Anne Hennis Trotter Bailey's Role In The Revolutionary War

Anne Hennis Trotter Bailey, also known as “Mad Anne” Bailey or “The White Squaw of the Kanawha”, is a notable war heroine and founding mother best known for her ride from Fort Lee to Fort Savannah. She is an excellent example of the courage and dedication many men and women alike demonstrated during the Revolutionary War. She served as a scout and a messenger in the Continental Army. Because of her adventurous attitude and male attire, she was considered an eccentric character for her time. Her life as a frontierswoman and her role in the Revolution makes her an exceptional figure in American history. Anne Bailey, whose maiden name was Hennis, was born in Liverpool, England in 1742. She was named after Queen Anne of England. She resided in Liverpool up until age 18, where she had a formal …show more content…
She left her seven year old at the care of her neighbors and then left her life at home to enlist in the Continental Army. She began as a recruiter, travelling from one station to another, persuading people to join the militia to protect their families from the Indians. Later on, she also recruited people to join the Continental Army and fight for freedom from the British. She often worked as a messenger which involved travelling over a hundred miles between forts to deliver messages. She was well respected among the militiamen and became known as “Mad Anne” to the Indians and the people of Virginia. Wearing men’s military uniform and with a rifle over her shoulder, she was considered an eccentric character for her time. After 11 years of widowhood, Anne married John Bailey, who admired Anne’s wild attitude. John was part of the Rangers, a very famous group of frontier scouts. They both went on duty at Fort Lee, named after Henry Lee, father of Robert E. Lee. Conflicts between settlers and Native Americans escalated very quickly during this time, making Anne’s rides to other Forts very dangerous.