On the Homefront

While a few women actually entered battle, most stayed home to take over the work of the farm and raise the children. As battles came closer to cities and towns, more women were forced to stand up to Loyalists and protect their family. One such case was Jane Thomas. A large group of Loyalists tried to attack her home in South Carolina. They were halted by many successive volleys of gunfire. They thought that because the gunfire came so quickly, soldiers must be ensconced throughtout the house. The Loyalists retreated without further aggression. But no soldiers were there; only a mother and her children, each holding a gun and primed to shoot again.  Another such occasion happened to Nancy Hart, who was forced to cook for a group of soldiers that invaded her home. She served dinner and an ample amount of whiskey until they were drunk. She then stole one of their rifles, killed one of them, and sent her daughter off to get help from the Americans nearby.  From the homefront to the battlefield, women showed courage and true heart in support of their family and country.