The evening times., 1899-08-24

Carlisle, Pa. Aug. 24.-The last restige
OF the old home here of Mollie Pitcher. the
heroine of Monmouth, has disappeared
TO make way for modern improvements.
The building was a picturesque two-story
structure. over century old. Many relic
hunters carried off parts of it.
In the old graveyard. left here by VIII
liam Penn to Carlisle, Mollie Pitchers S
monument stands. 1t bears this inscrip-
ton:
MoLIIE McCAULEY,
Renowned in History
MoLLIE PITCHER,
The Heroine of Monmouth
Died January 22, 1923,
Aged 40 Years.
Erected by the Citizens OF Cumberland County,
July 4, 1876.
A little distance back is the grave of Pc
ter Spahr. who died September 1, 1884. He
conceived the idea, collected the money.
and put up the monument.
The present curator of the graveyard.
Commodore Porter, is a descendant of the
heroine, and keeps the grave in good con-
dition. A large American flag floats over
her grave.
Capt Mollie Pitcher was one of the IA
nous persons in the battle of Monmouth
On Sunday morning, June %, l11S, she rem
dered essential service to the Americans
She was a woman of sturdy build. of Irish
descent, and had followed her husband g
member of one of the artillery companies
on the American side, from camp to camp
She was usually dressed in the petticoats
of her own sex, with the coat of an artil-
leryman thrown about her. Though but
twenty-five years old, she had stout
heart.
Before the general action two of the ad
vanced batteries became engaged in a Sc
we're fight. The heat was excessive. anC
Mollie. whose husband was one of the can
noneers. carried water from a nearb,
spring to her husband and others of the
soldiers.
While thus occupied she saw her hus-
band fall, and, Fastening to his side, she
found him dead. Then Mollie showed hel
love for her country and made herself ia
nous. She took her husbands place BY
the cannon and continued TO operate th'
field piece during the rest of the fight Sht
performed the duties so well that she wa:
made captain and placed en- the pay rol
Of those receiving half pay for life Georg,
Washington personally congratulated her
In an article published by Captain Ian
dis, of this place, The Truth About Mol
were
Her right name was Mary Ludwig
She was the daughter Of John G. Ludwig
who came to this country with the Paiati
mates, and was born October Is, 174i. Sh
was employed as domestic at Carlisle il
the family of Gen. William Irvine. Sb
was married to John Hays, a barber. Jul,
! "a, 1869. He enlisted in Proctor's Firs
/ Pennsylvania Artillery. Continental Line
and was followed by his wife.
Some years after the historical Incl
! dent at Monmouth she married Geore,
( McKolly, another soldier. This name wa!
also written McCauley, and so appears OF
4 her tombstone She lived for many year,
! al the barracks here, cooking and washini
! for the soldiers. Later she kept small
store in Carlisle near the house in which
Major Andre and Lieutenant Despard wer,
confined in 1776 after Andres first captur,
! near Lake Champlain. The latter years o
her life were spent in the house at the cor
ner of Bedford and North Streets, which
has just been torn away.
ION February q, 1922. the Pennsylvania
! Legislature granted her an annuity fol
! services during the Revolutionary War
! the sum of $40 Immediately and the same
amount half yearly during her life
Among those who personally testified as
| to her personality was John 4. Hays, who
died here in 1891. at the age of eighty-sis
years. Although boy when Mollie died
he had often heard her tell the story Of
Monmouth and her part therein. Mrs. Su-
san Heckendorn, still living here at an
advanced age, remembers hearing Mollit
say, in describing the incident: You
girls should have been with me at the bat
tie of Monmouth and learned how to load
a cannon"