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Primary sourceSpeech1802

An Address, Delivered with Applause, at the Federal-Street Theatre, Boston

Deborah Sampson Gannett · 1802

The published text of a lecture Deborah Sampson Gannett delivered on stage in 1802 defending her enlistment as a soldier.

The text of a lecture Sampson herself delivered on stage, explaining why she enlisted as a soldier.

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Cover of a dark marbled-paper bound booklet with a maroon spine and a small label reading E 275 G18. A cream octagonal label in handwriting reads: An Address delivered at Federal St. Theatre, Boston, By Mrs. Deborah Gannet, The American heroine. Publications of the Sharon historical Society.
Deborah Sampson Gannett (text by Herman Mann), An Address, Delivered with Applause, at the Federal-Street Theatre, Boston, 1802. American Antiquarian Society.

About this source

What it is

This is the printed text of a lecture delivered by Deborah Sampson Gannett at the Federal Street Theatre in Boston in 1802, with the text prepared by Herman Mann. The booklet is held by the American Antiquarian Society.

Why it matters

Before performing the manual of arms in uniform on stage, Sampson gave this address to explain and justify why she had enlisted and served disguised as a man in the Continental Army. It is a rare case of her speaking publicly, in her own words as published, about her own choices.

Look closer

  • Why might Sampson have felt she needed to explain and justify her enlistment years after the war ended?
  • What does it suggest that Herman Mann prepared the text she delivered?
  • How might the tone of a lecture meant to be performed differ from a private letter or diary?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Deborah Sampson on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Scan of an open book showing a left page with an engraved oval portrait of a young woman with long wavy hair and a ruffled collar, framed by military trophies and an eagle, labeled Deborah Sampson, Published by H. Mann, 1797. Right page is the title page: The Female Review: Or, Memoirs of an American Young Lady, By a Citizen of Massachusetts, Dedham, Printed by Nathaniel and Benjamin Heaton, M,DCC,XCVII.Book

Primary source

The Female Review: Life of Deborah Sampson

Herman Mann · 1797

Black-and-white engraving titled Deborah Sampson, published by H. Mann, 1797. An oval portrait of a young woman with long curled hair and a high-collared dress sits within a decorative frame topped with flags, a wreath, and an eagle at the base.Painting

Primary source

Deborah Sampson Engraving

1797

Oval engraved portrait of a young woman with long wavy hair, wearing a high-collared ruffled white neckerchief and a striped dress with a sash, set within a decorative oval border with foliage.Painting

Primary source

Portrait of Deborah Sampson

Joseph Stone · 1797

Plain dark red cloth book cover with a white Library of Congress barcode label near the lower right, reading LIBRARY OF CONGRESS and the number 00017379653 with a red dot.Book

Secondary source

The Female Review (Vinton edition)

Herman Mann; edited by John Adams Vinton · 1866

Black-and-white photograph of a granite monument with a bronze plaque showing a relief portrait bust of a woman with long wavy hair. The plaque reads Deborah Sampson Gannett, Woman Soldier in the War of the Revolution, and describes her service and pension, and that it was placed by her grandson George Washington Gay. Cemetery grass and trees are in the background.Photograph

Secondary source

Monument to Deborah Sampson Gannett, Rock Ridge Cemetery

Leon H. Abdalian

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