Mary Ludwig Hays

Hays was the wife of William Hays, an artilleryman in the Continental Army. She joined him at the Army's winter camp at at the Battle of Monmouth, where she served as a water-carrier. When her husband fell she took his place swabbing and loading the cannon, and after the action was commended by George Washington. The incident was recorded by Joseph Plumb Martin in his memoir published in 1830.