Gayle Moore
Crestwood Elementary School
Richmond, VA
89024
OVERVIEW
This lesson celebrates the heroism of a young woman who lived during the time of the revolutionary war. Disguised as a man, this sturdy farm girl enlisted in the Continental Army late in the war. In skirmishes along the Hudson River, she suffered a sabre wound in the head and a musket wound in the thigh. She cared for both of these wounds to avoid detection. While treating her for a fever, a docter discovered her masquerade. She was honorably discharged from the army after serving with distinction for one and a half years.
Deborah Sampson helped bring freedom to the newly organized colonies in their fight for independence from England. She is a true American heroine!
After reviewing the story of Deborah Sampson, have students complete the activities provided with this lesson. These activities help develop several different skills, including vocabulary, geography, math, creative writing, and art/history.
Answers for Student Activities:
I. Vocabulary:
III. MATH
2. 7 years
3. Answer will vary
V. ART/HISTORY - Subjective analysis
VOCABULARY MATCH-UP:
1. H 2. O 3. S 4. Q 5. M 6. R 7. J 8. N 9. E 10. P 11. K 12. B 13.
I 14. T 15. G 16. F 17.C 18. D 19. L 20. A
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
DEBORAH SAMPSON: REVOLUTIONARY WAR HEROINE
Deborah Sampson was born on December 17, 1760 in Plympton, Massachusetts. While she was a child her father died, and she was sent to live with relatives. After a time, Deborah's widowed mother was forced to give her up to a Middleboro family for indentured service. Deborah was then sent to live with the Benjamin Thomas family. She would have to work for the family for 10 years as a servant! Deborah had to work hard and long. There were many chores to do on the farm as well as helping the children with their lessons. Fortunately, Deborah was allowed to go to school and learned to read and write. At that time, girls were not allowed to go to school, but Deborah was quite lucky! Deborah always worked very hard completing the chores required of her position. She became a tall, strong young woman, quite able to take on a man's work.
As she heard stories of the newly formed colonies' desire for independence she became interested in doing something herself. After all, she longed for more exciting things to do! She listened to the talk of the adults and often sat up late wondering how she could help in the fight for freedom. As the colonists began to protest their treatment by the English many things happened. In 1773 the Boston Tea Party took place. The American colonies were fighting back! Then in 1775 the war with England finally began. The next year, representatives from the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia and declared their independence from England!
Finally, in 1778, Deborah's ten years of service was over! She could now do as she pleased, but the war for independence dragged on. She desperately wanted to help in some way!
One day she had an idea! Carefully she fashioned herself a man's suit. Deborah tried it on, pulled her hair back and looked at herself in the mirror. She was a tall, sturdy young woman. With a little help, she could pass herself off for a man! At that moment she decided that she would join the continental army as a soldier. She would fight for her right to be American!
A few days later, she packed her knapsack, cut her hair, wrapped a length of material around her chest, donned her homemade man's suit, and walked to the recruiting post in Billingham, Massachusetts, 35 miles away. Disguised as a young boy, Deborah Sampson enlisted in the continental army. No one in Billingham knew her, so she signed on as Robert Shurtleff. For a while she was stationed at Worcester and then joined the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment stationed at West Point.
Twice Deborah was wounded in raids along the Hudson. Near Tarrytown she suffered a sword cut to the head. At Eastchester she took a bullet to the thigh. The wound was deep, but Deborah was determined not to see the camp doctor because she feared her secret would become known. Late in the night Deborah took a probe and dug out the bullet from her thigh. This wound would cause her much trouble the rest of her life.
Army records show that indeed Deborah was an exceptionally good soldier. Because of her strength and determination she passed as a boy, too young to grow a beard. She also gained the respect of her regiment with her courage and bravery in battle. Deborah was chosen as a member of an elite core of riflemen.
