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Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, edited by James Grant Wilson, John Fiske and Stanley L. Klos. Six volumes, New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1887-1889 and 1999. Virtualology.com warns that these 19th Century biographies contain errors and bias. We rely on volunteers to edit the historic biographies on a continual basis. If you would like to edit this biography please submit a rewritten biography in text form . If acceptable, the new biography will be published above the 19th Century Appleton's Cyclopedia Biography citing the volunteer editor
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Captain Molly
MOLLY, Captain, born about 1756; died near West Point, New York, about 1789. She was the wife of a cannonier, and was at ]Port Clinton when it was captured by the British in October, 1777. As the enemy sealed the parapet, her husband dropped his port-fire and fled, but Molly caught it up and discharged the last gun fired by the Americans on that occasion. She was also conspicuous at the battle of Monmouth, 28 June, 1778, where she carried water from a neighboring spring to her husband while he was serving a gun. A shot killed him at his post, and Molly seized the rammer and filled his place at the gun. After the battle, covered with dirt and blood, she was presented by General Nathanael Greene to Washington, who commended her bravery and made her a sergeant. On his recommendation, her name was placed upon the list of half-pay officers for life. She continued with the army, and after the war resided at Buttermilk Falls, New York Mrs. Alexander Hamilton describes her as "a stout, redhaired, freckle-faced young Irish woman, with a handsome, piercing eye." She was a favorite with the army, and generally wore an artilleryman's coat over her dress, and a cocked hat. She has been erroneously called Moll Pitcher.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM
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