History at the Table

On the Homefront

allyfife — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:57:34 +0000

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.

A Pensioned Soldier

allyfife — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:38:33 +0000

Margaret Cochran Corbin followed her soldier husband John into battle. Women often followed their husbands and provided their services as cooks as seemstresses to the army. Margaret, however, was in the heat of the battle. In November of 1776, at the age of 25, she and John were at Fort Washington, which was under attack by4,000 Hessian and British troops. John and another soldier were stationed at a cannon, one of only two the fort had. When the other man was killed, John immediately took over and his wife slipped in as assistant, firing the cannon while John loaded shot. But then John was hit and killed and Margaret was left with a decision and no time to mourn. She stepped in and continued firing the cannon until grape shot tore at her left shoulder, chest, and now useless jaw. Upon seeing her fall, other soldiers carried her to the rear and bandaged up her wounds. Though the British went on to win the battle, they allowed the soldiers to be ferried to Fort Lee, where Margaret was nursed. Her arm never fully recovered and she was left to get by with the use of only one arm. In 1779, the Continental Congress agreed to pay her a pension, which is an active soldier’s half-pay. It was the first time a woman was paid a pension and recognized for the service she rendered and the wounds inflicted. In 1926, the Daughters of the American Revolution wanted to awaken the memories of Margaret’s bravery in soldiering. They were able to exhume her body from a remote grave and transfer it to West Point, where she was laid to rest next to other soldiers at the Old Cadet Chapel, where she belonged.

Polly Cooper

allyfife — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:37:32 +0000

In the freezing winter of 1776, the Continental Army were trying to make it to Spring almost completely without food or clothing. Chief Shenedoah of the Oneida Indians knew of their plight and wanted to send an expedition out to bring them food. The Oneidas had just experienced a very bountiful harvest and had an excess of corn and other foods they could share. So he put together a group of 40 warriors and one woman to accompany them. Her name was Polly Cooper. They travelled through the cold and snow to deliver 600 baskets of corn to the starving army. Upon seeing the many needs of the army, Polly decided not to accompany the warriors back home. She stayed to help nurse the sick, teach others medicinal knowledge she had learned, and showed them how to make a soup from the corn that was more nutritous. She even carried water to those in battle. Eventually she became a cook for the General himself. For all these services she refused pay. One afternoon, when some army wives went to town to shop, they took Polly with them. She went around admiring the clothing but bought nothing. The wives noticed her particular interest in a beautiful black shawl. Knowing they couldn’t afford it themselves, they went to their husbands who asked a number of Iroquois tribes to contribute to the cause. They presented the black shawl to a surprised and very grateful Polly. But the gift represented more than just a small token of appreciation. It showed that the Indians were committed to helping America in it’s development, and stood as a symbol of that relationship. Polly continued her service to the army and even became a cook for them during the War of 1812.

“Old Glory”

allyfife — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:55:01 +0000

Nearly two centuries ago – on March 17, 1824 – in Salem, Massachusetts, upon the occasion of the celebration of his twenty-first birthday, William Driver was presented by his mother and a group of Salem girls with a beautiful American flag. “I name her Old Glory,” said he, in response to the greetings of the givers, and thus it was that the name “Old Glory” made its advent into the history of our Flag. William Driver’s heart and soul were in his occupation of sailing the seas, and from that day on, “Old Glory” accompanied him whenever he went to sea. When, in 1837, after many notable voyages, Captain Driver quit the sea and settled in Nashville, Tennessee, “Old Glory” as usual accompanied him. On historic occasions it could be seen gracefully waving from a rope extending from the Captain’s house to a tree across the street. One day, not long before his death, the old Captain placed in the arms of his daughter a bundle, saying: “Mary Jane, this is my old ship flag, ‘Old Glory.’ It has been my constant companion on many voyages. I love it as a mother loves her child; take it and cherish it as I have cherished it, for it has been my steadfast friend and protector in all parts of the world, among savages, heathen, and civilized. Keep it always.” “Old Glory” was kept and guarded as a prcious heirloom in the Driver family until 1922, when it was sent to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington where it is today, carefully preserved under glass. Every year it is seen by thousands of loyal Americans who visit the capital of their country.

A Song for Flag Day

allyfife — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:30:40 +0000

One of my favorite poems that my children will be memorizing this Fourth of July. Written by Wilbur D. Nesbit in 1904:

Your flag and my flag, And how it flies today

In your land and my land and half a world away!

Rose-red and blood-red the stripes for ever gleam;

Snow-white and soul-shite – The good forefather’s dream;

Sky-blue and true blue, with stars that gleam aright – The gloried guidon of the day; a shelter through the night.

Your flag and my flag! And oh, how much it holds -

Your land and my land- secure within its folds!

Your heart and my heart beat quicker at the sight;

Sun-kissed and wind-tossed- red and blue and white.

The one flag- the great flag- the flag for me and you- Glorified all else beside- the red and white and blue!

Your flag and my flag! To every star and stripe

The drums beat as hearts beat and fifers shrilly pipe!

Your flag and my flag- A blessing in the sky;

Your hope and my hope- It never his a lie!

Home land and far land and half the world around, Old Glory hears our glad salute and ripples to the sound!

