Molly Pitcher

Folk hero known for her contributions to the US Revolutionary War (1775–1783)

• Born: October 13, 1754
• Birthplace: Trenton, New Jersey
• Died: January 22, 1832
• Place of death: Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Significance: The exact identity of Molly Pitcher is uncertain, but historical accounts indicate that many women played important roles in the fight for American independence. The name "Molly Pitcher" represents and recognizes the courageous actions and efforts of these women, much as the name "GI Joe" serves as a general representation of American servicemen.

Background

Stories about Molly Pitcher generally focus on the Battle of Monmouth, which was fought in New Jersey on June 28, 1778. The battle, which was the longest single battle of the Revolutionary War, pitted US general George Washington (1732–1799) against British general Sir William Henry Clinton (1769–1844). Fighting began before first light and continued throughout a very hot day during which the temperature was 80°F (27°C) by 8 o'clock in the morning and reached more than 100°F (38°C) later in the day. The battle ended when it became too dark to fight. The Americans lost 59 soldiers, and another 161 were injured. The British lost 65 soldiers, and another 170 were injured. An additional 59 British soldiers and an unknown number of American soldiers died of heatstroke.

As the soldiers battled the heat along with the enemy, a number of women were on hand to help. Most were soldiers' wives or girlfriends. They carried water to the soldiers to drink and to cool their weapons between firings. Some sources say the soldiers would call out "Molly" as a generic name for one of the women, and "pitcher" to indicate their need for a drink or water to cool their weapons. Thus, "Molly Pitcher" became the nickname for these unsung female heroes.

Life's Work

Although "Molly Pitcher" represents a composite of several women, a few women are specifically associated with the title and role attributed to the folk hero. The most likely candidate is New Jersey native Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley (1754–1832). Born on October 13, 1754, Mary Ludwig married a barber named William Hays (sometimes spelled Hayes), on July 24, 1769. When the war began in 1775, William Hays enlisted. Ludwig Hays joined him in 1777 as a camp follower, even spending the very difficult winter of 1777 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

During the Battle of Monmouth, Ludwig Hays carried water to help the soldiers endure the devastating heat. Her husband was manning a cannon and fell, though reports conflict as to whether he was injured or suffered heat exhaustion. Ludwig Hays abandoned her water-hauling efforts to take up her husband's place at the cannon for the remainder of the battle.

Some reports claim that General Washington recognized her heroic efforts, but no record of that has been found. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, however, awarded her an annual pension of forty dollars in 1822 based on her service. William Hays died of war injuries in 1789, and Ludwig Hays subsequently remarried George McCauley. Ludwig Hays McCauley died January 22, 1832, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Her gravestone in the town of Old Cemetery near Carlisle identifies her as Molly Pitcher.

Some historians dispute this designation, and at least two other women have some claim to the nickname "Molly Pitcher." One is Margaret Cochran Corbin (1751–1800). Born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Margaret Cochran was orphaned at the age of five when her father was killed and her mother was captured during a Native American attack. She and her brother were raised by an uncle. She married John Corbin in 1772. When her husband enlisted three years later, Cochran Corbin accompanied him as a camp follower. During the Battle of Fort Washington on November 16, 1776, she dressed in a soldier's uniform and loaded the cannon alongside her husband until he was killed. She immediately took over his task until she, too, was wounded, suffering the loss of use of her left arm. Her fellow soldiers called her Captain Molly and heralded her bravery and accuracy with the cannon.

After being taken prisoner by the British and then paroled back to an American hospital, Cochran Corbin served for a time at West Point, where she helped care for the wounded. She was eventually discharged and awarded a pension equal to half of a male soldier's pension. Cochran Corbin died on January 16, 1800. She was later interred at West Point with full military honors.

A third potential "Molly Pitcher" is Deborah Sampson Gannett (1760–1827). Born near Plymouth, Massachusetts, in December 1760, Deborah Sampson is the first woman known to have enlisted as a man. She served in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment as Robert Shurtleff. Her fellow soldiers believed she was a man, but they nicknamed her "Molly" because she was smooth-faced and had a high-pitched voice. She survived the war and later married Benjamin Gannett. With the assistance of several highly placed advocates, including patriot silversmith Paul Revere (1735–1818), Sampson Gannett eventually received a military pension and a disability pension.

Some historians believe that Molly Pitcher is a composite of Ludwig Hays McCauley and Cochran Corbin. Others think that Ludwig Hays McCauley best fits the Molly Pitcher profile. The diary of Revolutionary War soldier Joseph Plumb Martin (1760–1858), which was published in 1830, seems to give credence to the possibility that Ludwig Hays McCauley was the original Molly Pitcher. In his diary, Martin wrote an account of the Battle of Monmouth and described an unnamed woman who manned a gun alongside her husband. While she was standing with her legs spread wide for stability, a cannon ball flew between her legs. According to Martin's account, the shot tore away part of her petticoat but left her otherwise uninjured.

The story is further supported by the account of a soldier's widow who recalled seeing a woman known as "Captain Molly" bringing water to soldiers during the battle. The first account to report a woman who both carried water and manned a weapon alongside her husband was written by George Washington Parke Custis (1781–1854) in an article titled "The Battle of Monmouth." The article, written by a step-grandson of George Washington, appeared in the National Intelligencer on February 22, 1840. Painted representations of Molly Pitcher on the battlefield began appearing in the 1850s.

Impact

Despite the mysterious nature of her identity, Molly Pitcher was a source of comfort and inspiration to the men fighting the Revolutionary War. The composite character served, and still serves, as a role model for young women.

Bibliography

"Battle of Monmouth." HistoryNet, 21 Aug. 2006, www.historynet.com/battle-of-monmouth.htm. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.

"Battle of Monmouth: The Longest Battle of the American Revolution." Library of Congress, memory.loc.gov/diglib/legacies/loc.afc.afc-legacies.200003296/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.

"Deborah Sampson (1760–1827)." National Women's History Museum, www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/deborah-sampson/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.

"Margaret Cochran Corbin (1751–1800)." National Women's History Museum, www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/margaret-cochran-corbin/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.

"Molly Pitcher." Historic Valley Forge, www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/youasked/070.htm. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.

Saretzky, Gary D. "Play the Molly Pitcher History Game." Monmouth County Archives, Oct. 2001, co.monmouth.nj.us/page.aspx?ID=1680. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.

Teipe, Emily J. "Will the Real Molly Pitcher Please Stand Up?" Prologue Magazine, vol. 31, no. 2, summer 1999, www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1999/summer/pitcher.html. Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.