Women In the Revolutionary War

Read the fresh annals of our land the gathering dust of time
Nor yet has fallen on the scroll to dim the tale sublime;
There woman's glory proudly shines, for willingly she gave
Her costliest offerings to uphold the generous and the brave
Who fought her country's battles well; and oft she perilled life
To save a father, brother, friend, In those dark years of strife.
Whatever strong-armed man hath wrought, whatever he hath won,
That goal hath woman also reached, that action hath she done."
Mary M. Chase

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of this nation there will be much talk of the great heroes involved in securing freedom for us as well as those who helped birth this nation. However, the talk will in large part be about men. I am not opposed to honoring the great men throughout our history that have been heroes and patriots but I do feel that the women should receive just as much recognition. I want to dedicate this post to the memory of all the female heroes of the Revolutionary War. Here are a few of them. NOTE: These excerpts were collected from various websites and were edited by myself, but they are not my writings or compilations.
DEBORAH SAMSON**
In October of 1778 Deborah Samson of Plympton, Massachusetts disguised herself as a young man and presented herself to the American army as a willing volunteer to oppose the common enemy. She enlisted for the whole term of the war as Robert Shirtliffe and served in the company of Captain Nathan Thayer of Medway, Massachusetts. For three years she served in various duties and was wounded twice - the first time by a sword cut on the side of the head and four months later she was shot through the shoulder. She was later awarded a pension for her service to her country.
Margaret Corbin : During the Revolutionary War many women would follow the men around, taking care of cooking and other needs. Margaret Corbin stayed by her husband when the British attacked Fort Washington in New York. She took over her husband's job as matross, the person who loaded the cannon, when the gunner was killed. In the heat of battle her husband was also killed. She was hit and left for dead. A passing doctor saved her life. Her wounds left her permanently disabled. For her bravery, "Captain Molly" became part of the Invalid Regiment. She was the first woman to receive a lifetime pension for the wounds she suffered in battle.
Nancy Hart: When British soldiers came to question her about helping out a Patriot soldier, she brazenly admitted to it. Forced to cook the British a meal, she killed two of them. No, not with her cooking, with their own muskets. Once, when information about British plans were needed, Nancy disguised herself as a crazy man. She went about the British camp gathering vital information for the Patriot cause. Nancy is honored in Georgia with a county named after her and her portrait is in the state capital.
Martha Bratton: Martha and her husband were entrusted with a precious commodity back then - gun powder. With her husband away, Martha was left in charge. Hearing that the British were planning to steal the gun powder, Martha set a trap, blowing up the building as the British soldiers arrived. She even admitted doing the dastardly deed when captured. She was let go, later questioned about her husband's whereabouts, and spared by a British officer from severe punishment. She repaid the debt, when the same officer was captured by Patriots and scheduled for hanging. Realizing the cruelty of war, Martha set up a hospital and nursed both British and American soldiers
Prudence Wright: With their men out looking for British soldiers, Prudence Wright gathered the women of Groton, Massachusetts. They would defend the bridge leading into town. Putting on their husbands clothes, they armed themselves with whatever they could get their hands on, some using pitchforks. They hid in the reeds until a British officer came by, given away by his horse's hooves on the bridge. The women removed the secret messages he was carrying, passing them on to the local Patriot Committee of Safety. Back home, the women laughed at the surprise of the British officer when he found out that he had been had by women.
Sybil Ludington rode through Connecticut on a chilly April night and yelled that the British were burning Danbury and warned soldiers to prepare for a raid. Thanks to her daring actions, the British were halted at Ridgefield, Connecticut on April 27, 1777 and were forced to retreat to Long Island Sound.
Of course any mention of women who aided in the War of American Independence would not be complete without a mention of Abigail Adams. It has been said that many of the ideas her husband espoused were taken directly from the letters she wrote him during the time this nation declared its independence from Britain. Here is a quote from her. "This intelligence will make a plain path for you, though a dangerous one. I could not join to-day in the petitions of our worthy pastor for a reconciliation between our no longer parent state, but tyrant and these Colonies. Let us separate: they are unworthy to be our brethren. Let us renounce them and instead of supplications, as formerly, for prosperity and happiness, let us beseech the almighty to blast their counsels, and to bring to nought all their devices."
There were many more women involved in every aspect of the war from fighting to nursing the sick to working from home to raise money and provide supplies for the troops. Without the aid of all these women, the War would not have been the success it was. So, as we remember the great men who helped found this nation, remember the women who also helped by inspiring these great men, fighting beside them, and working endlessly to ensure the independence of this new nation.