The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-11-18
ISCEII ANY.
CAP AIN MO E1IY.
Or, the Story Of Brave Woman
BY TnRACE TALMoN.

asT WAS q sultry morning in the
w last of June. The inhabitants were
~ all astir with the knowledge that the
two armies were in their midst, and by
the probability that battle would ensue.
The American army was disposed by
Washington in such an adjacent position
rs to be able to harass the enemy in the
rear, and take advantage Of their first
movement. Early in the morning no
ticc was given that the van Of the enemy
was in motion. s- ,..
The action commenced in full View of
the houss of Hollis and Molly. Hollis at
once put on his military suit. The spirit
which animated every true American was
newly aroused by this spectacle, and he
was impatient to niingle i'll the strife.
Giving his wife ararting carcss he
quickly left the house. Molly soon saw
him performing tie duty Of a cannoner,
and she watched his motions with the
deepest interest. The day became in
tenseIy warm; Molly thought: "Hollis
VIII suffer with thirst. | will carry him
q pitcher of water from the cold spring"
The housekeepcr tried to dissuade her
from her purpose.
81 shall 90. How coed the water
will taste to him struggling in this hot
day" H eat
He was loading ana clischcrging the
cannon with admirable coolncss, while
the enemy's balls whstIcI about his head
He had never before looked So glorious
to Molly, save when he was about to
sacrifice his life at the pine tree, the Oh
jet of savage ire. At the cold spring, a
few yards from the house, she filled her
pitcher with water, and rcccoliecting Hol-
lis liking for spearmnt, she broke of, IL
few leaves for him. He blessed her in a
low voice. as he received her offering.
Molly ran back, regardless Of the many
eyes which had been attracted by her
white muslin dress amid the bloody strife.
Once more she flied the pitcher to carry
to Hollis, when she saw him fall, killed
by shot from the enemy.
flake that cannon away" said Gen.
Wayne to one of the soldiers; ''we can
not fill the post by as brave man as has
been killed." m 7T
NO" returned Molly, with Il face like
death, Yet calm in its inspiration of blay-
cry heightened to hcroism, ''The cannon
shall not be removed for want of some
one to serve it.: since my brave husband
is no more, l will exert myself to the ut
most to a,enge his DEATH
"Thcre" she exclaimed, after the first
fire, d" take that, We remorseless English
men. and wait for the next"
AT every shot she dealt destruction.
.sWhom have we here?' asked Wash
ington, attracted to the spot by the singu-
lar spectacle. ~
'An angel of the hosts of Micheal.-
The power Of he'll would drop before her "
replied Gen. Wayne.
Molly now determined on . coup de
maitre. Accordingly she reloaded the
cannon with double the ordinary quota
then charged. A terrible crash sue
ceeded. The cannon was broken into
fragments Three British soldiers were
killed, an officer of high rank mortally
wounded, many of those standing about
were thrown down, and general confusion
prevailed. Molly thrown several feet In
to the air, fell to the ground with VIC
lence. But she soon rallied. The sol
diers loudly applauded her; but she i'm
mediately withdrew to her home followed
by two soldiers bearing the body of her
husband. The next morning she was
visitedb by Generals Washington, Lafayette
and Wayne. m
Washington expressed his appreciation
of her action of the day previous, adding
Il here confer upon you the rank of cap
Y
tain, as testimonial of my regard for
your services
Lafayette begged to salute her, as in
his country they salute the noble ladies
they wish to honor, and pressed u kiss