SERGEANT MOLLY PITCHER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 17, 15 August 1884, Page 21

SERGEANT MOLLY PITCHER.

The 106 th anniversary of the battle of Monmouth Court House will be celebrated, on the 28th June, by the unveiling of a monument on the battle-field and suitable commemorative exercises. The battle has an exceptional interest, both because it was the famous occasion on which Washington forgot his austere dignity enough to swear roundly at the traitor or blunderer, history is hardly certain which, General Charles Lee, and because of the gallant episode which made " Molly Pitcher " the heroine of the Revolution. Sir Henry Clinton, obeying imperative orders, had evacuated Philadelphia, aud was crossing New Jersey in order to embark on the Raritaoj when Washington broke camp at Valley Forge and started in pursuit. Lee, an Englishman, who had resigned his position in the British Army ia a fit of pique, had attained by good service in the patriot ranks the highest position next to that of Washington himself. The evidence is pretty strong, however, that during a temporary captivity ia the British camp he formed plans for betraying the patriot cause. On his exchange Washington, ignorant of this fact, retained him in his command and even gave him charge of the advance at Monmouth, which had been previously given to Lafayette. By Washington's direction, he attacked the enemy's rear, but soon ordered a retreat without notifying the commander-in-chief. Washington's first- intimation of the disaster was when he mat the disordered mass of fugitives on the road. He promptly re-formed them, after freeing his mind, in language more vigorous than polite, to their unworthy leader; and presently brought up the main army to turn the tide of battle. During the prolonged engagement which followed, Molly Pitcher displayed her courage and patriotism. She was a young Irishwoman, of twenty-two, the wife of a canonier under " Mad Anthony " Wayne. A British shot killed her husband, and, as nobody was competent to take his place, the captain of the battery ordered the piece away. Just then, Molly, who had been carrying water to the hot and weary .artillery men from a spring near by, came on the scene. She saw her husband dead at his post, and heard the order for the removal of the gun. Dropping her pail of water, she sprang to the dead man's side, and seizing the rammer from his cold hand, volunteered to serve the gun in his place. Her offer was accepted, and the piece was not silent again while the battle lasted. General Greene led the heroine into the presence of Washington next morning, while the powder and grime of battle were yet on her young brave face ; and the great General, with his noble courtesy, thanked the heroine, and then and there commissioned her •' Sergeant Molly Pitcher," of the Continental Army. Be sure it was a striking scene, and one that did not lose its dramatic ' effect on the chivalrous Frenchmen who witnessed it, as well as the brave veterans of Valley Forge. The incident reveals Washington in a gracious and tender light, as the human, emotional gentleman he doubtless was in real life. Sergeant Molly wa9 placed in the retired list of the army with half pay for life. The step-son of Washington, Colonel Custis, made a spirited painting of her exploit, and a bas-relief on the Monmouth monument will further commemorate it. The latter represents the heroine as 11 A beautiful young woman. She stands barefooted and bareheaded ia front of a cannon ramming a charge home. Her dead husband lies at her feet. The ponderous wheels of the gun, with oldfashioned iron bands holding the joints of the felloes, are well brought out. A bareheaded gunner stands close by, ball in hand. Opposite another gunner thumbs the vent, holding the flint-stock in his hand. The sponge-buckeb stands in place. An enemy's ball ploughs the grassy field. A battery-flag sticks in the sod, with the old freehold meeting house in the back-ground. Artillery -men approach beneath I its steeple. In the foreground General Knox rides away .flourishing his sword." ( The country does well thus to honour the Irish-American heroine of the Revolution,, the fit descendant of the women of Limerick whose valour England's redcoats had learned to respect long bsfore the day of Monmonth and Molly Pitcher. — Pilot.