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The “Molly Pitcher of IllinoisTHAT were her ancestry andher maiden name is unknown. She was born on a farm near Leroy in McLean county, till no is. Duringthe Civil war in the Army nf theFrontier she was known simply as Mrs, Davidson, but because of her he* role part In the Battle of Prairie • irove. Arkansas, she is Justly entitled to a more descriptive name, “TheMolly pitcher of Illinois.On December 7. 1S32, the Confederate general Hindman foil upon the Third lt;Uvision of the Onion forces in Arkansas. The First Arkansas cav airy. acting as advance guard, wasat breakfast when the Gray jacketsswept down upon them, and withina few minutes the Onion horsemen were In wild flight. As they stampeded toward the rear they were met j by the Ninety-fourth Illinois infantry, •‘McLean county's own,” led by Col. John McMilta. in vain the colonel tried to question the fugitives as to I the numbers and position of the en euiy. The fleeing soldiers could only reply that the Con federates, “charged U8 by the millions, sir!”Presently, amid the disorder, the colonel espied a woman, she wasmounted on a fine horse, and was pleading with the demoralized men to turn and fight She had with her an ambulance and a driver, apparently under perfect control. Seeing her so n.id and brave. Colonel MeXultii rode forward and asked her about the situation ahead. Her reply was n scathing denunciation of the officers and men of the runaway regiment.“My husband Is ^urgeon with that outfit,” she said grimly. “1 have charge nf this ambulance to help hint take care of the wounded, but the way they're running, there wont be any wounded to care for.”Colonel MeNultn waved Ids hand toward the Ninety fourth, swinging down the road In perfect order. “Tell me wh 'o Hie enemy are and well take care of them,” he sahL What troops are those? demandedthe woman.The Ninety-fourth Illinois.*1 ‘•Illinois boys! she exclaimed Joyfully. “Illinois boys! They won’t run!” And she wheeled her horse about, made a perfect military salute, and said, “Dome along sir. Til show you where the enemy are”As the result of her Information ttieMm tv-fourth was able to hold theonrush f tin CVm federates until Gen era! F.iimUs forces arrived and saved the day for the Union army.*■ 1933 W. ttern S*w5Ptt[wr Union
Newspaper Details
Milford News
Milford, Utah, US
Thu, Apr 20, 1933
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 02 Aug 2019
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