Her name was Mary Hays McCauly, and, as many women did back then, she went to war beside her husband, William Hays, an artillery matross (gunner).
Mary spent her days tending the wounded and bringing water to the fighting men on the front lines of battle, an act that would earn her the nickname Molly Pitcher. It is said that on one occasion, she hoisted a wounded Continental soldier on her back and carried him to safety away from the advancing British redcoats. On June 28, 1778, at the battle of Monmouth, the temperatures soared, leaving both guns and men in dire need of water.
Mary raced back and forth with her pitchers of water, cooling the overheated guns and soothing the parched throats of the solders. On one of these trips, she saw her husband wounded. Mary grabbed the rammer staff from her husband and took up his duties. Despite the heavy enemy fire, she remained at her post.
General Washington gave her the rank of noncommissioned officer, and the men gave her the name of Sergeant Molly. Pennsylvania’s Assembly awarded her an annuity for her service and later a widow’s pension that was said to be more generous than most.
At Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a flagstaff and cannon mark her grave and a sculpture on the battle monument memorializes her for posterity.
*** Mary is sometimes confused with Margaret Corbin, who also fought beside her husband, carried water, and took over the firing of his cannon when he was killed in 1776 at Fort Washington.
Blessings,
Diva Elizabeth
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