Mary Ludwig Hays, aka Molly Pitcher

Mary Ludwig Hays served with a field artillery crew at the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778.  The weather was so hot that day that her husband passed out from a heat stroke while performing his duties at the cannon.  The weapon was ordered withdrawn, but Mary, who had been previously occupied bringing pitchers of water to the thirsty crews, grabbed the rammer and took her husband's place, thereby keeping the cannon in service.  At one point, an enemy cannonball passed between Mary's legs, shredding her petticoat, but leaving her otherwise unharmed.  She did not falter.

This is a somewhat fanciful tribute, as Mary Hays was not an anthro deer.  This crew is also down to about half-strength, which may or may not have been the case when Mary took her position.  Ideally, there would have been six or more men assigned to each cannon, the firing of which involved a number of precisely coordinated steps:  http://www.revolutionarywarjournal.com/firing-field-cannon/

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