The Coolidge examiner., 1933-07-28


QIIIIlIllE, tradition" The first of these was
elQQUV' V the woman known 10 fame as
Captain Molly
In the cemetery at West Point stands monu-
ment bearing a bronze tablet which shows In
bas-relief a stawart woman standing behind
cannon, ramrod and portfire in hand and below
1t is this inscription: 'In Memory of Margaret
Corbln. Heroine OF the Revolution known as
Captain Molie.' 1751-1S0O Who at the Battle
OF Fort Washington New York when her hus-
band, John Corbin was killed, kept his field
piece in action until severely wounded and there
after by act Of congress received half the pay
and allowance OF A Soldier IN the Service She
lived, died and was buried on the Hudson river
bank near the village now called Highland Falls
In appreciation of her deeds for the cause of
liberty and that her heroism may not be forgot
ten her dust moved to this spot and the
memorial erected by the National Society of the
Daughters OF the American Revolution In New
York State. 1926"
Such is the brief story which the tablet tells
but there are other details worth recording Un-
til her death in 1900 she lived in a private home
near West Point supplies for her being sent d-
rect from the secretary of war.
An interesting sidelight on that part of her
career was revealed recently when Capt Walter
II. Wells, intelligence and publicity officer at
West Point, in digging through some of the old
y.
letters written by Maj George Fleming COM
mander of the arsenal and ordnance and mill
tary storekeeper at West Point TO "The Hon
orabe Maj Gen. Knox Secretary Of War"
On October Z. 17S6, Fleming wrote to Knox
II have sent another account Of Mrs Swm's for
taking of Captain Molly up to the 9th
of September and have removed her to another
place, as thought she was not so well treated
as she ought to be-"
On July s. 17S7, there was another letter which
does not paint a very flattering portrait of the
Revolutionary heroine. 1t said: Il have drawn
three orders you, for the mantainance of
Captain Molly, In favor of Mr. Dennston: one
is from January 10 to April u, the other from
April 13 to July g. 17S6, inclusive, which ac-
counts were lodged in the Office last fall,
and are Mrs. Swim's The other is from Septem-
ber 2S to July 5. 1885, inclusive and will be de-
livered by Mr.. Denniston for Mrs. Randall. AS
Molly is such a disagreeabe object to take care
of. and ! promised to pay them every quarter,
have been obliged TO borrow the money to pay
the people; If it can possibly be replaced, I
should be very glad"
On April q, 1887, there was another letter
with curious touch of an eternal feminine prob
lem-sOmething to wear On that date Fleming
writes: II am informed by the woman that takes
care of Captain Molly. that she is much In want
of Shifts. If you think proper to order three or
four, | should be glad" Two months later on
June r. he wrote again to Knox IF the Shifts
which you informed me should be made for
Captain Molly are done. should be glad to have
them sent, as she complains much for want of
them" Whether or not Captain Molly ever got
her "Shfts" is unknown, for there is no further
reference to the matter nor does her name again
appear In the records after 1889.
In contrast to the militant spirit of Captain
Molly" both in war and in peace, was the spirit
of another woman whose name is written high
in the annals of West Point She was Miss
Susan Warner, the daughter of a New York
city attorney, who upon retiring from practice
in the metropolis made his home Constitution
island in the Hudson river opposite West Point
He was accompanied there by his two daugh-
tiers, Anna and Susan and every Sunday after
noon for years Miss Susan conducted a Bible
class for the cadets at the military academy.
Had she lived she would have found among the
names of the general officers in the World war
many who had attended her classes. frail
small woman who still clung to the poke bonnet
and the silk dress of the Civil war period she
was rowed across from her island home and
carried in military conveyance to the hall set
apart for her in of the academic buildings
She came to be regarded as almost part of
the teaching corps of the institution and on her