[Side note: June 28, 1778] The battle of Monmouth was indecisive, but the Americans held the field, and the British retreated and remained inactive for the rest of the summer.

On the bloody field of Monmouth

Flashed the guns of Greene and Wayne.

Fiercely roared the tide of battle,

Thick the sward was heaped with slain.

Foremost, facing death and danger,

Hessian, horse, and grenadier,

In the vanguard, fiercely fighting,

Stood an Irish Cannonier.

Loudly roared his iron cannon,

Mingling ever in the strife,

And beside him, firm and daring,

Stood his faithful Irish wife.

Of her bold contempt of danger

Greene and Lee's Brigades could tell,

Every one knew "Captain Molly,"

And the army loved her well.

Surged the roar of battle round them,

Swiftly flew the iron hail,

Forward dashed a thousand bayonets,

That lone battery to assail.

From the foeman's foremost columns

Swept a furious fusillade,

Mowing down the massed battalions

In the ranks of Greene's Brigade.

Fast and faster worked the gunner,

Soiled with powder, blood, and dust,

English bayonets shone before him,

Shot and shell around him burst;

Still he fought with reckless daring,

Stood and manned her long and well,

Till at last the gallant fellow

Dead—beside his cannon fell.

With a bitter cry of sorrow,

And a dark and angry frown,

Looked that band of gallant patriots

At their gunner stricken down.

"Fall back, comrades, it is folly

Thus to strive against the foe."

"No! not so," cried Irish Molly;

"We can strike another blow."

* * * * *

Quickly leaped she to the cannon,

In her fallen husband's place,

Sponged and rammed it fast and steady,

Fired it in the foeman's face.

Flashed another ringing volley,

Roared another from the gun;

"Boys, hurrah!" cried gallant Molly,

"For the flag of Washington."

Greene's Brigade, though shorn and shattered,

Slain and bleeding half their men,

When they heard that Irish slogan,

Turned and charged the foe again.

Knox and Wayne and Morgan rally,

To the front they forward wheel,

And before their rushing onset

Clinton's English columns reel.

Still the cannon's voice in anger

Rolled and rattled o'er the plain,

Till there lay in swarms around it

Mangled heaps of Hessian slain.

"Forward! charge them with the bayonet!"

'Twas the voice of Washington,

And there burst a fiery greeting

From the Irish woman's gun.

Monckton falls; against his columns

Leap the troops of Wayne and Lee,

And before their reeking bayonets

Clinton's red battalions flee.

Morgan's rifles, fiercely flashing,

Thin the foe's retreating ranks,

And behind them onward dashing

Ogden hovers on their flanks.

Fast they fly, these boasting Britons,

Who in all their glory came,

With their brutal Hessian hirelings

To wipe out our country's name.

Proudly floats the starry banner,

Monmouth's glorious field is won,

And in triumph Irish Molly

Stands beside her smoking gun.Based on what you learn in the poem, which person in the picture is most likely Molly’s husband?

(1 point)
Responses

the shirtless man behind the cannon
the shirtless man behind the cannon

the man lying beside the cannon
the man lying beside the cannon

the man raising his hat behind Molly
the man raising his hat behind Molly

the man sitting on a rock to the left of Molly

5 answers

Based on the poem, Molly's husband is most likely the man lying beside the cannon. The poem describes Molly's husband as a gallant gunner who falls dead beside his cannon during the battle. Therefore, the correct response is:

the man lying beside the cannon

In both the painting and the passage, what is being emphasized the most?

(1 point)
Responses

the cannon
the cannon

the woman, Molly Pitcher, or Molly Maguire
the woman, Molly Pitcher, or Molly Maguire

the reason for the battle
the reason for the battle

the battlefield

In both the painting and the passage, the emphasis is placed on the woman, Molly Pitcher, or Molly Maguire. The poem highlights her bravery and critical role in the battle, particularly in the face of her husband's death. Therefore, the correct response is:

the woman, Molly Pitcher, or Molly Maguire.

Which of the following is absent from the painting but made clear in the poem?

(1 point)
Responses

the fierceness of Molly
the fierceness of Molly

the chaos of battle
the chaos of battle

the use of the cannon
the use of the cannon

the army’s love for Molly

Based on the information provided in the poem, the aspect that is made clear but likely absent from the painting is the army’s love for Molly. The poem expresses the affection and admiration that the army has for her, particularly noting that "every one knew 'Captain Molly,' and the army loved her well." Therefore, the correct response is:

the army’s love for Molly.