In order to support the revolutionary cause, women learned to play on the expectations of colonial gender roles. They often thwarted or the surprised enemy because women were not expected to participate in the conflict. Women were usually viewed as passive spoils of war. The enemy was often blinded to the covert activities of these women because they made assumptions about women’s behavior.
Over the course of the war, teenage girls and middle-aged matrons left behind their household chores and ventured behind enemy lines, risked capture and arrest, and stood up to armed soldiers who entered their homes and shops . . . young girls chew and swallow documents rather than have them discovered by the enemy; middle-aged women listen at keyholes to spy on military plannings sessions; and old women serve liquor to soldiers and rob them of their guns" (Berkin, 136). |
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Below, you will find several unique examples of colonial women and girls who demonstrated through their actions that they were willing to give all that they had for their country. Choose at least two examples that stand out to you and notate the actions they took. Additionally, can you determine from the context if their actions were more to protect their families or their country?
Soldiers
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Mrs. David Wright's Guard
Prudence Cummings Wright was an ardent Patriot who lived with her husband, David Wright, in a town not far from the first battle of Lexington and Concord. Prudence was visiting at the home of her parents on April 19, 1775, when she overheard her Tory brother, Samuel Cummings, discussing plans with a fellow Loyalist about getting a message to the British about a stash of gunpowder hidden by the Patriots.
She refused to stand by idly; she rushed back to her home in Pepperell, Massachusetts and gathered a group of 30 to 40 women of the town. However, because the men had been previously mustered to fight and having taken all available weaponry, Mrs. Wright's guard of women gathered available farm implements, dressed in their husband's clothes, and determined they would stop the men at Jewett's Bridge. |
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There the guard waited in the darkness for the horsemen to approach. As Samuel and his partner neared, Prudence and her female militia, moved in front of the horses with a bright lantern and demanded to know what their business was. Samuel knew the depth of his sister's loyalty to the Patriot cause and immediately turned about his horse. His partner, on the other hand, couldn't fathom that a group of women would stop his errand. Much to his surprise, the Patriot guard yanked him and Samuel from their horses and searched for secret messages hidden within their clothing. Once found, the victorious women hauled the Loyalist to a local tavern after which the men were turned over to a local Committee of Safety.
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Betsy Zane
Betsy Zane Running Back to Fort with Supplies
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At a small frontier outpost known as Fort Henry, a small group of Patriots found themselves outnumbered by British soldiers and Native allies surrounding the fort. As the fighting ensued, the Patriots were running dangerously low on ammunition.
There were fresh supplies in a cabin about 60 yards from one corner of the fort. Although very tempting, no one would dare cross the deadly open space to retrieve it. To the amazement of British and Indian soldiers alike, the gates of the fort swung open around noontime and a young girl ran toward the cabin. A few moments later, she re-emerged, carrying a large bundle wrapped in her apron. When they realized that gunpowerder was inside that bundle, the Indians opened fire. With lightning speed, the girl reached the gate--and dispappeared from view" (Berkin, 146). Take note, it was the Indians that opened fire, not the British soldiers.
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Deborah Sampson
Deborah Sampson was an athletic young woman who decided it was her patriotic duty to serve with the Rebels in the Continental Army. She took on the name of Robert Shurtleff and was subsequently chosen to serve in a special unit reserved for the special circumstances that required high physical and mental stamina. Deborah labored for several years under the harshest of conditions with her fellow soldiers. She was held in high regard by her commanding officers as a soldier of valor and high moral standing.
