"The Unsung Women Heroes of America"
By Jerry Stewart
Our history books are
literally packed with people who we've studied
about - the heroes of our history. But, there
are many who did great and amazing things, but
never made it to our history books.
We all know the name, Paul Revere. He was a
great patriot and certainly played a big part in
America winning its freedom. But, what we
remember most about Paul Revere was his famous
midnight ride to warn the colonists that the
British were coming.
On that night of April 27, 1777, a message was
sent that the British army had made a surprise
attach into Connecticut and they had burned the
city of Danbury...and now they were on the move
with more destruction in mind. When the news was
received of their attack, Paul Revere and other
volunteers mounted their fastest horses and rode
through the countryside calling the local
militia to prepare for battle.....the British
must be stopped.
Now, we all know this. But, what you may not
know is that only after about ten miles of
riding, in the town of Lexington, Paul Revere
was captured by British forces. So, if he was
captured, who warned the people that the British
were coming?
Well, there was another rider. A sixteen year
old who rode through the countryside all night
long, pausing only long enough at each farm to
warn of the coming British attack. All night
long, over forty miles - and the warnings
worked. The colonist mustered together enough of
their militia to not only stop the British
attack, they actually drove them back to their
ships in defeat. And just who was this unknown
rider? This teenager who covered more ground
that night than Paul Revere? Her name was Sybil
Ludington. That's right. It was a girl.
And, although we don't talk much about the brave
women in American history, there are certainly
plenty to talk about.
Ever heard of Molly Pitcher? Well, that wasn't
her real name. Her real name was Molly Hayes.
She became known as Molly Pitcher because during
the Revolutionary war she actually went to the
battlefields passing out cool water to refresh
the soldiers. But she did something else that
was absolutely amazing.
So the story goes, when her husband, John Hayes,
joined up to fight in the Revolutionary War, she
followed him from camp to camp. On one hot
summer day in 1778, near the Monmouth Courthouse
in New Jersey, the American and British forces
met for a terrible battle. The temperature that
day rose to over 95 degrees and with all the
cannon fire, on the battlefield it became well
over 100. And as the soldiers battled, men began
to literally pass out from the terrible heat.
One of these was Molly's husband, John. He was
an artillery sergeant and his job was crucial to
an American victory.
But, when he passed out from the heat, there was
no one else to take his place at the cannon. So
Molly dropped her pitchers of water and
immediately, amazingly, took his place,
swabbing, loading, and firing the cannon. After
the battle was ended, eye witnesses spoke of the
courageous act of this woman, Molly Pitcher,
who, without any thought for her own safety,
stepped right into the middle of that terrible
battle - what an unbelievable act of courage.
And speaking of courage, just how much do we
know about Dolly Madison. She was the wife of
our 4th President, James Madison. It was during
the War of 1812 that the British broke through
the American defenses and moved their way into
Washington D.C.. President Madison was away from
the White House but he gave specific
instructions for his wife, Dolly, and all others
there to evacuate immediately. But, Dolly knew
that if the British army made it into the White
House they would destroy everything. So,
ignoring her own danger she set out to have many
of the American treasures inside the White House
removed.
Over and over she was told to evacuate, but she
refused. There was one magnificent painting of
George Washington that she knew must be saved.
here is what happened that day written in her
own words to her sister:
"Can you believe it my sister. We have had a
battle, and here I am still, within sound of the
cannon. Mr. Madison comes not - may God protect
us. Two messengers covered with dust come to bid
me fly, but here I means to wait until the large
picture of George Washington is secured, and it
requires to be unscrewed from the wall. I have
ordered the frame to be broken and the canvas
taken out. It is done. And now I must leave, or
the British army will make me a prisoner. When I
shall again write to you, or where I shall be
tomorrow, I cannot tell."
Dolly Madison did escape safely and she did
manage to save many of the American treasures
that were in the White House. Shortly after she
left, the British army did arrive and set on
fire the White House, the Congress, and most of
the Government buildings in Washington D.C., but
that day Dolly Madison performed an amazing act
of bravery.
But there's another amazing twist to this story,
and the credit truly and clearly belongs to
almighty God.
As the British forces determined that day to
burn the entire city of Washington D.C. to the
ground, history tells us that a terrible storm,
unlike any storm ever witnessed in that area,
came upon the town. The storm was so violent it
literally scared the British forces into leaving
the city before they could finish their job. And
the city of Washington D.C. was saved, not by
American forces, but by a powerful and
mysterious storm. But then, again, it really
wasn't a mystery at all, was it?
By the way, there is still a great need for many
more unsung heroes in America - seek out your
place in history and strive to be a hero for
America.
Today in our America, so many people are full of excuses. They want to blame everyone else for their problems and take little or no responsibility for themselves. And just where do excuses get you? It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “The person who is good for excuses is good for little else.” Simply said, “Excuses and blaming others gets you nowhere.” We all talk about our Bill of Rights. What America needs is a Bill of Responsibilities. Quit looking for someone to blame, accept your own responsibilities and become part of the solution.
