Female Heroes of the American Revolution: Molly Pitcher

Because her story has been told and retold throughout American history, the facts concerning her real name are blurred. It's not clear whether her real name was Mary Hays McCauley or Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley. The name doesn't really matter though. Because of her courageous acts during the American Revolution, she earned the nickname "Molly Pitcher", and that name followed her to the end of her days on earth.

Mary was born on October 13, 1754. As the Irish girl grew up into womanhood, she never learned to read or write. But that didn't slow down this spirited, rough speaking woman. Though she wasn't a beautiful woman, Mary was a short, stout, hard worker, and she later married a man named William Hays.

Now, let's fast forward Mary's life to the year of 1778. Her husband, William, was a soldier in the First Pennsylvania Artillery fighting in the American Revolution; his rank was a Private. Not one to be left home where life was safer and relatively serene, Mary decided to accompany her husband into war. So she was right beside him as he fought valiantly fought at the Battle of Monmouth, though the bullets were flying heavily, blood was being spilled all around them, and the heat was oppressive. On the 28th day of June of that year, the temperature was said to have reached a hundred degrees. The day was so hot that the cannons had to be cooled down periodically with water. Not to mention that the soldiers' throats were parched and full of dust.

Mary saw her need that day, so she started to carry pitcher after endless pitcher of cool, fresh water to relieve the soldiers' thirst. The wounded soldiers began to call out "Molly Pitcher" as a way to let her know they needed water. And thus, her nickname was born.

Mary not only carried water, but she also nursed the wounded soldiers and even was said to have carried at least one wounded soldier off the battlefield and out of the range of the attacking British.