The Battle of Monmouth Heroine, Molly Pitcher

This memorial was dedicated "In honor of the battle of Monmouth Heroine, Molly Pitcher, June 28, 1778." It is located on the grounds of the Battle of Monmouth State Park, located in Manalapan, New Jersey and was dedicated at a park ceremony on October 28, 1978. The legend is that during the very hot Revolutionary War Battle of Monmouth in June of 1778, Mary Hayes "Molly Pitcher," was bringing water to the troops. Mary's husband, who was manning one of the cannons, was killed and Molly took over his duties. For the rest of the day, in the heat of the battle, Mary swabbed and loaded the cannon using her husband's ramrod. One story says that a British cannonball flew between her legs and tore of the bottom of her skirt, but she kept on loading the cannon. General George Washington, present at the battle, is said to have promoted her to sergeant the day after the battle. There have been many debates over the years as to what is true and what is legend, but in Monmouth County, New Jersey she is a real heroine and has even been depicted on a post card stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service.