Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1893 — MOLLY PITCHER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MOLLY PITCHER.

On the west bank of the Hudson, a few miles south of Buttermilk Falls, is the grave of Molly Pitcher, bne of the most famous personages in the revolutionary war. She was the only woman whose name ever appeared on the payroll of the American army and her name was placed there by order of General Washington, in recognition of her services in various battles. Molly’s maiden name, says a writer in the Utica Globe, was Mary Ludwig. She was a stout, freckle-faced, red-haired Irish girl. After her marriage to Larry O’Flarharty her husband went to the front as an artilleryman and Molly remained at home. She didn’t stay separated from her husband long, however. On a Monday morning, after she had hung up her weekly washing and gone into a field near the house to pick blackberries, a horseman rode up and told her she must join her husband. Without a word Molly picked her still wet clothes from the line, rolled them up in a bundle, jumped upon the horse behind the man, and rode away. She attached herself to the command in which Larry served. She made herself useful by carrying water to the soldiers in a huge pitcher. This is the way she got her peculiar name. * Molly distinguished herself by her reckless bravery. She had a thorough

contempt for cowards and a mighty sharp tongue. Larry lacked courage, and, consequently, he came in for constant abuse. But he was of a philosophical turn of mind and he accepted his matrimonial fate without paying any attention to his wife's sharp thrusts. Not so with the raw recuits of the command, however. The woman had a wonderful effect upon them. There wasn’t one of them who wouldn’t rather march right up to a cannon’s mouth than receive a scornful glance from her. Because of her powerful influence over the men she became a privileged character. She adopted a semi-regimental dress. It consisted of a short blue skirt, the scarlet coat of an artilleryman and a cocked hat worn rakishly on one side. It was at the capture of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton. that Molly first ‘ distinguished herself in the service of her country sufficiently to cause her name to be written in revolutionary history. Larry was manning a cannon in the' latter fort in a puerile sort of a way. Molly hovered about him and the' other fluttering spirits trying to prevent their remaining courage from oozing out. Word was passed that the terrible Hessians were advancing in vast numbers, almost to the demoralization of the garrison. If it hadn't been for Molly disaster would have swept over the fort quickly. She raised everybody’s spirits by mounting the rampart and shouting: “Come on, Hessians or redcoats; we’ll trait ye all the same, and’ll put more bullets an’ balls into yees than ye’ll

loike for supper. ’’ The enemy advanced upon the two forts simultaneously. They were evidently of the opinion that the resistance would be light. They soon discovered their error, however. Terrific fires were poured into them from both forts,causing them to fall back with fewer numbers. Again and again “Back, ye spalpeen!” she cried; “fire the gun. ” She was addressing herself to the demoralized Larry, who was struggling in her grasp. He succeeding in freeing himself, and throwing down his portfire he cut and ran for it. “Devil a shtep will I rin till that gun’s fired," shouted Molly. Snatching up burning brand she touched off the labt cannon that was discharged in Fort Clinton in the very faces of the enemy who were pouring over the rampart. In the momentary confusion that this audacious display of nerve caused, Molly made her escape. At the Battle ot Monmouth* Nine months later the woman, then only 22 years old, was with Larry on the field of battle -once more. It was

Monmouth where the troops were massed this time. In that memorable battle Molly fairly outdid herself in displaying energy and enthusiasm. She flitted among the soldiers threatening, commanding, and cursing them as the they , advanced and again and again they were repulsed. The forces of the enemy were too much for the garrison, however, and it become apparent after a time that the forts would be taken. When all was confusion in Fort Clinton, when the gunners had deserted their guns and the enemy was about to pour over the rampart, the shrill vdice of Molly was heard above the uproar, occasion demanded. On the sunny morning in June that the battle was

fought Molly was carrying water, to the soldiers as usual, and occasionally making suggestions, which the officers tolerated from her as well. Shot and shell filled the air, mowing down row after row of soldiers. La'rry was distinguishing the battery to which he was connected by his effective fire. It held a commanding position in. full view of the enemy. The British gunners were trying their best to pick Larry down and finally succeeded. Molly was just returning from the spring with a pitcher of water. When within a few feet of her husband a fragment of a cannon ball found a mark in Larry, killing him instantly just as he was in the act of discharging the field piece. Mollie saw her husband fall. She dropped her pail, and with wild shrieks and groans threw herself upon his mangled remains. It was the first time Mollie had ever been seen to give away to grief, and the battery stopped firing temrorarily. There was no gunner to take faithful Larry’s place at the field piece, and the officer in charge of the battery ordered its withdrawal. When Mollie heard this order she sprang to her feet, panting to avenge the death of her husband. “No, yer honor!” she cried. “I’ll take Larry’s place, and it’ll do me sore heart good to send some o’ thim redcoats as killed him to the devil.” And with a wild Irish yell she grabbed up the portfire and discharged the piece. All that day, till the order came to retreat, Molly manned the gun, discharging u. as fast as she

could load it, her eyes lighted by a strange fire of anger her red hair dishevelled and flying. When the battery was finally forced to cut and run Molly refused to abandon the body of hter husband. Lifting it up she tied it bn the gun and dashed along beside it, the troops cheering her on all sides. The story ol Molly’s action spread like wildfire through the camp. On the following morning, all covered with dirt and blood, Gen. Greene presented her to Gen. Washington, who conferred the rank of a sergeant upon her. Molly remained with the army some time after the battle which made her a widow, but she was never the same again. She was an object of special admiration from the French officers. They never tired of hearing the wonderful stories of the daring exploits of the dashing Iqjsh vivandiere. When she passed along the French lines occasionally, soliciting alms, she was greeted with volleys of “Bravo, madam!” while the crowns fairly rained into her hat. After Larry’s death Molly grew morose and sullen, and soon retired from the army. Before leaving, however, she received the distinction of captain by brevet, and on the recommendation of Gen. Washington her name was placed on the half-pay list for life. She went to West Point to live, being under the personal charge of the commandant there. She lived with various families thereabouts, the commissary at the post paying her board, while supplies of various kinds were sent to her direct from the Secretary of War at Washington. Capt. Molly associated exclusively with the soldiery, spending her days and evenings in the garrison, drinking and smoking and swearing with the best of them. Toward th* close her life became far from well ordered. As the result of her riotous living she died in 1789.

TOLD TO JOIN HER HUSBAND.

MOLLY MANS THE GUN.