The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-07-27

Az NV WSos Oiui DIS ulHtf tIidu mHU
MA-yNt world, yet there have been several
lnfraT WI women who have had such a part
$500 W. In Its. history as to make their
h0nnn1LI names part of the "West Point
tlIIIIlHIlE tradition" The first OF these was
GqQUp, the woman known to fame as
captain Molly
In the cemetery at West Point stands monn-
ment bearing bronze tablet which shows In
Das-reiief a stalwart woman standing behind
cannon, ramrod and portfre In hand and below
II is this Inscription: TN Memory OF Margaret
Corbln. Heroine of the Revolution known as
Captain Mellie,t 175f-1800. Who at the Battle
OF Fort Washington, New York when her hus-
band, John Gorbin, WINS killed. kept his field
piece In action until severely wounded and there
after BY act OF congress received half the nav
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 was 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. I'm
I'll her death In 1900 she lived In private home
near West Point, supplies for her being sent d.
rect from the secretary OF war.
An interesting sidellght 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
files at the academy, came across the manuscript
letters written by Maj. George Fleming. com
mander of the arsenal and ordnance and mill
tary storekeeper at West Point to 1.-THE Hon
CRADLE Maj. Gen. Knox, Secretary of War"
On October 7, 1886, Fleming wrote to Knox.
Il have sent another account of Mrs Swim's for
taking care OF Captain Molly up to the 9th
OF September and have removed her to another
place, as ] thought she was not SO we'll treated
as she ought to be-"
On July s, 1887, there was another letter which
does not paint very tlatterng portrait of the
Revolutionary heroine. 1t said II have drawn
three orders you. for the maintenance of
Captain Molly In favor of Mr. Denniston: one
Is from January 10 to April H. the other from
April ID to July s. 1856. inclusive which &C.
counts were lodged In the war office last fall
and are Mrs. Swim's. The other Is from Septem-
Der % to July 5. 1885, inclusive and will be de-
livered by Mr.. Denniston for Mrs Randall. AS
Molly Is such disagreeabe object to take care
OF. and ! promised to pay them every quarter
hare been obliged to borrow the money to nav
the people; II 1t can possibly be replaced
should be very glad"
$3.50 On April 81, 1887, there was another letter
with curious touch of an eternal feminine prob
lem-something to wear On that date Fleming
writes i am Informed by the woman that takes
care OF Captain Molly, that she Is much In want
OF Shifts. II you think proper to order three or
four, | should be glad" Two months later, on
June H. he wrote again to Knox III 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 not Captain Molly ever got
her shifts Is unknown for there Is no further
reference to the matter nor does her name again
appear In the records after $780,
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 on Constitution
island in the Hudson river opposite West Point.
He was accompanied there by his two daugh-
fers Anna and Susan and every Sunday after
noon for years Miss Susan conducted 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 frall
small woman who still chung to the poke bonnet
and the silk dress of the Civil war period she
was rowed across from her island home and
carried n military conveyance to the hall set
apart for her In one of the academic buildings
She came to be regarded as almost part OF
the teaching corps of the institution and on her