OKAY BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT DEBORAH SAMSON, A WOMAN WHO DISGUISED HERSELF AS A MAN TO FIGHT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
AS A KID SHE GOT EDUCATED BY BRIBING NEIGHBORHOOD BOYS TO TEACH HER WHAT THEY LEARNED IN SCHOOL, AND ENDED UP BECOMING A TEACHER
IN 1778 AT AGE 18 SHE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY, UNDER THE NAME OF ROBERT SHIRTLIFFE
SHE FOUGHT IN MANY BATTLES FOR THREE YEARS WITHOUT ANYONE SUSPECTING SHE WAS A WOMAN
SHE GOT INJURED TWICE (STABBED IN THE HEAD AND SHOT IN THE SHOULDER) BUT DOCTORS STILL DIDN’T FIND OUT HER SECRET
SHE WAS ONLY DISCOVERED DURING TREATMENT WHEN SHE CAME DOWN WITH BRAIN FEVER. BUT THE DOCTOR WAS NICE AND DIDN’T TELL ANYONE. INSTEAD WHEN SHE GOT BETTER HE SENT HER TO DELIVER A MESSAGE TO WASHINGTON
WHEN WASHINGTON READ THE LETTER HE WASN’T EVEN MAD HE JUST DISCHARGED HER AND WROTE HER A MESSAGE AND GAVE HER MONEY TO GET BACK HOME
SHE WENT BACK HOME AND GOT HERSELF A CUTE MAN AND HAD THREE KIDDIES
SOME YEARS LATER SHE GOT SUMMONED TO DC WHERE GOT A PENSION AND LAND IN EXCHANGE FOR HER SERVICE (WHICH PAUL REVERE HELPED TO ARRANGE)
SHE DIED AT THE AGE OF 66, AND IN 1983 WAS NAMED OFFICIAL HEROINE OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
PLEASE LET US TALK ABOUT THIS AMAZING WOMAN
(Source: glorfindely, via bronzedragon)
