She Took the Cannon

Margaret Corbin

Our Heritage

This Women’s History Month, we honor Margaret Corbin, a trailblazer whose courage echoes in the legacy of military families today. She was one of the first women connected to the Continental Army to be formally recognized for military service.

Margaret married John Corbin of the Pennsylvania Artillery. Like many spouses of the era, she accompanied him as a camp follower, cooking, washing, and tending to the wounded at garrison sites.

During the Battle of Fort Washington on Manhattan Island in 1776, British and Hessian forces assaulted the outnumbered American garrison. When her husband was killed by his cannon, Margaret stepped into his role, firing at the enemy until she was seriously wounded in the arm, chest, and jaw.

Her courage was formally recognized by the Pennsylvania government as they provided immediate relief, and the Continental Congress awarded her half the pay of a soldier, plus support for clothing — a rare acknowledgement of battlefield service for any woman at the time. Congress also enrolled her in the Corps of Invalids, a unit for wounded soldiers, where she remained through the end of the war.

Margaret’s story is part of our Our Heritage, highlighting how military spouses and families have long shaped the readiness, resilience, and service of our Total Force.