The article below was printed in the New York Gazette, January 10, 1774:
An extraordinary instance of virtue in a female soldier, has occurred lately in the American army, in the Massachusetts line viz, a lively comely young nymph, 19 years old, dressed in man's apparal has been discovered; and what redounds to her honor, she has served in the character of a soldier for near three years undiscovered; during which time she displayed herself with activity, alertness, chastity and valour, having been in several skirmishes with the enemy, and receiving two wounds; a small shot remaining in her to this day; she was a remarkably vigilant soldier on her post, and always gained the admiration and applause of her officers; was never found in liquor, and always kept company with the most upright and temperate soldiers. |
Deborah Sampson
The cause of her personating a man, it is said, proceeded from the rigour of her parents, who exercised their prerogative, to induce her marriage with a young man she had conceived a great antipathy for, together with her being a remarkable heroine, and being warmly attached to her country, in the service of which, it must be acknowledged, she gained reputation; and no doubt will be noticed by the compilers of the history of our grand revolution. She passed by the name of Robert Shurtlieff, while in the army, and was borne on the rolls of the regiment as such: For particular reasons, her real name is withheld, but the facts aforementioned are unquestionable and unembellished" (Young, 4). |
Messengers
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Deborah Champion's Cloak, Worn the Night She Took the Message to Gen. Washington
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Deborah Champion
In 1775, Deborah Champion, happened to be at home when her father, Colonel Henry Champion, received an important dispatch from an exhausted rider. The message needed to be taken to General Washington a good distance away.
Her father decided she would be the one to carry the important communiqué. Before dawn, Deborah and her family servant Aristarchus were on their way with the dispatch hidden under food in the saddlebags. Soon, the hooded girl and her servant were stopped by a sentry and nearly taken to his commander: Deborah, thinking quickly, warned him that it was too early to disturb the sleep of his superior. The young redcoat hesitated, uncertain what to do. He looked again at his captive, whose hair and face were shrouded by a large hood. In the dim light, she seemed to be no more than an old woman, traveling with an old servant, no doubt on her way as she claimed to visit an ailing friend nearby. No need to bother the sleeping officer. Released, Deborah and Aristarchus rode on to Boston and delivered the papers into the hands of George Washington. The general, Deborah later reported to a friend, "was pleased to compliment me most highly as to what he was pleased to call the courage I had displayed and my patriotism" (Berkin, 137). |
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Sybil Ludington
Sybil Ludington, 16-year old daughter of Colonel Henry Ludington, rode along the muddy roads in Putnam County, New York. As she sped through the county, she only stopped long enough to awaken the Patriot militia needed to defend Danbury, Connecticut.
Because of her, the Putnam militia played a critical role in the Danbury battle. Although Governor William Tryon and his redcoats managed to destroy the arms depot at Danbury, the Ludington troops helped Generals Benedict Arnold and David Wooster drive the British from the town" (Berkin, 139). |
Sybil Ludington Statue in Carmel, New York
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Emily Geiger
Emily Geiger Delivering Message to General Sumter
Riding sidesaddle, Emily Geiger set off on the pretense of visiting her uncle several miles away. She stopped that evening at a farmhouse, where she was given supper and a room. Before she retired, she realized that her hosts were loyalists. In the middle of the night, she heard a rider . . . As Emily feared, the farmer revealed her presence. Confident that he could get a good night's sleep before taking Emily prisoner, the loyalist soldier settled in for the night. Emily saw her chance: she slipped out an open window saddled her horse, and rode on through the night. Her luck ran out the next evening when she was intercepted by a British scouting party . . . |
Amid a retreat from the Redcoats in a section of the country filled with Loyalists, General Nathanael Greene, desperately needed to get a message to General Thomas Sumter to get support in turning the attack around.
There were no men in the area that would escape notice of the Loyalists. In response, Emily Geiger volunteered to carry the message to Sumter. Greene gave her the message in both written and verbal form so that if she needed to, she could destroy the written evidence. The men balked at performing the search of a young lady themselves. Instead they sent for a loyalist matron. Emily took advantage of the delay: she tore Greene's letter into small pieces and ate them, one by one.The search revealed nothing. The scouts' commanding officer apologized and, to make amends, provided Emily with an escort to her uncle's home. From there, Emily made her way to Sumter's camp, delivered the message verbally, and had the satisfaction of seeing Sumter's men immediately head north to join General Greene at Orangeburgh" (Berkin, 145). |
Spies
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Lydia Darragh
Lydia Darragh was a Quaker woman who lived with her husband in Philadelphia during Sir William Howe's occupation. While in Philadelphia, Howe and his officers found lodging in the houses of the residents of the city. As the British expanded their occupation, the Darraghs were notified that they, too, would need to vacate their home to make room for the soldiers. Lydia begged them to let her stay because they had two young children and nowhere to go. They finally came to a compromise; Lydia and her family could stay in their home, but upon notification, they were to immediately ready the home for military staff meetings.
