Revolutionary War

Molly Pitcher

The female figure in the photo is a representation of the famous Molly Pitcher. She represents the thousands of women camp followers who traveled with their husbands/fathers in Washington's army. They rendered valuable service: nursing, cooking, sewing, cleaning and repairing equipment and uniforms. There were two famous Molly Pitchers who were members of Proctor's 4th Continental Artillery battalion (today's PA Army National Guard).

The first was Margaret Corbin. She traveled with her artilleryman husband in the NY campaign in the fall of 1776. She and others like her earned the name "Molly Pitcher'' since they ran to supply water (in pitchers and buckets) to the gun crews to keep both the troops hydrated and the cannon from overheating and firing prematurely. Her husband John was killed next to her defending Fort Washington on the Hudson River. She picked up the artillery ramrod and worked with the gun crew loading and firing until the position was overrun and she was severely wounded. She was paroled the next day, received a pension for her bravery from the PA legislature in 1779 and later the US Government. The first woman combatant to receive one.