One of the biggest strains of the war was the constant shortage of supplies and well trained men. Throughout the Revolution, American troops were suffering with a shortage of clothes, boots, food and proper equipment (Countryman). This was largely due to the blockades and the British involvement in places such as St. Eustatius, a neutral Dutch trading island, where they confiscated everything they could from everyone they felt like, friends and foes alike (Lecture). Along with the blockade, confiscated property/goods and high prices, the availability of supplies became a dire situation, which was a constant sore spot for George Washington. As if the worry of feeding an army wasn't strain enough, Washington was also trying to preserve what
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Like the crafty women that they proved themselves to be, not only were they able to evade capture, they were able to walk right out of the British soldiers immediate grasp. Champion was delayed by a British sentry while carrying a military missive to George Washington. She managed to convince the sentry that “waking his superior officer” was not worth the repercussions. Like any gullible man in the presence of a witty woman, he was convinced she posed no threat and let her go. Little did he know there was an important message hidden in her saddle bag for his enemy. Much like Champion, Hall also managed to make it through enemy lines while carrying a missive. In 1776, Hall and three of her friends, were given entrance by the British to Charleston, a city they were occupying as their own. Under the guise of going to an apothecary, the women were deemed “well dressed matrons” and allowed to enter, the missive tucked safely within the folds of Hall's petticoats until its final destination. Even though there were plenty of women who did what they could, when they could for the cause, there were very few that received Congress acknowledgment and military pay like Margaret Cochran
Like the crafty women that they proved themselves to be, not only were they able to evade capture, they were able to walk right out of the British soldiers immediate grasp. Champion was delayed by a British sentry while carrying a military missive to George Washington. She managed to convince the sentry that “waking his superior officer” was not worth the repercussions. Like any gullible man in the presence of a witty woman, he was convinced she posed no threat and let her go. Little did he know there was an important message hidden in her saddle bag for his enemy. Much like Champion, Hall also managed to make it through enemy lines while carrying a missive. In 1776, Hall and three of her friends, were given entrance by the British to Charleston, a city they were occupying as their own. Under the guise of going to an apothecary, the women were deemed “well dressed matrons” and allowed to enter, the missive tucked safely within the folds of Hall's petticoats until its final destination. Even though there were plenty of women who did what they could, when they could for the cause, there were very few that received Congress acknowledgment and military pay like Margaret Cochran