Deborah Sampson: A Female Veteran of the Revolutionary War
Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War. She enlisted in the Continental Army's light infantry in 1782, adopting a man's name and binding her chest with a tight cloth.
For 17 months, Sampson marched through the Hudson River Valley, participating in reconnaissance missions and hand-to-hand combat. Her service ended when a Philadelphia doctor discovered her secret in 1783, but she earned an honorable discharge.
Sampson was born on December 17, 1760, in Plympton, Massachusetts, to a family of prominent Pilgrims. Her mother was a descendant of Gov. William Bradford, and her father descended from Myles Standish. Despite her distinguished ancestry, Sampson's childhood was marked by poverty.
After her father abandoned the family, Sampson's mother was forced to split up her children due to overwhelming poverty. Sampson later fought for the military pension she had earned, a battle that lasted for decades.
Her battlefield service earned her an honorable discharge.
- Enlisted in the Continental Army's light infantry in 1782
- Fought in the Revolutionary War for 17 months
- Participated in reconnaissance missions and hand-to-hand combat
- Earned an honorable discharge in 1783
Author's summary: Deborah Sampson fought in the Revolutionary War disguised as a man.