Skip to main content

Primary sourceBook1916 (reprint of 1797 original)

The Female Review: Life of Deborah Sampson, the Female Soldier

Herman Mann · 1916 (reprint of 1797 original)

The first biography of Deborah Sampson, based on interviews with her, recounting her disguised service in the Continental Army.

The earliest biography of Sampson, based on her own interviews about her disguised military service.

Ask Deborah Sampson about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
The Female Review: Life of Deborah Sampson, the Female SoldierPDF · 204 pages
Herman Mann, The Female Review: Life of Deborah Sampson, the Female Soldier, 1797; 1916 reprint edition.

About this source

What it is

Written by Herman Mann and first published in 1797, this biography was based on interviews with Deborah Sampson herself about her military service. The edition shown here is a 1916 reprint, revised earlier by Rev. John Adams Vinton in 1866 and reissued by William Abbatt as part of a historical magazine series.

Why it matters

This book is one of the earliest and most important sources for Sampson's life story, since it drew directly on her own recollections of disguising herself to serve as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. It shaped how later generations learned about her, though Mann's writing style sometimes dramatized events for effect.

Look closer

  • Why might Mann have chosen to write about Sampson's life so soon after her service?
  • How might interviewing Sampson herself make this source valuable, but also open to her own shaping of the story?
  • What differences might exist between the 1797 original and this 1916 reprint?

This book 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.

More Deborah Sampson sources

Meet the AI Deborah Sampson →
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

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.Speech

Primary source

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

Deborah Sampson Gannett · 1802

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

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Deborah Sampson now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions