The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-19
MOLLY PITCHERS GRAVE.
No Stone Marks the Resting Place OF
the Revolutionary Heroine.

West Point Letter In New York Times.
On little knoll. about two miles south
of West Point, and hardly fifty yards from
the Hudson river, are thirty unmarked
graves. Tall cedars and thick growth of
underbruSh conceal the spot from the casual
observer. In the center OF the fifth grave
on the west side. a tree, much larger than
any Of its neighbors, towers aloft and forms
a monument which nature, more generous
than man, has raised over the ashes OF
Molly Pitcher.
Her silent companions are men who per-
ished in shil. recks, which, a hundred years
ago, We're common on the Hudson.
This neglected spot, with it's beautiful sur
loundings, was i'm the early days of High
land Falls used as potterS field, and here
lies buried the unfortunate victims of the
elements, and strangers whose friends were
toe poor or too Indifferent to claim their
remains or save them from a pauper's
grave. About Molly Pitchers early life lit
tie is known. Tradition has it that she was
born near Bandon. County Cork, Ireland,
and that she came TO this country when
only sixteen years old. After living nearly
she drifted to Haverstraw, which was then
little more than hamlet, where she be-
came acquainted with and married Theo-
Here they lived until Governor Clinton
took command at Fort Montgomery, when
Molle's husband Joined his division. Fort
Clinton was situated about a hundred
yards south OF Fort Montgomery. Molly
and her husband were part OF the detail
sent TO defend the fort against the British,
who We're known to be advancing i'm that
direction It was late on the evening OF
Oct. Z, 1777. when the British drove in the
American outposts and skirmisherS. With
in an hour they were scaling the parapets
Of Fort Clinton. Mollie'S husband dropped
his portfire and Joined the fleeing soldiers.
The brave woman tried 10 rally them. but
failed. Stamping with rage and disappoint-
ment she seized the fire and discharged
the gun into he advancing column OF
Brtishers. Molly escaped, and joined her
husband in the mountains.
1t was nine months after the capture OF
Fort Montgomery that Washington ordered
General Lee 10 attack the British troops at
Monmouth; Proctors battery OF General
belonged to this battery. The day was
extremely hot. and Molly carried water
from a convenient spring TO the thirsty
height and the death-dealing bullets were
flying in every direction, her husband was
struck by a cannon ball
He had been ramming a charge into HIS
Held piece, and fell a corpse at his wife's
feet. Molly dropped the water pail, which
she carried, and, without a moments hest
tation, seized the ramrod and finished the
work which her husband had begun 1t
was not until night had covered the scene
of carnage with a pail that Molly retired
from her self-imposed task. The following
morning Molly, still begrimed with the
smoke and blood of the previous days bat
tie was brought before General Wayne.
The General complimented her for her
bravery. Washington rewarded her with
sergeants commission and Congress placed
for life
Molly continued to follow the regiment
until the end Of the war when she drifted
back to her old hauntS on the Hudson She
secured a hut on the Faurot farm, and
the officers at West Point supplied her with
the necessarieS of life. As she grew old
she became very eccentric. She always
wore an artilleryman's coat over her dress
and the familiar cooked hat OF the Con-
tinental soldier on her head gave her
military appearance Of which she was very
proud.
The Swim and Denniston families. whose
descendants live here cared for Molly dur
ing the latter part of her life, but her ashes
lie in the potters field. Molly Pitcher. the
heroine OF many battles. who took from
her husbands dying grasp the ramrod
which drove home charges TO shatter her
adopted country's chains, lies alone and
forgotten on the banks of the Hudson.
without a stone To mark her grave. The
place has passed into the hands of J. Pier
pont Morgan, whose beautiful summer res
idence is i'm the immediate neighborhood.
1t is said that Mr.. Morgan will, in the
near future erect a fitting monument TO
the memory OF brave Molly Pitcher.