A Courageous Aid

   Brave and compassionate, Molly Pitcher carried water to parched soldiers during the battle of Monmouth and coolly took command of a cannon after her husband’s death. The Americans and the British had been fighting the Revolutionary War. A battle had begun at Monmouth. The wounded and thirsty men desperately needed water. Molly Pitcher, the wife of one of the gunners, noticed the dehydrated soldiers. She jogged over to one of the determined soldiers that was still shooting. “Continue with the fighting! I’ll go and fetch some water from the creek!” she yelled above the roar of the battle. Taking the man’s canteen, she darted off and filled it with water.  Calmly, she refilled it and let another soldier drink. While her husband was ramming the ball and powder into the cannon, a shot struck him and he crumpled to the ground. Forsaking the canteen, Molly bolted to her husband with a muffled cry. Because of her grief, she sat heavily on the ground. An officer galloped up on his horse. He pulled it to a stop. “Take this cannon,” he ordered.  “There is no one to serve it now.”  Despite her grief, Molly sprang up like a jack in the box. “No. I’ll shoot it in memory of my husband.” Molly shoved cannon balls and powder into the weapon. She lit it and sent a fiery ball into the ranks of the British. She stood her post for the entire battle. When the fighting ceased, Washington bestowed on her an officer’s commission and a gold tassel for her dress. By carrying water to thirsty soldiers and manning her husband’s cannon after his death, intrepid Molly Pitcher greatly aided the American cause during the Revolutionary War.