“History raves about the heroics of men in war...but few instances are mentioned in which female courage was displayed. Yet during every conflict, and the peaceful years between, they too were there.” Why do we not hear about the important woman during the revolutionary war? They were present in many situations bu but it seems to be that they were in hiding most of the time. Were they scared?
Deborah Samson, the most known woman soldier during the revolution couldn’t even go out onto the battle grounds as a woman. In October of 1778 she disguised herself as a male and fought in the war for three years. Finally after a she had gotten a brain fever the doctor discovered that she was not a male. The doctor sent her to the president Washington with a letter describing the situation and ended up sending her home with money and a way to start her life as a regular woman again. She then got married and was invited back to president Washington’s home many times. She became a hero and was thanked many times throughout her life. Deborah was not the only brave lady during the revolution a few of other woman were behind the scenes. A few other woman that fought during the war include, Ann Bailey, Elizabeth Gilmore, and Margaret Corbin. It is estimated that about 400 woman disguised themselves as men so they were able to fight too.
Take Esther Reed for example. She started the Philadelphia Association, the largest association created by woman during the revolutionary war. The foundation tried to raise money for the soldiers and give it to them to buy warmer clothes during the winter but the president opposed this so instead they sowed warm wool shirts for the men.
Catherin Moore Barry who was also a very behind the scenes woman, knew every inch of land of Cowpens. When a General asked her to tell him about the land where a battle would take place she mapped it out knowing every hiding place and secret trail. Because of her knowledge of the land, the US army won the battle that made the British surrender one last time. Grace and Rachel Martin were also among the outstanding woman fighting for their country. These woman for upset about the way that the British were treating the Colonial woman so they decided they needed to take a stand. They found out that British men would be riding by their houses one night to deliver important messages to a camp. The woman decided to dress up as young men and make the British give up the message. The British, being nervous of being shot they gave up the messages right away. Without any violence these woman saved the day.
How about our minutewoman in America? We always here about our minutemen like Paul Revere and William Dawes but how come our woman that did the same type of thing are not mentioned? Take Prudence Wright for example, Prudence gathered the woman of her home town Groton, Massachusetts so that they could protect the bridge leading into town from the British. They hid dressed in their husbands clothing and carrying any weapon they could get a hold of. As a British soldier road by they snatched his message so that it could not be delivered.
War changes the lives of woman all the time. They are left behind while their brothers, husbands, fathers, and sons fight for a war that death is a very high possibility. What are they to do when their loved ones are fighting a war for the country that they live in and for the safety of the woman. I think that these woman do what they do so that they can feel helpful. If the US army would have let them fight in the war there would have still been ladies doing kind hearted things. Why were they not to fight in the army? Was it because they weren’t strong enough? Manly enough? I think that the roles in woman in our world are very very interesting. There are plenty of woman in this world that can make a difference. Who are the little girls in our world right now going to look up to? It could most deffinenty be one of these women that made an impact or took a stand during the revolution, but without knowing about them how are we supposed to look up to them? I don’t believe that these woman want be in hiding. They want people to know how strong they were and that not only males can work in special forces.
