Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-10
MOLLIE PITCHERS
HISTORIC WELL,

~ preserve tHe historic relics of a
country IS one of the best works in
which It's citizens car be engaged, It is
these mementOes of brave deeds and
great exhibitions of patriotism that tend
to arouse the patriotic spirit in others,
and, as the result, the good tina they
accomplish in the education of the young
cannot be overestilnated.
!. From the beginning the United States
mas been a country practically without
any relics. AS the years have passed.
however, and the citizens of the country
have made history of which any nation
might be proud, scores of spots, ranging
from one ocean to the other and from
Canada to the Gulf, have become pos
sessed of historic associations tina have
endeared them to the hearts of the pa
~triotic.
For some reason, however, little atten-
ton has been paid to them. A few of the
buildings have been preserved by action
OF congress or by the approval of the peo-
pie Of the section in which they were
located, but the mass of these relics have
either passed into private hands or have
been permitted to fall into decay even
II they have not been demolished alto
gether.
SAVE THE RELICS.
This matter was one tina was broupht
to h attention of the members of the
Sons and Daughters of the Revolution
soon after the organization of these So
~cieties, and it was Immediately deter
mined to devote as much money as pos
sible to the preservation of all the his
tOrical mementOes that could be prop-
erly authenticated.
Although this was but q few years ago,
great results have already been accom-
plished along these lines. The spots that
will nave the dearest of associations to
the citizens Of the country a generation
or two hence have been located and re-
constructed as carefully as possible, att
er which tablets of metal. on which has
been written the story that they COM
memorate, have been securely placed in
a position where they can easily be seen.
This has been the work of the patriot
ic societies, n HI work is still pro-
crossing. The next place that is to re-
ceive the attention of these descendants
Of the revolutionary heroes is the we'll of
Capt. Mollie Pitcher. which is located
neal Freehold. N. ].
Few persons, perhaps, have noticed as
they have been whirled across the battle
field of Monmouth in a pennsylvania
railroad train, the W upright posts
these posts mark the well Of Mollie
Pitcher, the heroine of the battle of the
war of independence.
II it was generally known that such
historic associations cluster about this
old we'll more than one eye would seek
situated SO close to the track that 1t can
easily be located.
Almost everything in this locality
speaks to the min of historic vents
that marked the birth of the republic:
Not only is the we'll here, but just beyond
Is the old Tennent church, which was
used as a hospital during the battle, and
the seats, stained with the blood of the
British soldiers. can still be seen.
SUPPLIES GOOD WATER.
IN spite Of the fact that the old we'll IL
nearly $50 years old, 1t Is still In use. II
is located on the farm of william A.
Thompson, and. while the old bucket Is
used on the place, large pipes having
been laid to the we'll. To all appear
ances the supply is inexhaustible, and
the water is as clear And sparkling as
the only indications Of h historic ASSOC
Citations of the place, for upon each post
a board a been attached upon which
lie Pitchers Well"
The story Of the life and heroic deeds
to every school hill She was the he
roine of the battle Of Monmouth, which
was fought on the morning OF Sunday,
June 20, 1878. Tradition has it that 1t
was at this battle that General Lees ac-
ton In making a retreat caused Wash
ington to give vent to the only profanity
he ever uttered in his life.
History describes the f%ierceness of the
fight, but all through the heat of battle
Mollie Pitcher, an Irish woman, the wife
of a member of one Of the New Jersey
artillery companies. went fearlessly from
place to place, with a bucket Of cold wa
ter drawn from this well, in her hand.
Men were falling all around her, bullets
were flying near her head. but she new
er finched in what she believed to be
her duty.
Captain Mollie was of masculine build,
and on the day of the battle she wore
one of the strangest costumes ever worn