The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-28
CAPT. MOLLY PITCHER
And the Part She Took in the Rev
dictionary War,
WAS OUR ONLY WOMAN OFFICER,
Was Honored by General Washington
but Died in Disrepute and is Buried
in a Forgotten Grave on the Hudson
Riyer-story OF Her Life and Deeds
ofueroism.


history Of America, is buried in for
gotten grave Just below Cranston's, up
in the beautiful valley OF the Hudson,
There are very few people in the neigh.
borhood Itself who are aware Of the
fact, however. to say nothing OF the
average New Yorker. And the New
Workers who know anything about
Molly Pitcher, barring what their old
time school books and histories taught
them, can probably be counted on
the fingers OF one hand,
Among all the principal personages
OF the revolutionary war Molly Pitcher
was one OF the most interesting and at
the same time one OF the least written
about She served on the field OF battle
during all those trying days, was made
q full aedged sergeant by General
Washington himself for bravery dis
played, was afterward made captain
BY brevet, and on the recommendation
OF the Father Of Our Country her name
was placed on the half pay list Of the
army for life,
Tho part this woman played at the
capture Of Fort Montgomery and Fort
Clinton and her valorous work at the
memorial battle OF Monmouth have been
recorded upon history's pages. But her
lite previous to the capture OF the forts
and alter the battle Of Monmouth is sur.
rounded by more or less fog,
have searched the archives OF the
library at West Point for her record and
have been partly successful. As nearly
as could learn she died in 1883, as at
that date her name ceases to appear on
the commissary's books. She was
buried on land belonging to Captain
David Faurot. 1t is now part OF j.
Pierpont Morgan's summer estate, Tho
grave, which is marked by rude head.
stone, is hidden by clump Of tall ce-
dars down near the river bank,
There can he no question that this is
Captain Moity's grave, as found sever.
oil old residents OF the Hudson High
lands who have often had tho spot
pointed out TO them by their parents,
who knew Captain Molly personally and
saw her remains planted there.
THE wooTNG OF MOLLY.
Molly was the wife of Gunner Larry
oFlarharty. Who she was before then
history fails to relate. 1t is generally
believed that her maiden name was
Mary Ludwig. She is described as be.
ing stout, ireCkle-iaced, red-haired
girl, with bold, expressive, dark eyes.
The story OF how Larry 0'Flaharty
wooed her in potato patch has been
utilized in fiction. 1t appears in one Of
L. T. Roe's works, and is generally be.
lieved to be based on facts. 1t is as fol-
lows:
"rhe top o the mornin' to ye, Larry
said rs he approached.
"Faix, an ye're n green Irishman not
to know the afternoon from mornin',"
Molly replied.
"The sight o ye would make any
time o night or day seem the bright
mornin'," Larry answered calamity.
"Ye kissed the blarney stone atore ye
left home, Pm a.tiIinking."
And II yell let me kiss yer own red
lins I'll dig all these pratiesIfor YET"
~ see ye're good at n sharp bargain,
I've do be green. But I'll wait till ye
dig the praties."
"But yo'll give me just one buss whom
I'm half through TO kinder stay mo
stomach"
",There's plenty lads on wad be glad
to dig praties for mo wtdout a.drivin'
hard bargains for it.
$50 they'll tell yes afther the praties
is dug. They'll be very swate about it
when tho cowld snow kivers the
ground"
IAN 20 think ye're very swate about
itnow."
mo, but I'm a,hopin' yen be swato
about It,"
whats yer name, anyhow?r
LARRY O'Flarharty, an ye may have
ityerself any day that yell go wild me
to the prastc."
mate?"
"Faix, an it is not. Ifs to ysrself
that I've fust said it,"
"Ye're better at talkin' than doin'.
thought I'd get at least one hill Of
pEaties dug by yees.
give me the fork, thin, and III chow
ye that Larry O'Flarharty can take cara
O. 20 aud dozen children into the bar.
gain"
"ochl yc spalpeenl Yen have ye
coorted, married and gran mother
afore ye get praty out the dirt"
"rll dress sc up In silks so iolne,
And shall drink the best o. woine
NBe jabcBl but Wen cut shOlne,
The day wheu what's yer name Is motuo
"How's that for delicate way in
akin ye yer namep'
What do I want wild name since
ye're goin' to give me yourn"
what shall | cuii 20 till the happy
day comes2"
Molly, for short"
Let it be for short then and not for
lotig."
"D'ye think I'd marry a man o all
work? Pm goin' to marry gallant
soger boy"
"Are ye serious about that, now?"
"Ah,, go on wild yer work and sthop
yer foolin'W
me-"
"Divil another shall 70 dig, anyway,
20 impudent spalpeeni'
Como now, Molly daflin', whats the
use o agoin' agin fate2 Ye shall marry
sogor boy. sec that by the cut OF
yer pretty jib, rs the sailors say. Yoye
spunk and fro enough for a regiment.
Give me tho fork agin and one o yer
own swato smiles"
"WCll, since we're sort o haste o
burden an loikes workin' better nor
hghtin', 20 may have yer way"
"Faix, an I'll be basto Wild the bur.
den o q soro an heavy heart, II 20 talk
10 mo In that way"
"Faix,. III be swatO thin till 20 get
the pratles dug"