“Patriotic Wednesday”
Deborah Sampson was one of the many women who disguised herself as a man, so she could serve in the Continental Army. She was 5’8”, which was taller than average.
She enlisted as “Robert Shurtleff” in the elite Light Infantry Company of the Massachusetts Regiment.
Deborah’s comrades teased her because she had a fair complexion and no facial hair. Ironically, they gave her the female nickname of “Molly.”
During one battle, Deborah was shot twice in the thighs and slashed by a sword across her forehead. She begged her fellow soldiers to let her die. Over her protests, they carried her to a doctor. She was afraid the doctor would discover she was a woman.
After the doctor treated her head wound, she snuck out of the clinic. She got a pocket knife and dug one of the musket balls out of her thigh. She then sewed the skin back together with sewing needle and thread. She tried to dig out the other musket ball, but it was too deep, and so she left it and sewed the wound closed. This is one brave, strong, and tough lady!
After the war, she married Mr. Gannett and they had three children. When her family struggled financially, she petitioned the government for a pension. The army denied it because she was a woman. Paul Revere lobbied on her behalf, and Governor John Hancock signed the bill granting her a pension with back pay and interest.
She was the second woman in American history to receive a military pension.
During her last years, Deborah gave lectures recounting her war experiences, and promoting gender equality. She also wore her uniform, and performed precise military drills.
During WWII, a war ship was named in her honor. (SS Deborah Gannett)
We must do more to make everyone, but especially our girls and young women, aware of the outstanding heroes and wonderful role models among the Founding Mothers.
(Sources: Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, by Cokie Roberts; American Ride series, BYUtv; “Margaret Corbin,” “Sybil Ludington,” “Mary Hays,” “Deborah Sampson,” Wikipedia; Personal talks and extensive reading on “The Founding Mothers.”)
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