Telegram-herald., 1891-02-22

his side near the heart With a wild
aud heartrending cry she fell upon her
knees and clasped him Ia her arms. His
glazing eyes sought her countenanee.
and as size kissed him he whispered.
Load The cannon. Mollie. and svenge
my death"
That l will John. she cried
She looked al him again. He was
dead Tenderly relinqnishing her grasp
az the beloved form she arose 10 her
feet, dashed tears from eyes that now
began 70 fash with anger. and with an
heroic mien took her station at the can
non, aad rammed home charge with
the strength Of giant.
With hat removed from his head
Washington. who had been most sym
pathetic witness OF the scene, rode UP
and said:
My dear girl. can not express in
words my admiration and gratitude.
God bless you"
Il ara only doing my duty, your Ex-
cellency," cried Mollie raising her eyes
but monent, and then ramming the
charge with redouSied vigor.
Throughout the hotly contested en-
Cagement on and about the little
wooded Hill, Mollie was the most eff
cient cannoneer for the Americans.
Even amid the roar and smoke OF that
memorable coufict the soldiers turned
Their eves toward her with admiration
and gathered encouragement from her
dauntless valor. She looked remarka-
bly, beautiful, and even grand, as she
sent messenger after messenger OF
death amid the ranks of the enemy,
while her golden hair fell in attractive
confusion over her shoulders and her
handsome eyes wore filed with the
ardor OF battle. Men could not ily when
a woman showed such bravery.
But at last the British came on with
great force. having cavalry and infantry
skillful with the bayonet, and the
Americans were obliged to retire across
a morass TO another eninence, to which
Washington, after taking leave of Mol
lie. had ridden, and had there placed
the main army in battle array.
True to his word. General Lee was
tion. His first retreat, for which Wash
ington SO severely rcbuked him, has
been the subject Of much dispute. 1t is
claimed for Lee that the confusion OF
his troops was largely due to the fact
that it was difficult to direct their move
ments on ground badly cut up into
wootiS and morasSes, and that he re-
treated because he found that he had at
tackled not Il mere covering party, as he
had NJ first supposed, bat the main body
of the enemy. On the contrary, Wash
ington had promised to come to his aid
with an ample force, and Lees attitude
toward his chief both on the field and
subsequently was eninently disrespect-
ful. He was tried by court-martial,
and his sentence was suspension from
the army for one year. IL proved to be
the close OF his career as q military man.
The Americans were not driven from
the second eminence, and after another
sharp conflict the arrival of darkness
caused cessation of hostilities. Dur
ing the night the British very quietly
retired, and the next morning the Amer
leans, TO their great surprise, saw de-
serted camp.
The sun was risen scarcely an hour
when General Greene, accompanied by
Mollie Pitcher. approached the tree at
the foot of which. stretched on his
cloak, Washington had passed the
night. The CoInmander-in-Chief was
still under the tree, and beside him
stood his aid-de-camp. Alexander Ham
ilton, afterwards the famous statesman.
and Generals Lafayette, Knox and Cad
walader. The distinguished men sa-
luted the brave woman with much re-
spect and stood with uncovered heads
while Washington conferred upon her
the commission of sergeant and praised
her Spartan courage.
Turning 10 his Generals, Washington
concluded with these words, spoken
with great emotion.
'Geutlemen. a nation whose women
are capable of such valor can never he
conquered"
At the recommendation of Washing
ton Congress placed Moilie on the list
of hslf-pay officers for life. and during
the remainder OF her days she was pop
ulsrly known as Captain Molly"
J. A. BoILEs.