Article Preview

They Called Her Molly Pitcher: The History and Legend of Revolutionary War Heroines

"Generations of Americans grew up hearing the legend of Molly Pitcher, the brave woman who carried pitchers of water to parched Continental Army soldiers at the Battle of Monmouth before stepping up to man a cannon after her husband collapsed. While generations of school children learned this tale as the exploits of a single, heroic individual, modern historical research reveals that "Molly Pitcher" is actually a composite folk figure. The moniker most frequently points to Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley, though historical records and oral traditions also strongly link the nickname to Margaret Corbin and other courageous women who served alongside t..."

Check the preview and insightful summaries above, then just click the button below whenever you're ready to read the full content and all its sections.

More from the collection