The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-07-28


Captain Molly"
In the cemetery at West Point stands monu-
ment bearing a bronze tablet which shows in
Das-relief q Stalwart woman standing behind a
cannon, ramrod and portfre in hand, and below
1t is this inscription: 'In Memory of Margaret
Corbn, Heroine of the Revolution known as
Captain Mollie, 1751-1SO0 Who at the Battle
of Fort Washington, New York. when her hus-
band, John Corbin. 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
Dank 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. In
November. 1776, Colonel Robert Magaw with
nearly 5000 Contnentals was defending Fort
Washington against the attacks of nearly 1900
British and Hessians. Washington was dubious
of Magaws ability to hold the post against such
superior numbers. but remembering the orders
from congress to hold the fort at all costs and
Influenced against his better judgment by Ma
gaw's confidence and General Greene's desire to
maintain the position, he reluctantly gave per-
mission to Magaw to remain.
By November 16 the greater part of the Amer
lean stronghold had been taken. Only the north
ern outpost, section called Fort Tryon, few
fragments of whose walls may still be seen at
One Hundred and Ninety-ffth street in New
York city. still held out when Colonel Knyphau-
sen commander of the Hessian mercenaries,
launched his final attack against 1t. British bat
teries from an opposite hill opened fire to pro-
tect the assault of the Hessians
Finally there were only two cannon in Fort
Tryon still serviceable and one of these was
manned by young Virginian, named John Cor
bin, whose wife. Margaret had followed him to
war and who now stood by his side. At last
Corbin went down with a bullet through his
breast. For moment his gun was silent. Then
his stout-hearted wife leaned over. took the ram
rod from his dead hand and continued to serve
the gun until she was severely wounded when
a charge of grapeshot tore away part of her
breast and almost severed her arm.
When at length Magaw was forced to surrender
TO knyphausen, among the ISIS prisoners was
the heroic young woman who thereafter to
be hailed as Captain Molly" Later she was
paroled to General Greene. commanding Fort
Lee, and was sent to Philadelphia with the other
wounded Undaunted by her experience. Gap
tain Molly" enlisted in an invalid regiment, was
sent to West Point and remained with her unit
there until mustered out of service in April 1888.
Thereafter she was pensioned a soldiers
half pay and allowance and until her death in
1900 she was maintained in private home near
West Point. She received her subsistence
through the commssary at the post and supplies
of various kinds were sent to the family en-
ployed to take care of her direct from the sec
rotary of war.
An interesting sidelight on that part of her
career was revealed recently when Capt Walter
III. 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 "The Hon.
orable Maj. Gen. Knox Secretary of War"
On October Z. 17s6, Fleming wrote to Knox:
II 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 well treated
as she ought to be-"
On July 8. 1857, there was another letter which
does not paint a very fattering portrait of the
Revolutionary heroine. 1t said: II have drawn
three orders on you for the maintenance of
Captain Molly, in favor of Mr.. Denniston: one
is from January 10 to April II, the other from
April IL to July s. 1856. inclusive, which ac-
counts were lodged in the war Office last fall,
and are Mrs. Swim's. The other is from Septem-
Der % to July s. 1856. inclusive, and viii be de-
ivered by Mr.. Dennston for Mrs. Randall. As
Molly is such a disagreeable 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
should be very glad"
On April q, 1857. there was another letter
with curious touch Of an eternal feminine prob
lem-something to wearI On that date Fleming
writes: 81 am informed by the woman that takes
care Of Captain Molly, that she Is much in want