“Molly Pitcher”: Heroine of the American Revolution

Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley became famous as “Molly Pitcher” for her courageous actions during the American Revolutionary War.

Mary’s husband, John Hays, was a gunner stationed near Monmouth, New Jersey.  Mary helped him and the other hot, weary soldiers by carrying water to them as they worked, earning the nickname “Molly Pitcher“.

During the Battle of Monmouth, on June 28, 1778, Mary saw her husband wounded.

In response, she ran to his cannon and took over.  She kept up firing throughout the battle, a job that was quite heavy and difficult.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly eventually recognized her for her invaluable and immediate war assistance and granted her a small annuity for her “war work“.  She was voted an annuity for her “services” rather than as a veterans’ widow, implying that she had indeed seen action.

Mary was said to have “sworn like a trooper” and chewed tobacco.

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