On one fateful night, the notification came. Lydia's family were ordered to provide candles and then retire early to their bedroom until an officer knocked on the door to notify the couple that the meeting was over. She did as instructed. However, she knew that something important was about to be discussed and made plans to find out what Howe was planning. It was obvious that something important was on the agenda--and, overcome with a 'presentment of evil,' Lydia decided to find out what it was . . . When the British assembled, Lydia slipped silently down the stairs to the meeting room door and put her ear to the keyhole. Listening intently, she was able to overhear Howe and his officers. What she heard confirmed her worst fears; the British were planning and attack against Washington's camp on December 4" (Berkin, 140). |
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After hearing about a potential British attack on the colonial army, Lydia hurried back to her bed and pretended to be soundly asleep--so much so that it took several knocks on the door before she opened the door, feigning a drowsy manner. After the officer informed her that they were finished for the evening, she lay down and began to formulate a plan as to how to get the message to General Washington.
Lydia believed she had to come up with just the right ruse . . . Lydia Darragh went to Howe's headquarters and requested a pass to go to the village of Frankford to purchase flour. The officer in charge saw a middle-aged matron, carrying an empty flour sack, anxious to provide bread for her family's table. What he did not see was a clever spy with top secret information hidden away within the folds of her dress. Permit in hand, Lydia set out on foot through the snow, to deliver the news of the impending attack. When the British made their move on the Continental troops at Whitemarsh the following day, they found Washington and his men ready, armed, and waiting" (Berkin, 141).
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Ann Bates - Loyalist
Ann Bates
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Women, in many instances, were perfect spies for the military because few believed they had the capacity to understand military strategy or weaponry and were therefore unable to send viable intelligence to the opposing military. Yet, Ann Bates was a perfect example of how much women could be underestimated.
Ann was a schoolteacher-turned-spy for the Loyalists. Her husband repaired guns and cannons for the military and she, therefore, knew a great deal about them. Ann posed as a peddler among the Americans, and although arrested and subsequently released, she rode freely through the camps while counting weaponry, men, and supplies. In fact, she was able to infiltrate General Washington's encampment and, after several days of wandering about, prepared her valuable account to give to the Loyalist Clinton spy network. Her information gave enough intelligence for Clinton to move men to Rhode Island and force the Americans to retreat. I had the Opportunity of going through their whole Army Remarking at the same time the strengths & Situation of each Brigade, & Number of Canon with their Situation and Weight of Ball each Cannon was Charged with" (Bates, 1778) |
The letter below was written by British Major Drummond to the Clinton spy network. Translate what you think the letter says in modern terminology.
That a woman whom Craig has trusted often - came to town last night. She is well acquainted with many of the R. A. 2 particular known to Chabmers one who C.B. transacted a great deal of business with. it is proposed to send her out under the Idea of selling little Matters in the R.C. she will converse with Chambers: I will return whenever she may have learned any thing that shall be desired to be known" (Drummond, 1778). 
Sir Henry Clinton
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Loyalist Leader Major Drummond Letter to Clinton's Spy Network Concerning the Spying of Ann Bates
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Miss Jenny
Not much is known about a British spy named Miss Jenny. This is perhaps due to her effectiveness as a spy. Her only activities are known because of a letter from Baron Ottendorf about her activities.
Miss Jenny entered a French encampment under the guise of looking for her father who had left for France from Canada six years ago. She was able to gain important information about the movement of the French General Rochambeau and his troops who were planning to meet with General Washington and subsequently advance on British General Clinton in New York.
Miss Jenny, however, was taken in for questioning by suspicious French soldiers and when they were unable to gain any information from her, they sent her to General Washington's encampment where she was held for two additional days. She bravely withstood severe questioning and continued to stand by her story; unable to gain any usable information, Washington sent her back to the French. They decided that although they could not get her to confess, that they would cut her hair short as a way to shame her.
Despite her ordeal, she returned to provide Baron Ottendorf with valuable information about the Continental Army. Based on the intelligence she provided, General Clinton made the decision to maintain his troops where they were. Unfortunately for the British, and unbeknownst to her, additional French reinforcements were advancing which then resulted in the victory for the Americans at Yorktown.
