Molly Pitcher Loading Cannon at the Battle of Monmouth

What it is

This black-and-white engraving, held by the Library of Congress, shows a woman at a cannon surrounded by soldiers, with a fallen soldier on the ground. It is captioned as depicting Molly McCauley at the Battle of Monmouth, 1778.

Why it matters

This print explicitly connects the Molly Pitcher legend to a real woman named Mary (Molly) McCauley, often identified with Mary Ludwig Hays. It shows how 19th-century prints shaped public memory of women's roles in the Revolutionary War, even where the historical record is uncertain.

Look closer

• Why might this print specifically name 'Molly McCauley' instead of leaving the woman anonymous?
• What does the choice of clothing and hair in the image tell you about how women were idealized in this era?
• What is left out of this scene that a true account of the battle might include?