Deborah "Robert Shurtliff" Sampson

There has often been quiet whispering about the possibility that women have fought in American wars under the disguise of being a man.  You don't often hear these stories, but they are some of the most heroic tales, showing that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.  Here's one of those stories.

We'll begin with a look at a woman who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.  Deborah was born in 1760 in Plympton, Massachusetts.  Her early life is often described as unusually difficult, as her father was a sailor and did not support his family.  From about the age of 10 until 18, Deborah worked on the farm of a family by the name of Thomas, where she developed an excellent shot by hunting with the farmer's sons.

In 1778, Deborah attempted to enlist as a man but was discovered and told never to try enlisting again.  However, in May of 1782, Deborah tried again and succeeded.  She was assigned to the 4th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army under the name of Robert Shurtliff.  

Deborah's sex was almost revealed to army doctors soon after when she was injured in a skirmish in Chester.  She had suffered a head wound and a thigh wound.  Sampson is quoted as stating, "I considered this as a death wound, or as being the equivalent of it, as it must, I though, lead to the discovery of my sex."  Yet, she was able to conceal herself by not telling the doctors of her leg wound.  She attended to this wound herself, removing several musket balls by hand.  

New York Times article written in 1898

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9402E3D71139E433A2575BC0A9669D94699ED7CF&oref=slogin

However, in 1783, Deborah's luck ran out when she came down with a fever.  The doctor attending to her discovered who she was, but did not expose her.  Instead, he had her stay at his house with his family until the end of the war later in the year.  

Sampson's grave in Mass.

When the war ended, Sampson exposed her sex to General Patterson by coming to muster dressed in women's clothing.  Patterson was surprised but made sure she had enough money to get home.  In 1785, she married Benjamin Gannett, with whom she had three children.  When her family started struggling with money, Deborah's friend, Mr. Paul Revere, petitioned on her behalf to get an army pension.  She eventually won this battle, and was paid $76.80 a year through government pension until she died in April of 1827.  Today, though she is rarely heard of in history books, Deborah Sampson serves as a local hero in her hometown in Massachusetts.  

This statue stands outside a local library in Sharon, Mass

in honor of Deborah Sampson

In 1976, at a celebration for the American Bicentennial, the Texas Boys' Choir performed a song entitled "Deborah Sampson," as part of a larger "Continental Soldier Suite" by Ray Charles.  You can listen to it here:

http://boychoirs.org/texas/tbc006.html

The story of this brave woman is not one that is regularly taught in schools.  I encourage you to do your own research and discover others who are often left out.  Why? Because just because you don't learn about it in school doesn't mean it's not important.  Every story matters when it comes to history.  Even your own.

If you liked the story of Deborah Sampson, there is a fictional tale written by Ann Rinaldi entitled Girl in Blue which tells the story of a young girl who fights for the Union during the Civil War while disguised as a man.  

http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/girl-in-blue

Can you think of any local heroes or heroines from your own hometown? In my hometown of Westfield, NY, we have the story of Grace Bedell, a little girl who wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln, advising him to grow a beard, stating that it would help him get elected.  When Lincoln became President, he had his train stop in Westfield so he could meet this little girl.  Today, we have a statue depicting their meeting.