Polly Cooper - Healing Soldiers at Valley Forge
Polly Cooper was an Oneida woman who helped feed and heal the Continental Soldiers at Valley Forge.
Please note: Polly’s story has been handed down through oral tradition among the Oneida and while I have been unable to locate any primary resources to confirm it, the shawl at the climax of the tale has been displayed in several respectable museums over the years.
Oneida Nation
When the American Revolution broke out, the Iroquois Confederacy in New York broke out into civil war.
One of the two nations that chose to fight with the Americans were the Oneida, largely due to their friendship with Preacher Samuel Kirkland.
This Nation became an important ally of the Patriots on several occasions throughout the war, none more important, perhaps, than at Valley Forge...
Polly Cooper
While the Continental Army was starving at Valley Forge, approximately 50 members of the Oneida Nation carried corn hundreds of miles to help feed their friends.
Among this group one woman, Polly Cooper, helped instruct the hungry men how to properly cook the grain.
The white corn they brought was different from the yellow corn the soldiers were used to and if not prepared correctly is impossible to digest and would have killed them.
Remedies
When the Oneida men returned home, Polly stayed in camp.
Cooper helped heal dozens of sick men with herbal remedies she knew how to prepare.
For her service, the Continental Congress offered Polly payment.
She refused.
Polly believed it was her duty to help a friend in need and accepting compensation would be embarrassing for her honor.
A Gift of Friendship
On one occasion, Polly joined a group of camp followers who went into town.
The woman took notice when Cooper admired a black shawl in a store.
They pooled their money and purchased the item as a gift for their friend.
Polly accepted and soon returned home, disappearing into the annals of history.
Want to read about another important Native American in the Continental Army?
Check out this article:
The Highest Ranking Native American in the Continental Army - Colonel Louis Cook
Want to get fun American Revolution articles straight to your inbox every morning?
Subscribe to my email list here.
You can also support this site on Patreon by clicking here.
Thanks for your support!
