The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-09-12
CAPTAIN MOLLY PITCHER.

Some twenty years since monument
was placed over the grave Of Captain
Molly Pitcher at Carlisle, Pa, the Irish.
woman who displayed great bravery at
the battle Of Monmouth, on the 2Sth Of
June, ITS. and who in a well known
picture Of the conflict is represented a,
managing one Of the cannon against
the enemy. Monmouth, now tne vii
lage Of Freehold, in Monmouth county.
New Jersey, is Is miles southeast Of
New Brunswick. The principal part
OF the battle was tough. about mile
and a half northwest Of the village, on
the road 70 Englishtown. Captain
Molly was buried at Meeting House
Springs on the banks Of the Connodog-
winet creek. q tributary Of the SusQne-
hanna, two miles northeast Of Carlisle
Major Andre was at one time during
the war q prisoner at Carlisle, sud was.
on his parole. permitted to go three
miles from the town. and on this very
spot where Captain Molly is buried
was favorite resort Of bis. and it is
said he was fond Of making sketches OF
the place. There is also story told Of
his saving q young lady's life near this
spot by siezing the rein Of her runaway
horse ss the animal was about to dash
over the bluff overhanging the creek.
The battle Of Monmouth WAS one OF
the bloodiest fought during the Revo-
luton. Twenty thousand men were
engaged. Washington. Lafayette,
Wayne. Greene. Morgan. Lee and other
distinguished American officers were
present The English were commanded
by Sir Henry Clinton. The battle com
menced before dawn, and continued all
day. ending in the defeat Of the Eng
lish. About 2 o'clock P N. q desperate
struggle ensued between Greene's Bri-
gsde and the Hessisns AMI Grenadiers.
commanded by Colone! Moncton. 1t
was at this uncture that al Irish girl.
seeing her husband fall. rushed up to
the gun, snatched the rammer from his
dying grasp. charged and fired the
piece into the face Of the advancing
English, and continued to do so until
the battle was won. LOSING thus de-
scribcs the occurrence in his Pictorial
Book Of the Revolution" Vol. H.. page
36I:
II: was durin. this part Of the action
that Molly, the wife Of . cannOnier, dis
pluyei great courage aud presence of
mind She was sturdy young camp
follower, only % years Old. and in de
votion TO her husband she illustrated
the character Of her countrywOmen OF
the Emerald Isle. In the action in
question. while her husband Was man
aging one OF the field pieces. she con-
stantly brought him water from u
spring near by. A shot FROM the enemy
killed him at his post. and the officer
in command, having no one competent
TO fill his place. ordered the piece with
drawn. Molly saw her husband fall as
she came from, the spring. and also
heard the order She dropped her
lucket. seized the rsmmer. and vowed
she would fill tho place Of her husband
ut the gun and aven2e his death. She
performed the duty with skill and
courage that attracted the attention Of
all who saw her. On the following
morning, covered with blood. General
Greene presented her to Washington.
who. admlring her bravery. conferred
upon her the commission Of sergeant.
by his recommendation her name WAS
placed on the list of hslf-pay officers
for life. After leaving the army she
retired to Fort Montgomery. among
the Hudson highlands. where she died.
She usually went by the name Of Cap
tain The venerable widow Of General
Hamilton, yet living ls52l told the she
had often seen Captain Molly. She
described her as a tsll. fair haired
young Irishwoman. with handsome,
piercing eye. The French officers.
charmed with the story Of her bravery.
made her many presents. She would
sometimes ride along the French lines
with her cooked hat. and almost get it
filed with crowns"