TRUE or FALSE?

The first woman to receive a pension from the U.S. government as a disabled soldier, Margaret Cochran Corbin, was wounded in the American Civil War.




Corbin was wounded in the American Revolutionary War. Her husband, John, joined the Continental Army when the American Revolution began, and Margaret accompanied him—as was the custom for women of the day—washing, cooking, and nursing. When British and Hessian troops attacked Fort Washington, New York, on November 16, 1776, John and his gunner were killed. Margaret took over loading and firing the cannon until she was wounded by grapeshot that tore her shoulder, chest, and jaw. She never recovered use of her left arm, and in 1779 was awarded a pension for her distinguished bravery.