Margaret Corbin facts for kids

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The 1909 memorial dedicated to Margaret Corbin and her compatriots in Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan, New York City, near the location of the Battle of Fort Washington

Margaret Corbin memorial in the West Point Cemetery at the United States Military Academy.

A plaque honoring Corbin on Margaret Corbin Drive in Fort Tryon Park.

Margaret Corbin Historical Road Marker at West Point.

Margaret Cochran Corbin was a brave hero who fought in the Revolutionary War. She was born on November 12, 1751, in western Pennsylvania. Margaret showed amazing courage during a dangerous conflict called the Battle of Fort Washington. When her husband could no longer fire his large cannon, she took over the heavy weapon herself.

Margaret became famous across the young nation for her bravery under fire. Later, she became the very first woman to receive a military pension (regular support payment) from the United States government. Today, people remember her as an early American hero who helped defend her country.

Early Life and Growing Up on the Frontier

Margaret Cochran grew up during a wild and difficult time on the American frontier. She lived in a region that is now modern-day Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Robert and Sarah Cochran, who were hardworking immigrants trying to build a new home.

When Margaret was only four years old, a major conflict called the French and Indian War broke out in 1754. During this conflict, the Kingdom of France partnered with different groups, including the Delaware and Shawnee tribes. Settlements across the frontier faced many dangers from these battles.

Facing Childhood Challenges

When Margaret was five years old, fighting reached her family home. Both of her parents were lost during an attack on English settlements by Native Americans. Margaret and her brother were away from the house when the attack happened.

Following this terrible event, Margaret and her brother went to live with their uncle. Her uncle cared for the children and taught them how to survive on the frontier. Margaret grew into a strong, determined young woman who knew how to handle hard work.

Marriage to John Corbin

In 1772, when she was 21 years old, Margaret married a farmer from the Colony of Virginia named John Corbin. She took his last name, and together they lived on a small farm in Pennsylvania. They worked hard on their land, but big political changes were soon coming to the thirteen American colonies.

Margaret Corbin and the American Revolutionary War

The American Revolution started because the American colonies wanted freedom from British rule. Men and women all across the country had to choose how they would help the cause of liberty. In 1775, John Corbin decided to join the fight for independence.

Joining the Artillery Regiment

A mural showing a scene from the Revolutionary War near Fort Washington Avenue.

John Corbin enlisted in the 1st Pennsylvania Artillery Regiment. This unit was part of the colonial forces fighting within the Continental Army. John was trained to be a cannoneer (cannon crew member).

His specific job was that of a matross (an artillery assistant). A matross had to help load the cannon, aim it, move the heavy wheels, and fire at the enemy. These giant cannons were loud and very heavy, requiring strong teamwork from several soldiers at once.

Life as a Camp Follower

Instead of staying behind on their farm, Margaret decided to travel with her husband. She joined the army as an official camp follower. Camp followers were usually wives, sisters, and mothers of soldiers who traveled alongside the marching army.

Margaret helped the army survive by taking care of everyday camp tasks:

• She cooked meals over open campfires for hungry troops.
• She washed dirty laundry and uniforms in nearby rivers.
• She repaired torn uniforms by sewing them back together.
• She cared for wounded or sick soldiers who needed medical care.

In addition to camp chores, Margaret learned about military equipment. She often carried water and tools directly to the cannon crews so they could fire their weapons quickly.

The Battle of Fort Washington

In the autumn of 1776, American forces tried to protect New York from British capture. One of the last strongholds held by American troops near New York City was Fort Washington in upper Manhattan. John Corbin's artillery unit went to Manhattan after the Battle of Harlem Heights in September.

American soldiers built a small defensive position called a redoubt (small fort) at Fort Tryon, which was part of the outer defenses or outworks of Fort Washington. Many American troops had retreated to New Jersey after the Battle of White Plains in October. This left only about 3,000 soldiers defending Fort Washington.

On November 16, 1776, the fierce Battle of Fort Washington began. A massive force of British soldiers attacked the fort. They were joined by 4,000 to 5,000 German troops known as Hessians from the region of Hesse. The defenders bravely pushed back three enemy charges, but the attackers kept coming.

