New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-11-26

the fact that good story cannot be
told too often, coupled with desire
to illustrate it, has induced US t,
give it a place in this repertory OF
scenes and incidents.
Nollie Pitcher, or, as she was af.
tesVVards more familiarly known,
Capt. Molly, was sturdy young
Irish woman of some twenty-five or
twenty.three years of age, short,
thick set, with red hair, a treckled
face, and keen piercing eye, which
gave token of a spirit Of mischief
ever ready for a frolic or fight.
She was the wife of a sergeant in an
artillery corps, which had seen SER
vice siuce the commencement Of the
war, and was attached to him with
all the warmth of the Irish DISPOSE
ton. She had followed him through
all his campaigns, and was with him
at Fort Clinton, in the Hudson high.
lands, when that post was attacked
and captured by Sir Henry Clinton.
Here, too. she gave a specimen of
that reckless courage which distin.
guished her at Mon mouth 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 his rear, drop.
ped his match and calling Molly to
follow, fled as fast as his legs would
carry him. She, determined hot to
waste powder and ball, and knowing
that her ''peticoats' would protect
her retreat in a measure, picked up
the linstock, fired the piece, and then
scamperel off. She escaped scot.
| free, and when the scattered fugi.
| tives from the forts were collected,
and the artillery was attached to the
main army, she accompanied her
husband US sutler, and was with
him through that bitter winter at
Valley Forge.
Wien Sir Henry Clinton evacuat-
ed Philadelphia, and took up his
march across the Jerseys, Washing
ton left his winter camp and prepar.
ed to follow, hoping to get an op-
portunity to strike a blow which
should animate his own troops and
ettectually cripple: perhaps capture,
the British army. On the plains Ut
Monmouth the hostile armies met III
battle array. 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 there first movement, and
engage them until the main army OF
the Americans could be brought in
to action by Washington in person.
The first part Of his orders he had
obeyed; the latter, for the reasons
never fully explained, he did not
conform to, but retreated uuexpect-
eddy toward the main body, which
movement Was timely checked by
Washington, who ordered the whole
army INTO action. 1t became ueces.
sary, however, for a portion TO tan
back second time, and to check the
pursuit, The artillery to when Mol.
ly's husband was attached was sta.
TONED on All emlnence, III the rear
OF a hedge. row, tor that purpose.
Molly herself was engaged IL Drlug-
ing Water from u sprlng to assuage
tue Thirst OF the men at the guns,
when she saw her HUSBAND slruck
down by cannon-snot trom the
enemy, which cut hum nearly III
two, and killed hum instantly; nc tue |
same time she heard Tile culnmauu-
ant order the piece Withdrawn, as
ne had no one u nil the place now
vacant. Molly heard The order, ana
nladdeneu al Aer loss, rushed tor.
Ward, exclalmlng as she dld 50, mo!
you shan't remove the gun, neither.
ohure; Can't l ram 1t us we'll as Tom,
tuere! An it's kilt entirely he IS,
bad luck to the bloody vagaDunu
that plnted the gun That shoL nun.
oOrra day Was 1t when ye listed,
.darlint, to leave me lone wlduy
now, with nary a soul to care whetn-
or 1--we or die. But LII pay the
dirthY vagabonds for this day = work,
cuss 'em. Aud thus alternately
apostrophizlng her husband aud aua.
tnematlzlug The British, Sue cOntln.
ued to ram the gun until it Was
Withdrawn. The activity aud cour.
age which she exhibited attracted
the attention of all VINO witnessed
1t, and on the morning after tne
battle the circumstance was report.
ed to General Greene, VINO was So
much pleased ut her bravery ana
spirit that he sent for her ana deIer-
mined to present her to the Com
mander.in.chief. This he did, GOV.
cred with dirt and blood as she
Was, and Washington, after ques.
tionlng her, conferred on her a war
rantas5ergeant,and subsequently, by
ms influence, her name was placed
on the list Of half-pay othcers for
lite. She went ever after Dy the
name Of captain Molly, and the
FRENCH officers, particularly, took
q great deal OF notice Of her, and
made her many presents. She
dressed IN q mongrel suit, composed
ofa cooked hat, soldiers coat with.
an epulette on one shoulder, and
pettlcoats. In this rig she would
pass along the French llnes any day
and get her hat filled with crowns.
Capt. Molly lett the army soon after
the battle Of Monmouth, anu retired
to the Hudson highlands, near Fort