Margaret Cochran Corbin

Margaret Cochran Corbin had fought along side her husband in the American Revolutionary War .She was the first woman to have received a pension from the United States government as a disabled soldier.


She was born on November 12, 1751 near Chambers Burg, Pennsylvania. She was orphaned at the age of five and was raised by relatives. Her Parents were murdered by indians. When she was twenty-one, she married John Corbin.


Her husband joined the Continental Army when the American Revolution started four years later and Margaret accompanied her husband to the fort were he was stationed.


Wives of the soldiers often went there to cook for their men, wash their laundry, and nurse wounded soldiers. They also watched the men do their drills, and, no doubt, learned those drills, too.


On November 16 1776, while they were stationed in Fort, Washington, New York, the first attack occured by the British and Hession troops.


John was assisting a gunner until the gunner was unfortunely killed. At that moment, John took charge of the cannon and Margaret assisted him. Some hours later, John was killed also. With no time to grieve, Margaret continued loading and firing the cannon by herself until she was wounded by a shot , which tore her shoulder, mangled her chest, and lacerated her jaw.


Other soldiers moved her to the rear of the fort , where she received first aid. The fort was captured by the British, but the wounded American soldiers were freed. They were shipped across the river to Fort Lee.


Margaret was then transported in a wagon all the way to Philadelphia. She recovered fully from her wounds, and was left without the use of her left arm for the rest of her life.


In 1779, the Continental Congress granted her a pension due to her distinguished bravery. She continued to be included on regimental muster lists until the end of the war in 1783. Margaret Corbin died near West point, New York prior to her fiftieth birthday.


Margaret Cochran Corbin had an impact on women because of her intense bravery. By risking her life in the war, she gave men a better perspective on women. She showed them that women aren't only capable of cooking and cleaning but could, if they had the will, serve in the war as well as any man. Margaret was also the first woman in the United States to receive a military pension.


Vicky WAU Ireland.