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Archiver > QUEBEC-RESEARCH > 2004-04 > 1081722958
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Subject: Excerpt Of History
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 18:35:58 EDT
"All 18th century armies had camp duties that were regularly assigned to
women. Camp followers also had a role to play during battle. They were the
primary medics, carrying water and tending the wounded. Their memory survives under
the generic name of Molly Pitcher. The original Molly Pitcher is usually
identified as either Margaret Corbin and Mary Hays. Those women were typical of
others who, in the heat of battle, naturally moved from carrying water, which
was needed to swab out the canon after each firing, to carrying powder and shot
and from that to loading and firing muskets or field pieces.Eighteenth century
women were used to handling weapons, and when they saw a job that needed
doing, they did not wait for a mans help, they did it themselves."
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