Thirteen Colonies Gingerbread

allyfife — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 01:23:13 +0000

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) light butter

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 cup (packed) light brown sugar

1/2 cup mild molasses

1/4 cup liquid egg substitute

1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

CREAMY TOPPING (OPTIONAL)

1 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons (packed) light brown sugar

Confectioners’ sugar, for garnish

1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Coat 10-inch tube or Bundtpan (9 to 10 cups), or 8-inch round cake pan with cooking spray.
2. Cut butter into small cubes. Place in medium bowl. Pour boiling water over butter. Stir until butter dissolves. Whisk in brown sugar, molasses, egg substitute, ginger, and lemon zest until well mixed.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves over butter mixture. Whisk until mixed. Pour batter into prepared pan.
4. Bake 25 to 35 minutes for 10-inch tube or Bundt pan, or 35 to 45 minutes for 8-inch round cake pan, or until wooden pick inserted in center of gingerbread comes out clean.
5. Meanwhile, make Creamy Topping. In small bowl whisk together sour cream, vanilla, and brown sugar until smooth. Refrigerate.
6. When gingerbread is done, remove from oven. Cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes. Turn out onto serving platter.
7. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serve warm with applesauce and Creamy-Topping, if desired.

Revolutionary War Balls

allyfife — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 01:13:26 +0000

REVOLUTIONARY WAR BALLS
1 c. sugar 2 eggs 1 c. milk 1 pinch salt 1 tsp. vanilla 1 big dash nutmeg 3 c. flour 2 tsp. baking powder Powdered sugar Cinnamon sugar Mix 8 ingredients. Drop by tablespoon in hot oil. While warm, roll in sugar or cinnamon mixture. Militiamen carried them during the Revolutionary War.

Mom Rinker’s Rock

allyfife — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 01:06:03 +0000

Rinker Rock is located in what is now known as Fairmont Park in Philadelphia. But it’s origins come from the very start of America; the rock actually helped the Patriot spies pass notes! And the faciliatator of the espionage was an unlikely old lady nicknamed ”Mom Rinker, who owned the nearby village inn. When the redcoats arrived in her town, they immediately saw her inn as their own. She had the unwanted job of serving them dinner and ale and cleaning up after them. Being around them so often, she began listening to what they were talking about, especially the officers. One thing was in her favor. Because she was a woman, and considered too frail and incompetant to even think of such an undercover job, she was never suspected of any foul play. You can learn a lot listening to half drunk soldiers at the end of their shifts. Late in the evening she would write down all the relevant tidbits she overheard onto strips of paper. She would set off each morning to her favorite rock where she would sit and knit socks for the rebel soldiers. As she neared the end of her ball of yarn, and often saw a horse and rider in the distance, she would casually lower the ball of yarn over the edge of the cliff behind her. Attatched to the end was a small rock with those carefully written strips of paper wrapped around it. The soldier approaching on horseback would simply hide behind the cliffs and wait for the “knitting” to be lowered. Once in hand, the soldier rode back to camp and placed the missives straight into George Washington’s hands. Mom Rinker would still be quietly sitting on the rock. If the Redcoats had paid more attention, they would have witnessed that she was in fact rolling up her ball of yarn instead of unravelling it, which is required when knitting. I wonder how many socks she actually made. And how did she let the rebels know she would do this in the first place? We may not have these answers, but thankfully we have the story of one courageous woman and a jagged cliff that both served their country well.

Wanted: Elizabeth Burgin

allyfife — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:04:27 +0000

Elizabeth Burgin was one of many women living in New York during the Revolution. She could see the British ships that held the American prisoners of war, and began to visit the ships to give comfort to the men trapped inside. Many of these ships were known for carrying disease and filth and very little food. Elizabeth did what she could for the men, bringing them food and nursing their despair. Once after visiting the ships, she was approached by an American officer that had plans to help the prisoners escape. He wanted Elizabeth to not only warn the prisoners in an effort to prepare them, but actually participate in the escape because the British only allowed women visitors on the ship. With courage, and over the course of several weeks, she helped smuggle 200 men from their certain death and was never caught. The British, after learning of her exploits, put a $200 reward on her capture. This is a significant amount for any soldier, let alone a woman. Two hundred dollars was equivalent to a whole year’s pay for a soldier, so they had great incentive to try and catch her. She was forced to flee from her home, leaving all her belongings behind. When she reached a safe distance, she wrote a letter to General Washington explaining her plight. He sent this letter onto the Continental Congress: “Regarding Elizabeth Burgin, recently an inhabitant of New York. From the testimony of our own (escaped) officers…it would appear that she has been indefatigable for the relief of the prisoners, and for the facilitation of their escape. For this conduct she incurred the suspicion of the British, and was forced to make her escape under disturbing circumstances.” The congress voted to give her a pension, and she remade her life far from her origins. Nothing else is known about Elizabeth’s life, not even the dates of her birth or death. Her bravery lives on, however, through her example of charity and willingness to serve her country and fellow men.

Virtuous Country Women

allyfife — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:53:40 +0000

In a letter to Sarah Bache, General Washington writes, “Amidst the distress and sufferings of the Army, whatever sources they have arisen, it must be a consolation to our Virtuous Country Women that they have never been accused of withholding their most zealous efforts to support the cause we are engaged in.” Those brave women came from all walks of life and did any number of services for the war. One particular group, known as Mrs. David Wright’s guard, was lead by a mother and wife named Prudence. She and Sarah Shattuck (wife of Captain Shattuck) gathered the women of Pepperell Cove to protect their town after their husbands followed Colonel Precott and his minute men regiment. They heard word that a staunch Tory, Leornard Whiting, was to pass through Pepperell and neighboring Groton by way of Jewett’s Bridge. They were determined not to let a foe to freedom pass through their lands. Dressed in their husband’s apparrel, the women collected pitchforks and muskets, and anything else that could be used as a weapon. They marched to Jewett’s Bridge and promptly saw and captured the hated Tory. The women then searched him and found letters from Loyalist Canadians to the British in Boston. He was taken by force to the nearby home of Solomon Rogers, where the women spent the night guarding him until word could be taken to the Committee of Safety to retreive the prisoner. Imagine the astonishment of their husbands when they returned. Prudence went on to name her next son Liberty, a word she had not only protected, but truly lived.