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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02437.01597 |
| From Archive Folder | The Henry Knox Papers [0046] September 17822 |
| Title | Tench Tilghman to Samuel Shaw regarding Margaret Corbin and the issue of supplying rum to women |
| Date | 11 September 1782 |
| Author | Tilghman, Tench (1744-1786) |
| Recipient | Shaw, Samuel |
| Document Type | Correspondence; Military document |
| Content Description | Writes, "It appears clearly to me that the order forbidding the issue of Rum to Women does not extend to Mrs. [Margaret] Corbin - Granting provision at all, to Women who are followers of the Army, is altogether matter of courtesy, and therefore the commanding General may allow them such a Ration as he thinks proper - But Mrs. Corbin is a pensioner of Congress, and therefore, upon procuring the Resolve made in her favor - Genl. [Henry] Knox, as commandant, may direct the Contractor to commute her Retained Rations of liquor - perhaps it would not be prudent to give them to her all in liquor - So much. Seriously and officially. Now Friend Samuel, how comes it, that a woman with an old decrepit Husband should be far advanced in pregnancy?" See GLC02437.01591 and GLC02437.01595 for related information. |
| Subjects | Battle of Brandywine (Brandywine Creek) Revolutionary War Military History Continental Army Battle Women's History Injury or Wound Death Children and Family Military Provisions Soldier's Pay Pension Continental Congress Congress Alcohol Health and Medical Revolutionary War General |
| People | Tilghman, Tench (1744-1786) Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794) Corbin, Margaret Cochran (1751-ca. 1800) Knox, Henry (1750-1806) |
| Theme | The American Revolution; Women in American History; Children & Family; Government & Politics; Health & Medicine |
| Sub-collection | The Henry Knox Papers |
| Additional Information | According to the American National Biography, Corbin was wounded at the Battle of Fort Washington, although Shaw notes she was wounded at Brandywine. Her husband was operating a piece of artillery when he was killed, so Corbin took command of the cannon and received grape shot in her left shoulder. She wasn't granted pension until 1779, when Congress granted her a complete suit of clothes and half the monthly pay of a soldier as long as she remained disabled. After Congress's action, she enrolled in the Invalid Corps (performing garrison duties). In 1781, the Invalid Corps became an official part of the garrison at West Point where she remained until her discharge in 1783. She remained in the West Point/Highland Falls vicinity and was buried in the town of Highland Falls. Corbin's body was exhumed in 1926 by DAR and reinterred at West Point. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Related documents | Letter from Tench Tilghman to Samuel Shaw about Margaret Corbin who was wounded at Brandywine operating a cannon Letter from Samuel Shaw to Tench Tilghman regarding Margaret Corbin and her application to keep her ration of liquor |
| Transcript | Show/hide Download PDF |