Remembering Captain Molly On Independence Day

Really, the women’s studies courses could do something worthwhile and actually study some revolutionary women, like Molly Corbin. “In 1776, Corbin was 24 years old and following her husband’s military unit, likely cooking and cleaning for the soldiers,” according to The Army Times. “She took an artillery position after her husband was killed during the Battle of Fort Washington in Manhattan and was hit by grapeshot.”

“She was left with a grievous shoulder wound.” Yet and still, in those days allegedly rampant chauvinism, the patriarchy made some effort to look after Captain Molly.

“Corbin traveled upriver to West Point with the ‘corps of invalids’ and spent the latter part of her life as a boarder,” according to The Army Times. “Military officials fretted about finding living arrangements for someone described as infirm and troublesome.”

“She became the first woman to earn a pension from the military, which also supplied her with old uniform items to wear. The uniforms apparently earned her the ‘Captain Molly’ nickname. Corbin died in 1800 at the age of 48 and was buried in a modest grave, likely near West Point.”

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