Miss Jenny entered a French encampment under the guise of looking for her father who had left for France from Canada six years ago. She was able to gain important information about the movement of the French General Rochambeau and his troops who were planning to meet with General Washington and subsequently advance on British General Clinton in New York.
Miss Jenny, however, was taken in for questioning by suspicious French soldiers and when they were unable to gain any information from her, they sent her to General Washington's encampment where she was held for two additional days. She bravely withstood severe questioning and continued to stand by her story; unable to gain any usable information, Washington sent her back to the French. They decided that although they could not get her to confess, that they would cut her hair short as a way to shame her.
Despite her ordeal, she returned to provide Baron Ottendorf with valuable information about the Continental Army. Based on the intelligence she provided, General Clinton made the decision to maintain his troops where they were. Unfortunately for the British, and unbeknownst to her, additional French reinforcements were advancing which then resulted in the victory for the Americans at Yorktown.
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The letters below are from Baron Ottendorf concerning Miss Jenny's spying activities:
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Translation of the first page of the letter to left provided by Clements Library :
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Page 3 of Ottendorf Letter, 1781
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Deposition of Miss Jenny after returning from the French camp |
For entire translation of full letter through the courtesy of the Clements Library, download the PDF below:
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Saboteurs
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Mammy Kate
Mammy Kate's story is both incredible and unique. Mammy Kate was a slave owned by Stephen Heard. In Georgia in 1779, the diminutive Stephen Heard was captured and sent to Fort Cornwallis with several other men. Mammy Kate, a tall and imposing woman, was determined to save Heard from certain execution. So, she formulated a plan. She obtained a large laundry basket and made her way to the fort. When she arrived, she offered her services as a laundress and eventually gained the trust and patronage of the soldiers inside. Eventually, she asked if she could offer to wash the prisoners' clothes; the soldiers agreed. For several weeks she retrieved and delivered laundry to Heard's cell, carrying his laundry in the large basket on her head. That is, until one day:
As dusk was falling, Mammy Kate entered the prison cell and exited with her basket, balanced on her head as usual. But no dirty laundry filled the basket that evening; curled up inside was the diminutive Stephen Heard. |
No known verifiable images of Mammy Kate exist. This is a likeness created to represent her.
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Jane Black Thomas
Marker at Thomas Home Where Jane Held Off the Loyalist Troops
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Jane Black Thomas's home was a secret cache for much needed Patriot weaponry. Her husband, Colonel Thomas, who was miles away, had left only a few soldiers behind to protect their supplies. When the Jane and the soldiers learned of an encroaching group of 150 Loyalists, the Patriots hurriedly gathered as many of the military supplies as they could and left to try to hide it in an alternative location. This left Jane, Josiah Culbertson (her son-in-law), a young son, and three young daughters to protect the rest of the stash as well as her family and home.
This small family decided on an ingenious defensive plan: Josiah set up rifle slots all around the house; Jane and her children formed a bullet brigade, feeding bullets to Josiah at each rifle station. The ruse worked for a while, for the loyalists believed the house was filled with soldiers. But when the enemy finally decided to charge the house, Jane sprang into action. Brandishing a sword in her hands, she stood in front of her home, daring her attackers to enter. Stunned, and apparently intimidated by the threat of violence from a middle-aged matron, the loyalists withdrew. The ammunition saved by her exploits was later used by General Thomas Sumter at the battle of Hanging Rock" (Berking, 143). |
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Rebecca Motte
Another good example of women sacrificing their homes is that of Rebecca Motte. Her home had been seized in 1781 by the British who then added a stockade around her home and renamed the dwelling Fort Motte. The Patriots, after having found out reinforcements were on their way, decided they had no choice but to burn down the house using flaming arrows shot from nearby trenches. After the soldiers reluctantly spelled out their plan, Rebecca gave them a bundle of arrows and proceeded to calmly watch as her precious home was destroyed by the fire. Consequently, the "British garrison of 184 surrendered after resisting for seven days" (South Carolina Humanities, 2018).
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Rebecca Motte
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Original painting by Mort Künstler, The Capture of Fort Motte