As the mother to two young soccer players in Manhattan, I spend many weekends in the city’s parks, from the sprawling turf fields in Riverside Park to the postage stamp sized refuges tucked away on miscellaneous side streets. A recent practice schedule took us to Upper Manhattan’s Fort Tryon Park – a spot I have rarely visited, despite its more than eight miles of pathways; the city’s largest garden with unrestricted public access; Manhattan’s largest dog run; and the Cloisters, a stunning museum containing more than 5,000 pieces of medieval works housed in several historic structures that crossed the Atlantic from Europe. These (relatively tame) adventures with my daughters piqued my interest in the remarkable adventures of Revolutionary War hero Margaret Corbin. 

The story of Margaret Corbin begins in western Pennsylvania on November 12, 1751. She was born Margaret Cochran, and she sadly lost both of her parents when she was only five years old, casualties of the French and Indian War. She was raised by relatives, and in 1772, she wed John Corbin, a farmer. Three years later, he enlisted in the First Company of Pennsylvania Artillery, a military unit that was eventually absorbed into the Continental Army. In 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord were fought, marking the start of armed conflict between British forces and American colonial militias. At only twenty-four years old, Margaret was faced with the choice of staying in Pennsylvania to care for their farm – an option that came with significant risk of poverty, starvation, or attack – or following her husband to war, with all of its attendant dangers. Margaret chose war.

“Camp Follower”

The term used for Margaret and the women and children who traveled with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War was “camp follower,” a term that seems to avoid the darkness of times that were readily present for a country at war. Life as a camp follower was extraordinarily difficult. They were paid meager wages to cook, sew, and do laundry for the troops. Their meals were rationed by the Army, and they slept in the Army’s camps. Camp followers were disfavored by General Washington, though despite the negative stereotype, many soldiers found their presence comforting, and it is thought that they kept soldiers from deserting.

The British invaded New York in July 1776, and the British and Hessians advanced through Manhattan. Battles were fought on several fronts, including the Battle of Long Island and the Battle of White Plains. American forces retreated into New Jersey, but nearly 3,000 Continental soldiers remained on the hill in present-day Fort Tryon Park. On November 16, 1776, British and Hessian artillery began to attack Fort Washington, a fortification located within modern-day Washington Heights, from multiple directions. Margaret dressed as a man and joined her husband in the Battle of Fort Washington. She helped her husband clean and load his cannon. Tragically, he was struck in the battle and died. Rather than see the cannon fall to enemy forces, Margaret bravely stepped in. She took over the cannon, loaded it, and fired away. Doing so, she earned the admiration of her fellow soldiers. It is reported that she had a “steady aim and sure-shot.” She continued fighting until she was eventually struck herself and became incapacitated by several wounds. Her cannon was one of the last left firing during the battle. Incredibly, Margaret survived her injuries, though she was rendered permanently disabled in her left arm. The British ultimately won the battle. Margaret was later paroled by the British and released to a Revolutionary hospital.

Margaret struggled greatly after the battle, both with her health and financially. After she recovered, Margaret joined the Invalid Regiment at West Point, where she took care of wounded soldiers until her discharge in 1783. On July 6, 1779, the Continental Congress awarded Margaret with a lifelong pension, a first for a woman, but her pension was only half that of male soldiers. She died near West Point on January 16, 1800. In 1926, she was moved from her grave along the Hudson River to West Point, where she was buried with full military honors. A monument in her honor was erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Renaming

Interestingly, Fort Tryon was actually named by the British, after Major General Sir William Tryon, the last British governor of colonial New York, following the British victory in the Battle of Fort Washington. Despite the Continental Army’s eventual victory in the war, the name stuck, and the park continues to be called Fort Tryon today. In the 1970s, a movement emerged to rename the park after an American hero—and Margaret Corbin’s story resurfaced. The resulting compromise was the naming of the park’s plaza and drive in honor of Margaret. Today, Fort Tryon Park is home to Margaret Corbin Circle and Margaret Corbin Drive.

There are many reasons to enjoy New York’s spectacular parks all year round, and Fort Tryon Park is no exception. Consider adding Fort Tryon Park to your list of spots to visit (or revisit) in light of the semiquincentennial. Margaret’s story is no less important or impactful today. One might say it’s more important than ever. At the very least, take a few minutes the next time you are rushing to a soccer practice (or dog run, or the Cloisters), to pay your respects to Margaret, whose monument greets you as you enter the park. You will be glad you did.

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Editor’s note: The author is a senior attorney in the New York office of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.