Molly Pitcher in Turn: Washington’s Spies
I kinda consider myself an expert on Molly Pitcher. I did a report on her in third grade where I had to go on stage dressed as her, holding a pitcher and everything, and recite a speech about her life from memory. Since then, she’s always been my favorite woman from history and my role model. So, lemme tell you guys a little about what was going on in last night’s episode…
First some background! This is the real Molly Pitcher. Her actual name was Mary Ludwig Hays. During the winter of 1777, Mary Hays joined her husband at the Continental Army’s winter camp at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. She was one of a group of women, led by Martha Washington, known as camp followers, who would wash clothes and blankets, and care for sick and dying soldiers (x).
At the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, Mary Hays attended to the Revolutionary soldiers by giving them water. Just before the battle started, she found a spring to serve as her water supply. Mary Hays spent much of the early day carrying water to soldiers and artillerymen, often under heavy fire from British troops.The weather was hot, over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Sometime during the battle, William Hays, her husband, collapsed, either wounded or suffering from heat exhaustion. As her husband was carried off the battlefield, Mary Hays took his place at the cannon.
After the battle, General Washington asked about the woman whom he had seen loading a cannon on the battlefield. In commemoration of her courage, he issued Mary Hays a warrant as a non commissioned officer. Afterwards, she was known as “Sergeant Molly,” a nickname that she used for the rest of her life.
Following the end of the war, Mary Hays and her husband William returned to Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In late 1786, William Hays died. In 1793, Mary Hays married John McCauley, another Revolutionary War veteran. On February 21, 1822, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania awarded Mary McCauley an annual pension of $40 for her service. Mary died January 22, 1832, in Carlisle, at the approximate age of 78. She is buried in the Old Graveyard in Carlisle, under the name “Molly McCauley” and statue of “Molly Pitcher,” standing alongside a cannon, stands in the cemetery.
On a personal note, Molly has always been a role model to me, especially since I’ve wanted to join the Army. Besides the fact we have the same name, she also spent her life in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, which is where I was born. I’ve actually visited her grave before in my hometown. I’ve always felt a connection to her and admired her bravery. I hope I can make her proud one day when I’m an officer in the U.S. Army.
In Turn, you may have noticed that a soldier called Anna over to him by saying “Molly! Pitcher!” This is how the real Molly Pitcher got her nickname. The soldiers would call her over for water from her the pitcher she was carrying, and the nickname stuck. During every battle after Monmouth, the soldiers would call any woman to help by asking for Molly Pitcher, so that was every woman’s nickname on the battlefield from this point onward. I love that they added this to the show, because there were so many women, not just Molly, who risked their lives to help the Army, and I thought this was a nice homage to her.
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