The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-28

a cooked hat. She made herself useful
by carrying water for the soldiers in a
big pitcher. That is the way she came
by the name Of Pitcher.
But Molly didn't confne herself to
carrying waller by any means. She de-
voted much OF her time to raking the
men over the coals, She was absolutely
ignorant OF The meaning Of the word
lear herself and sho had contempt Tor
towards, Her influence over the men,
especialiy the recruits, was remarkable.
For this reason she was allowed 10 do
about as she pleased.
Molly first distinguished herself at
the capture OF FoTl Montgomery and
Fort Clinton. Larry was manning a
gun in the latter fort when the word
was received that the Hessians were i'd
yancing rapidly and in large numbers.
This news almost created panic. The
men started to break, but Molly held
them In check by mounting the ram
part and shouting; .I'H
"Come on, llessians orIed coats we'll
trait ye all tho same, and'll put more
bullets and balls into yees than yell
loike for supper"
When the attack finally came Molly
kept up the spirits OF the men Tor some
time. They repulsed the enemy time
and time again, but it WAS apparent
from the first that the garrison could
not resist being taken.
MOLLY FIRES THE LAST GuS AT FORT CLIS-
ToS.
The enemy finally pressed our forces
so hard that all the gunners, including
Larry, deserted their pieces and ran for
their lives. At this point Molly's voice
was heard above tho din;
Devil shtep will run" she
shouted, It'll that guns fred. !"
And catching up the portiire which
the frightened Larry had dropped she
touched of the last cannon that was
discharged in Fort Clinton while the
enemy was pouring over the ramparts.
Molly succeeded in escaping in the gem
eral confusion which followed.
1t was at Monmouth, however, where
Captain Molly distinguished herself to
such an extent as to attract the atten-
ton OF General Washington and his Off
GERS, Larry was manning gun in that
memorable batteand doing noble work.
Molly was carrying water to the men.
The fighting waxed hot and furious.
A piece OF flying shell hit Larry killing
him instantly in the presence OF Molly,
who mad just returned from the spring
with a pail Of water. She dropped the
pail and threw herself upon the man.
gled remains OF her husband with n
shrek. 1t was tho first time she had
ever been seen to give way to grief
When she had somewhat recovered
Molly arose and prayed to DO allowedto
take Larry's place at the gun.
"It'll do me sore heart good to send
some O. thin redcoats as killed him to
the DEVIL" she said to tho officer in
charge in making her appeal.
TAKES HER DEAD HUSBANDS PLACE.
Molly was allowed to take charge OF
the gun which her husband had
manned. aud all day long she continued
at her post, firing the gun as fast as she
could load it.
When the battery was finally forced
to retreat Molly tied Larry's body to
the gun and dashed along beside it.
She was presented to General Wash
iRgton by General Greene on the fol.
lowing day, all covered with dirt and
blood, and was made q full.Aedged ser.
geant for her bravery.
Soon after this Captain Molly re-
tired from the army, having been made
captain by brevet, and put on the
pay roll OF tho army for life. She went
to West Point to spend the rest OF her
days, being under the personal care OF
the commandaat there, and receiving
her supplies direct from the secretary
OF war at Washington.
Captain Molly after the death OF her
husband was never the same. She be.
came morose and ugly. At West Point
she boarded with various families, but
associated exclusively with the soldiers.
She spent her days and evenings in the
garrison, smoking and drinking with
them.
There are number OF letters refer.
ring to Captain Molly on file at West
West Point One Of them, Major Elem.
ing, commander at West Point, to sec
rotary Of War Henry Knox, on July 8,
1857, lis as follows:
~ have drawn three orders on you
for the maintenance OF Captain Molly
in favor OF Mr.. Dennison. One Is from
january 10 to April u, the other from
April IL to July ), inclusive, which &C.
counts wore lodged in the war Office
last fall and are Mrs. swim's. The
other is from September % to July 3,
1886, inclusive, and will be delivered BY
Mr., Denniston for Mrs. Randall. As
Molly is such a disagreeable object to
take care Of, and promised to pay the
people, II it can be possibly replaced l
should be very glad"
Captain Molly's name appears on the
pay roll OF the army and on the books
Of West Point until the year 1883, whom
she died, universally hated by every.
body except tho soldiers, and having
become so disreputable as to be gener.
ally referred to by the natives as "Dirty
Kota