Firing the Cannon in Battle

An old print of Molly Pitcher, a legendary figure based on heroes like Margaret Corbin.

Before the ground attack, British guns fired heavily at Fort Washington. Margaret worked fast during the battle. She hauled buckets of cool water to clean out the hot cannon barrels so the gunpowder would not catch fire by accident.

Suddenly, John Corbin was hit by enemy cannon fire and fell to the ground. The officer in charge prepared to roll the heavy cannon away. Margaret refused to let the weapon sit silent while the army needed help.

She immediately stepped into her husband's place at the cannon. Some witnesses said she shouted that she was ready and able to do the work, while others said she simply took over without hesitation. Margaret cleaned the barrel, loaded ammunition, and fired the big gun repeatedly at the charging enemy lines.

Margaret continued firing until she was struck by pieces of flying metal called grapeshot (clusters of small iron balls fired from a cannon). She fell beside her gun with severe injuries, and British forces soon captured the fort.

Recovery and Later Years

British doctors treated Margaret's severe injuries after she was taken prisoner. Although they saved her life, she lost the ability to use her left arm. General Nathanael Greene arranged for her release in a prisoner exchange, and she was brought across the Hudson River to Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Receiving the First Female Military Pension

From New Jersey, Margaret traveled to an army hospital in Philadelphia. Because her injuries prevented her from working, she asked Pennsylvania leaders for help. The state gave her $30, but her request was soon sent higher to the Continental Congress and its Board of War.

On July 6, 1779, Congress recognized her heroic actions at Fort Washington. They voted to give Margaret a permanent military pension equal to half a soldier's monthly pay, along with a full suit of clothes each year. She was the very first woman in American history to receive an official military pension. Other soldiers proudly gave her the nickname "Captain Molly."

Serving in the Invalid Corps

In 1780, Margaret joined the Invalid Corps, a special military group created for injured veterans who could still help the army. She was sent to the military post at West Point, New York. There, she helped care for other wounded troops.

Margaret lived with constant pain from her war injuries. Everyday tasks like getting dressed or cooking were very hard to do with only one working arm. General Henry Knox ordered an assistant to help Margaret with her daily needs.

She married again in 1782, but her new husband passed away less than a year later. Margaret served honorably in the Invalid Corps until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, when the unit was disbanded.

Mysterious Final Resting Place

Margaret died on January 16, 1800, at the age of 48. Historians have different opinions about where she passed away. Some records indicate that she returned to Pennsylvania and died in Westmoreland County.

Other historical accounts state that she stayed near the Hudson River and died in Highland Falls, New York, near West Point. Although the exact details of her final days remain a puzzle, her great courage has never been forgotten.

Honors and Lasting Legacy

Margaret Corbin's brave actions helped inspire the famous American legend of Molly Pitcher. In 1848, a historian named Benson J. Lossing wrote a history book about the war. He mixed up stories about Margaret with another heroic woman named Mary Hays, who fought at the Battle of Monmouth. Today, historians know that both women performed real acts of bravery.

Monuments and Memorials

In 1926, the Daughters of the American Revolution honored Margaret by creating a special memorial for her at the West Point Cemetery. Later forensic tests on the gravesite revealed that her actual resting place remains unknown, but her monument still stands proudly to honor her service.

Many other locations celebrate her bravery:

• A large stone monument stands in New York City's Fort Tryon Park, near the ground where she fought.
• The city created Margaret Corbin Circle and Margaret Corbin Drive near the park entrance, connecting toward the Henry Hudson Parkway.
• The local Chamber of Commerce installed an honor plaque along the parkway in 1982.
• An Art Deco painting showing the Battle of Fort Washington decorates a building on Fort Washington Avenue.

A Modern Medical Honor

Margaret Corbin continues to inspire people in modern times. In June 2021, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs renamed a major hospital in New York City. The facility, formerly known as part of the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, was renamed the Margaret Cochran Corbin Campus.

Located on East 23rd Street in the Kips Bay neighborhood, it became the very first VA medical center named after a woman veteran. Through these monuments and buildings, Margaret's determination and bravery continue to teach young Americans about courage and sacrifice.

See also

In Spanish: Margaret Corbin para niños