History is for Everyone

NJ, USA

Molly Pitcher Monument

Monument

A monument within Monmouth Battlefield State Park commemorating the contributions of Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley and other women who served during the Battle of Monmouth. The monument stands near the artillery positions where Hays reportedly took her husband's place at a cannon.

What Happened Here

The Molly Pitcher Monument was erected to honor the women who supported the Continental Army at Monmouth. The monument's location near the American artillery positions reflects the traditional account of Mary Hays carrying water to the gun crews and taking her husband's place when he was incapacitated by the heat. The monument serves as a focal point for discussions about women's roles in the Revolution — not only the exceptional acts of individuals like Hays and Margaret Corbin, but the broader contributions of the camp follower community that cooked, laundered, nursed, and maintained the army's daily operations. The monument is a stop on the park's interpretive trail.

Visiting Today

Address

Within Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan, NJ 07726

Hours

Dawn to dusk daily

Admission

Free

Connected Events

Feb 1778
Feb 1778
Valley Forge Training Tested at Monmouth

Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Marquis de Lafayette, Anthony Wayne

Jun 1778
British March from Philadelphia to New York

Sir Henry Clinton, Charles Cornwallis

Jun 1778
Continental Army Departs Valley Forge

Sir Henry Clinton, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

Jun 1778
War Council at Hopewell

George Washington, Charles Lee, Anthony Wayne, Marquis de Lafayette, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, Sir Henry Clinton

Jun 1778
Lee Demands Advance Command

Charles Lee, Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington

Jun 1778
Battle of Monmouth

George Washington, Charles Lee, Sir Henry Clinton, Charles Cornwallis, Anthony Wayne, Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton

Jun 1778
Molly Pitcher at the Cannon

Mary Ludwig Hays (Molly Pitcher)