notice the heroine of our story was
not the least interesting; and although familiar,
perhaps. to many of our readers, yet the fact
that story cannot be told too often coupled
with desire to illustrate it, has induced US to
give it place in this repository of scenes and
incidents.
Molly Pitcher, or, as she was afterwards
more familiarity known. Captain Molly, was a
sturdy young lrishwoman OF some twenty-two
or twenty-three years Of age, short, thick-set,
and red hair, freckled face and keen pierc-
ing eye, which gave token of q spirit of mis-
chief, ever ready for frolc or fight.
She was the wife of a sergeant in an artil-
lery corps, which had seen service since the
commencement of the war, and was attached
to him with all the warmth of the Irish dispo-
siton. She had followed him through all his
campaigns, and was with him at Fort Clinton,
in the Hudson highlands, when that post was
attacked and captured by Sir Henry Clinton.
Here, too, she gave specimen of that reckless
courage which distinguished her at Monmouth,
some nine months after. Her husband, who
was in the act of touching off his piece, seeing
the British scaling the walls and getting in bis
rear, dropped his match, and calling to Molly
to follow, fled as fast as his legs would carry
him. She, determined not to waste powder
and ball, and knowing that her "petticoats'
would protect her retreat in a measure, picked
up the linen stock, fired the piece, and then
scampered Oft. She escaped scot-free, aud
when the scattered fugitives from the forts
were collected, and the artillery was attached
to the main army, she accompanied her hus-
that bitter winter at Valley Forge.
When Sir Henry Clinton evacuated Phila-
delphia and took up his march across the Jer-
seys, Washington left his winter camp and
prepared to follow, hoping to get an opportuni-
own troops and effectually cripple, perhaps
capture, the British army. On the plains of
Monmouth the hostile armies met in battle ar
ray. Of the details of the action it is not our
province to speak. 1t will suffice our purpose
to say that Lee had been ordered to attack the
British on their first movement, and engage
them until the main army of the Americans
could be brought into action by Washington
in person. The first part of his orders he had
Obeyed the latter, for reasons never fully ex-
planned, he did not conform to, but retreated
unexpectedly toward the main body, which
movement was timely checked by Washington,
who ordered the whole army into action 1t
became necessary, however, for a portion to
fall back second time, and to check the pur-
suit the artillery to which Molly's husband
was attached was stationed on an emipepce in
the rear of hedge row, for that purpose.-
Molly herself was engaged in bringing water
from spring to assuage the thirst of the men
at the guns, when she saw her husband strucl,
down by a cannon shot from the enemy which
cut him nearly in two and killed him INSTANTLY;
at the same time she heard the commandment
order the piece Withdrawn, as he had no one
to fill the place now vacant. Molly heard the
order, and maddened at her loss rushed forward,
exclaimng as she did so, " Mo- you shan't re-
move the gun, neither. Shure, can't ram it
as we'll as Tom, there? All it's kilt entirely
he is, bad luck to the bloody vagabond that
pinted the gun that shot him. Sorra day it
was when he listed, darlint, to leave me lone
WILDLY now, with marry soul to care whether
l live or die. But I'll pay the dirty vaga-
bonds for this days work, cuss EN-"
And thus alternately apostrophizing her
husband and matchmaking the British, she
continued to ram the gun until it was with
drawn. The activity and courage which she
exhibited attracted the attention of all who
witnessed it, and on the morning after the bat
tie and the circumstance was reported to Gen
eral Green, who Was 80 much pleased at her
bravery and spirit that he sent for her and de-
termined to present her to the Commander-in-
chief. This he did, covered with dirt and
blood as she was, and Washington, after ques-
tioning her, conferred On her warrant as Ser
geant; subsequently, by his influence, her
name was placed on the list of halfpay officers
for life She went ever after by the name of
Captain Molly, and the French officers, pan tic
ularly, took great deal of notice of her, and
made her many presents. She dressed in a
mongrel suit, composed of cooked hat, SOL
der's coat, with an epauette on one shoulder,
and petticoats. In this rig she would pass
along the French lines any day and get her
hat filled with crowns. Captain Molly left the
army soon after the battle of Monmouth and
retired to the Hudson highlands, near Fort
Clinton, where she was known as "dirty
Kate"
00-A new horseshoe has been invented by Mr..
Short, Of New London, Connecticut. The peculiar
features it, that the new shoe has not nail or nail