New-York daily tribune., 1858-12-15
THE HEROIC WOMEN OF THE REVOLUTION

The Rev. MATHEW HALE SMITH delivered a lee
tre the above subject, before the ManahAtta Lit
eraIy Association last night, at the Presbyterian
Church in lFftieth street. and Notwithstanding the
incement state othe weather the chnrch was crowded
Mr.. SMlIH said that tie Revolution was one Of the
epochs in history which ark the progress Of the race
From the character of the men who settled This coun
try, It's independence was simply question Of
tilne-it sure 10 come. There were many
indications Of the Revolution long before At &c
tually cane. In that struggle for Freedom, the
Women bore well tteir part, AMI gave up Their
oil for the great cause. Mrs. Anderson sent her
son TO the war while she staid at home 70 get in the
crop; Mrs Minor of South Carolina was called the
beautiful rebel while other women all over the
country showed the same spirit. First, perhaps
among the women of the Revolution was Mary, the
mother OF WASHINGTON to whom We owe 50 much iot
the manner in whict she brought up her Marlba
Washington also deserved special attention; she was
worthy wife, who assisted and strensheuct her hus-
hand and during that terrible Winter at valley Forge
she beatbed woIds Oi hope and comfort into the ears
cf the despairng soldiers She was there supporting
the weak and nursing the wounded. Abigail, the
wife Of John Adams, also stands fOrth as the
type of her class she WAS the daughter OF Par
son Smith Of Brain,ree, Mass. When John
Adams csne from Quincy, the parishers thought
him entirely unworthy OF their minister's daughter
The ministers of that day prayed for the success ct
the Revolution. One of them IN Boston PRAYED tnat
- if more troops coming, sink en-, good Lord
and the people answered. Amen, siuk en-. good
Lord e. Under such iniuences Abigail Smith was
brought up. Esther, the wife Of Gen. Reed, was
another Of the noble women. Lucy, wife of Gen.
Knox, was perhaps =" lie lady of the Revolution.
She presided at the evees of Gen. Washington, aud
was very anxious To introduce the French fashions
into The country. Mrs. R,dmund OF the little
Quaker heroines aud Lydia Gates was another, who
saved the army at Whitemarsh by going at night to
Washington reveal the plans of zen. Howe. The wife
of Gov Griswuld keI him three weeks headed up 10
barrel ard fed him through the bung-hoe, and refused
10 discover him 70 the British officers though threat
ened with hanging. Rachel Martin had nine children
in the amy and ssd she wished she had fifty 10 h,at
for Freedom and If she a man she wouid go with
them. Mercy Warren another most noble woman.
In coLtradiSiincton 10 these was the wife OF Gen.
Arnold who ambitious and proud, it is TO be feared
led her husband in the downward road. The heroism
of the women OF that day had descended to
the present, and, under ike circumstances, We
should have repetitons of the noble characteristics
of our mothers OF the Revolution. Abigail, the mother
Of Daniel Webster, the last woman TO De notlcedi
Ike the mother Of Washington, we are greatly in.
debied TO her for the training she gave her Like
true woman she always ready to assist her hus-
band in the perious times IN which they lived. The
names and deeds of these heE sine women would be
utnbered aud cherished by al people Of al ages:
The lec,urer was listened to with grea, attention, and
was warmly applaud'd.