Deborah was also at Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered. On the night of October 14 the Americans took Reboubt no. 10 in a furious bayonet charge. Deborah was chosen as one of a select corps of
attackers after days of back-breaking, hand-blistering work in digging trenches. At dark on the day of the attack they marched to the assault with unloaded arms but with fixed bayonets. They were courageous to the very end and were complete victors of the battle.
Deborah kept her secret until she went to Philadelphia as a general's aide. There she came down with a "malignant fever" and was sent to a hospital where the startled doctor discovered that this young soldier was a woman! Believing that a hospital full of men was not a good place for a young woman, the doctor took her to his own home to recuperate. Later, in a letter to the general, the doctor revealed that Deborah was a woman in a man's army. In a meeting with the general Deborah confessed that she was indeed a young woman who had become a soldier in the continental army.
On October 25, 1783, Deborah was honorably discharged from the army and returned to a woman's world. She had been in the army one and a half years and had an excellent record of service. Later, she married Benjamin Gannet, a young farmer, and bore three children. Deborah and Benjamin's farm didn't do very well. They needed money, so Deborah Sampson became America's "first woman lecturer"! She became one of the first women in this country to travel alone and give talks for money. Deborah put on her soldier's uniform and recounted her experiences as a soldier in the continental army. She also spoke against war. Her fame spread across the country. Deborah missed her family a great deal and became tired of traveling, so she went home.
Deborah died on April 20, 1827, at the age of 67 and was buried in Sharon, Massachusetts. On her tombstone is written these words:
"Deborah Sampson Gannet, Robert Shurtleff,
The Female Soldier.
Service: 1781 - 1783"
The house she and Ben lived in with their children still stands in Sharon, Massachusetts, today. In a nearby cemetery a marble tablet has been erected in her honor. There is even a street named for her, Deborah Sampson Street. More than 100 years after she died, the memory of Deborah Sampson and her bravery still lives!
Suggested student reading:
Deborah Sampson Goes to War by Bryna Stevens, Carolrhoda Books, Minn., c1984.
The Secret Soldier: The Story of Deborah Sampson by Ann McGovern, Four Winds Press, New York, c1975.
Student Activities:
I. Vocabulary:
II. Geography:
On a map of the United States find the state where Deborah Sampson was born. Locate the towns of Plympton and Middleboro. What is the capital of the state today?
III. Math:
Answer the following questions using the information you have learned about Deborah Sampson.
2. How many years before Deborah was discharged from the army was the Declaration of Independence signed?
3. How many years ago was Deborah born?
Deborah Sampson was one of the first women soldiers. She was very courageous and determined to accomplish her goal of helping her new country obtain its freedom. If you could be the very first person to do any one thing (such as becoming the first woman president, or the first woman to fly to mars) what would it be? What problems would you have to overcome? How would you overcome them? What would be the most exciting part? Think carefully then write a descriptive narrative about your adventure. Draw a picture illustrating your accomplishment.
V. Art/History:
Design a timeline of Deborah Sampson's life. Include her birth and death dates, major events in her life, and major historical events in her lifetime. Illustrate your timeline.
Deborah Sampson: Revolutionary Heroine -- Vocabulary Match-Up
Your Name _________________________
Directions: Match the vocabulary words with the correct definition.
1____ heroine
2____ independence
3____ widow
4____ indentured
5____ chore
6____ fashioned
7____ donned
8____ disguised
9____ thigh
10____ recuperate
11____ lecturer
12____ knapsack
13____ skirmish
14____ elite
15____ saber
16____ bayonet
17____ trenches
18____ victors
19____ recount
20____ enlist
a. to join
b. a back pack to carry one's belongings
c. furrows dug into the earth for military purposes
d. the winner of a contest or fight
e. upper portion of the leg
f. a spike or knife affixed to the barrel of a gun
g. sword
h. a courageous woman
i. a short fight
j. to put on
k. one who teaches or speaks before an audience
l. to tell over again
m. a task or job
n. deceptive covering
o. self-government
p. to get well; to recover
q. a length of service in exchange for room and board
r. to mold or make
s. a woman whose husband has died
t. superior