Following is a guest post by Elizabeth Rosenacker, President of the Harrison Symmes Memorial Foundation. Greater Harrison Chamber members are invited to share their expertise. Contact the Chamber to learn more.
Patriots come in all shapes and sizes. Some patriots are little known but have made
great impacts on their communities and saved many lives. These are a few of the
women patriots who are remembered in their hometowns as heroes and now perhaps
be remembered by you.
Mary Ludwig Hayes (Molly Pitcher)
Mary Ludwig Hayes enlisted to serve in the Pennsylvania Artillery alongside her
husband. She was described as a “twenty-two-year-old illiterate pregnant woman who
smoked and chewed tobacco and swore as well as any of the male soldiers.” She was
given the nickname “Molly Pitcher” by the Soldiers she served with. Molly was a
common nickname for Mary and “pitcher” referred to the water jugs she was often seen
carrying through camp to do laundry. During the long, hot Battle of Monmouth, soldiers
began dying of dehydration. Realizing this, Hayes ran back and forth onto the battlefield
to bring them water. She continued in her mission until her husband was wounded.
That’s when she took up his place at the cannon and began firing, solidifying her legacy
as an American hero. She is buried in the Old Public Graveyard, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Nancy Hart
Nancy Hart was an imposing woman. She was a fearless 6-foot tall, muscular, red-
headed frontierswoman in the Georgia backcountry. Nancy’s abilities as an herbalist,
hunter, and markswoman proved imperative to protecting her family and community
during the war. The local Cherokee called her “Wahatche” or “War Woman” and Nancy
certainly lived up to this nickname. While her husband was away fighting with the
Georgia militia, Nancy would disguise herself as a “crazy man” and wander through
British camps gathering intel for the Patriots. But that’s not all. According to legend, she
also directly bested redcoats in battle and captured others which she handed over to the
Continental Army. According to legend, 6 British soldiers entered the Hart home
questioned Nancy about spying and then demanded she feed them. While confronting
them, Nancy and her 12-year-old daughter, shot one dead, wounded another and took
the others prisoner. She sent her daughter Sukey, to the neighbors to decide what to do
with them, they hanged them. Now everyone thought it was just a local legend BUT in
1912 the railroad was excavating an unearthed 6 skeletons near the Hart property. Well,
something happened! The state of Georgia has memorialized Nancy Hart in several
ways, by naming one of the state’s counties, a state park, a lake, and a highway in her
honor.
Sybil Ludington
Two years after his famous ride, A female “Paul Revere”, by the name of Sybil
Luddigton rode her horse in the driving rain throughout the night, approximately 40
miles, to rally American militia to fight. British Soldiers had raided and destroyed the
town of Danbury, Connecticut and were making their way to Ridgefield. Sybil’s warning
was successful and the patriots pushed the Red Coats back to Long Island Sound while
saving the town of Ridgefield. On the banks of Lake Glenida in Carmel, NY stands of
statue honoring the heroic bravery of Sybil Luddington astride her horse, Star.
Laodicea “Dicey” Langston
She was a small, brown hair teenager of 15 when she overheard a group of Loyalist,
“Bloody Scouts” were preparing to attack the Elder settlement where her brother and his
troops were camping. She traveled through the night 5 miles on foot, crossed a raging
river, was swept downstream and nearly drowned. Once her strength returned, she
continued on to inform her brother. When the Loyalist arrived, the Elder settlement had
evacuated saving the lives of many soldiers. Dicey had returned home the same way,
making it back in time to make breakfast and before her family knew she had been
gone. She had other heroic deeds during the war. Shielding her father from being shot
by the Bloody Loyalist, by using her body to shield him and refusing to give up
information to them and out running the Loyalist to avoid capture, just to name a few.
Dicey lived to be 71 years old and had 22 children! A statue of Dicey Langston is in
Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
“Courage and patriotism show each of us that one person – no matter their age – can make a difference. One person can change the world for the better and affect lives for centuries to come.”
“Courage and patriotism show each of us that one person – no matter their age – can make a difference. One person can change the world for the better and affect lives for centuries to come.” This quote is often used by the historians who honor Dicey Langston’s legacy when referring to her bravery in stories like The Patriot Wore Petticoats. However, I think it’s a
quote we can use for all the men and women who served and are still serving our country today.
More from the America250 Series:
About Elizabeth Rosenacker and Harrison Symmes Memorial Foundation
Elizabeth (Liz) Rosenacker is President of the Harrison Symmes Memorial Foundation. The Board is contracted by the Ohio History Connection to manage the President William Henry Harrison Tomb and Congress Green Pioneer Cemetery. The Harrison Symmes Memorial Foundation also has a museum dedicated to President Harrison, John Cleves Symmes and the history of Miami Township. The Foundation educates the public through programs and tours of the tomb and museum and lectures at schools and community events.
Liz has been married to her high school sweetheart, Frank, for 53 years. They have three children, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She’s been a westsider her entire life. Liz belongs to the Governor Othniel Looker Chapter, NSDAR, The Greater Harrison Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers at Mercy West Hospital. She has ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, Civil War, WWI, WWII and recent conflicts. Liz has always been interested in history. After all, being born on July 4th she bleeds Red…White and Blue.