A childhood biography of the Pennsylvania German woman who became a Revolutionary War heroine when she carried water to American soldiers and even fired a cannon herself during the Battle of Monmouth.
 
Molly Pitcher
Mary Ludwig was born in 1754. In her early twenties she married William Hays, who soon served in the Continental Army. Mary followed her husband on campaign, typically performing tasks like washing clothes and sheets. This may have been where the name “Molly Pitcher” originated, as “Molly” was a common nickname for women named Mary, and “Pitcher” referred to the buckets of water the women would carry for cleaning.
 
But when William was wounded at the Battle of Monmouth, Mary made the fateful decision to take his place on the artillery piece. George Washington himself supposedly asked about the brave woman working with the artillery crew. He later promoted her to a non-commissioned officer. Mary would not serve directly in battle again, but enjoyed her new nickname of “Sergeant” Molly, and used it for the rest of her life.
 
Childhood of Famous Americans is one of the most popular series ever published for young Americans. The classics comprising this series have been praised by parents, teachers, and librarians. These lively and inspiring biographies are easily read by children of eight and up. In the end, today’s youngster is swept right into history.