the name of this woman was
found upon no heroic roll, nor is it on the page of any history that
men have since written, although she made heroes of cowards, and
helped to stay the wave of desolation which, in the dark days of '76,
threatened to overwhelm the land.

At one time some British officers quartered themselves at the house of
Mrs. Dissosway, situated at the western end of Staten Island, opposite
Amboy. Her husband was a prisoner; but her brother, Captain Nat.
Randolph, was in the American army, and gave much annoyance to the
tories by his frequent incursions. A tory colonel promised Mrs.
Dissosway to procure the release of her husband on condition of her
prevailing on her brother to stay quietly at home. "And if I could,"
she replied, with a look of scorn, drawing up her tall figure to its
utmost height, "if I could act so dastardly a part, think you General
Washington has but one Captain Randolph in his army?"

At a period when American prospects were most clouded, and New Jersey
overrun by the British, an officer stationed at Borden-town (said to
be Lord Cornwallis) endeavored to intimidate Mrs. Borden into using
her influence over her husband and son, who were absent in the
American army. The officer promised her that if she would induce them
to quit the standard they followed and join the royalists, her
property should be protected; while in case of refusal, her estate
would be ravaged and her elegant mansion destroyed. Mrs. Borden
answered, "Begin your threatened havoc then; the sight of my house in
flames would be a treat to me; for I have seen enough to know that you
never injure what you have power to keep and enjoy. The application of
a torch to my dwelling I should regard as a signal for your
departure." The house was burned in fulfillment of the threat, and the
estate laid waste; but, as Mrs. Borden predicted, the retreat of the
spoiler quickly followed.

During the battle of Monmouth a gunner named Pitcher was killed, and
the call was made for some one to take his place; his wife, who had
followed him to the camp and thence to the field of conflict,
unhesitatingly stepped forward and offered her services. The gun was
so well managed as to draw the attention of General Washington to the
circumstance, and to call forth an expression of his admiration of her
bravery and fidelity to her country. To show his appreciation of her
virtues and her highly valuable services, he conferred on her a
lieutena