Wonder Woman of the Week: Mary Ludwig Hays aka Molly Pitcher

With the United State's birthday (Independence Day) just around the corner, we thought it would be appropriate to talk about one of the most well-known female folk heroes of American history- Molly Pitcher. Born Margaret Ludwig, Molly Pitcher gained her nickname after her heroics at the Revolutionary War Battle of Monmouth where she transitioned from a role as a simple water carrier to a heat-of-the-moment role as an artillery service woman.

Margaret Hays was one of these camp followers, supporting soldiers on campaign during the American Revolution. During the Philadelphia Campaign, Hays and her husband marched with the Continental Army into the New Jersey Colony and encountered the British Army at the Battle of Monmouth during a particularly hot summer day. (See the video below for a computer-generated reenactment of the battle.)

The heat was so intense during the battle that camp followers like Margaret Ludwig Hays rushed across the battlefield to keep soldiers hydrated and canons from overheating. At one point during the battle, Hays tended to her heat-exhausted husband and found herself holding the ramrod (instrument used for cleaning canons between rounds) as part of the artillery crew. Both Hays and her husband survived the battle and Margaret's heroics in the heat of battle earned her the nickname that would be remembered far beyond her death. For her services to the Continental Army during the American Revolution, Margaret Ludwig received a soldier's pay after the war and a regular pension by the Pennsylvania Legislature until her death in 1832.

"Molly Pitcher Biography." Biography.com. A&E Television; nd. Web. 28 June 2017.