10 Unsung Heroes of the American Revolution
We all know the big names – George Washington, Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock. But the road to American independence was paved by a motley crew of unsung heroes whose courage and defiance in the face of the British empire made the Fourth of July possible.
From freedmen and fearless women who took up arms, to unlikely leaders in the newly formed Continental Army and Navy, these Patriots vowed "no quarter" to the Crown. And we’re so grateful they did.
Closeup of William “Billy” Lee who is featured in John Trumbull’s famous portrait of General George Washington. Public Domain. Available here.
William “Billy” Lee
William Lee, enslaved by General George Washington, is an unsung hero of the Revolutionary War. Although not officially a service member in the Continental Army, Lee served with Washington throughout the Revolutionary War, often as a confidant and advisor. For seven years, he was with Washington – from Lexington and Concord to Valley Forge – helping manage his military and personal affairs. Upon Washington’s death, Lee was immediately emancipated and granted an annual allowance of $30 for the rest of his life because of his years of friendship and “faithful services during the Revolutionary War.”
Nancy Hart
Nancy Hart was an imposing woman. She was a fearless 6-foot tall, muscular, red-headed frontierswoman in the Georgia backcountry known as “Wahatche” or “War Woman” by the local Cherokee. She lived up to this nickname during the Revolutionary War. While her husband was on the frontlines, Nancy disguised herself as a “crazy man” and wandered through British camps gathering intel for the Patriots. But that’s not all. According to legend, she also directly bested redcoats in battle and captured others which she handed over to the Continental Army.
There is no known portrait of Daniel Bissell. This is a picture of one of the first Badges of Merit. Public Domain.
Daniel Bissell
Daniel Bissell was among the first service members to receive the Badge of Merit, or Purple Heart. He enlisted in Captain Abner Prior’s Company of the 5th Connecticut Regiment in 1777. In 1781, he became a sergeant in the 2nd Connecticut Regiment and was sent on a secret mission in August of that year. His mission: pose as a deserter to gather intel on the British in New York City. He carried out his mission by enlisting in a Provincial regiment for the British Army. He held several positions before deserting back to the Continental Army in Sept 1782. He provided extensive detail on the British fortifications around New York.
Engraved portrait of Deborah Sampson, female American Revolutionary War soldier, Massachusetts Historical Society; Used as the frontispiece of The Female Review: Life of Deborah Sampson, the Female Soldier in the War of Revolution, by Herman Mann (1771-1833). Public Domain. Available here.
Deborah Sampson
Deborah Sampson defied convention, disguising herself as "Robert Shurtleff" to join the 4th Massachusetts Regiment in 1782. The daring scout went on expeditions, fought the British, and led a raid capturing 15 Tories. Twice wounded, Sampson extracted a pistol ball from her thigh herself to avoid detection. Her identity remained hidden for two years until illness struck and she was hospitalized. Sampson received an honorable discharge in 1783 after her deception was revealed. Her grit and resolve made her one of the Revolutionary War's most extraordinary—and overlooked—heroes.
19th century portrait painting of Joseph Plumb Martin and his wife, Lucy Clewley, later in life from Stockton Springs (Maine) Historical Society. Public Domain. Available here.
Joseph Plumb Martin
Joseph Plumb Martin enlisted in the Connecticut state militia in the summer of 1776 when he was just 15 years old. By Dec 1776, he’d served at the Battles of Brooklyn, Kip’s Bay, and White Plains. In April 1777, Martin enlisted in the 8th Connecticut division of Washington’s Continental Army and served throughout the duration of the Revolutionary War. He was at the Battle of Philadelphia and in Valley Forge. In 1780, Martin was promoted to Sergeant and sent to Yorktown where British General Lord Charles Cornwallis eventually surrendered and sealed our victory. In 1830, he published his diaries to share his experience with others.
Image of Polly Cooper available from the Oneida Nation. Fair Use.
Polly Cooper
Polly Cooper, a member of the Oneida Indian Nation, played a critical role in saving the lives of the Continental soldiers who suffered during the harsh winter at Valley Forge. When Oneida Chief Oskanondoha learned of Washington’s plight at Valley Forge, he sent a group of warriors to join them. He also sent baskets of corn and Cooper who was a great cook and skilled nurse. In April 1778, she, along with 50 warriors, traveled on foot from New York to Pennsylvania. When she arrived, she taught the troops how to properly cook the corn and cared for the sick soldiers. Martha Washington presented her with a black shawl as a “thank you.”
Commodore Abraham Whipple, by Edward Savage, oil on canvas, 1786. Public domain photo image from the USA Dept of the Navy, Naval Historical Center, Photo #: KN-10876. ColWilliam 01:15, 13 September 2007 (UTC). Public Domain. Available here.
Abraham Whipple
Abraham Whipple was born to be a Patriot. Even before the Revolutionary War, he wreaked havoc on the British. Whipple was a leader in the burning of the Gaspee, a British merchant ship, in 1772. It was his experience as a seaman and reputation as a Patriot that got him appointed to command the two-vessel Rhode Island Navy in 1775. As the war went on, his fleet grew and he led several successful campaigns against the British. Today, his full-size portrait hangs at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.
The women of '76: "Molly Pitcher" the heroine of Monmouth. Public Domain. Available here.
Mary Ludwig Hays
Mary Ludwig Hays enlisted to serve in the Pennsylvania Artillery alongside her husband. She was described as a “twenty-two-year-old illiterate pregnant woman who smoked and chewed tobacco and swore as well as any of the male soldiers.” She was given the nickname “Molly Pitcher” by the Soldiers she served with. Molly was a common nickname for Mary and “pitcher” referred to the water jugs she was often seen carrying through camp to do laundry. During the long, hot Battle of Monmouth, soldiers began dying of dehydration. Realizing this, Hays ran back and forth onto the battlefield to bring them water. She continued in her mission until her husband was wounded. That’s when she took up his place at the cannon and began firing, solidifying her legacy as an American hero.
"Nathanael Greene," portrait of the American Revolutionary War general by Connecticut artist John Trumbull (1756-1843). Oil on wood. Public Domain. Available here.
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was an unlikely war hero. He was born to a devout Quaker and pacifist family in Rhode Island. Greene also had a noticeable limp. Despite these obstacles, he was determined to help the American cause. Early in the war, Greene established the Kentish Guards, even though he couldn’t fight, and was commissioned a Brigadier General in the Army of Observation. He marched to Boston after the Battles of Lexington and Concord and proved his ability to command. Greene took command of Boston after the British retreat. In 1780, Washington appointed him southern commander of the Continental Army and the tide of the war began to turn in our favor.
US stamp honoring Salem Poor. Public Domain. Available here.
Salem Poor
Salem Poor was born into slavery in 1747 and purchased his freedom when he was 22 years old. In 1775, Poor enlisted in the 1st Andover Company of the Massachusetts Minutemen. During the Battle of Bunker Hill, Poor’s unit was sent as a secondary force to work on fortifications. But they ended up covering the retreating units. Poor’s unit received heavy fire. Five Andover men were killed and 6 were seriously wounded. Poor slowed his retreat to help them. Legend has it, he fired one last shot during his retreat that killed British Army Lt. Col. James Abercrombie. Poor stayed in the Army until 1780 and served during the Battles of White Plains and Monmouth and was also at Valley Forge.
This Independence Day join us as we honor their legacies and all they fought for by taking on the Team RWB Firecracker Run.
