In the winter of 1777, General George Washington led 12,000 military members and their families to Valley Forge. Located about 20 miles from Philadelphia, Valley Forge was a prime area to keep watch of the British army’s next moves. However, the winter would soon prove to be a much stronger enemy. Within a few weeks, hope fizzled along with food, supplies, and the soldiers’ lives.
As the Revolutionary War pressed on, funding the military became challenging. Unlike the British Army, the Continental Army was less experienced and unprepared. The lack of funds did not only affect the purchasing of weapons, but also created a shortage of medical supplies and most importantly, food. Without proper nourishment, the Continental Army was in danger of starvation and even worse, death. The rations at Valley Forge were never consistent. Daily nutrition was supposed to include food like beef, fish, pork, flour, cornmeal, rice, bread, and alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, the soldiers received next to none of these and often went days without eating.
Soon, the food shortage reached a desperate climax. The army was forced to demand or seize supplies from farmers in the surrounding area and some soldiers turned to hunting and fishing. Washington advised his soldiers to keep clear records of the food they snatched from the farmers so the Continental Congress could compensate their losses after the war. As expected, Valley Forge locals were not pleased with the Continental Army’s actions. The more winter ravaged the area, the harder it became to survive. Albigence Waldo, a surgeon in the Continental Army, wrote of his experience at Valley Forge in a diary entry on December 14, 1777. He says “I can't endure it. Why are we sent here to starve and freeze?” Waldo’s diary entry only describes the start of the situation.
By the beginning of 1778, Valley Forge was surrounded by starvation, infectious diseases, and a lack of warm clothing. Washington begged Congress to help, but his pleas went unanswered. At this point, victory for the British seemed inevitable. Deaths at Valley Forge approached almost twenty five percent of the original 12,000. Christopher Ludwick, a German immigrant who lived in nearby Philadelphia, was an experienced baker. At last, Congress stepped in and appointed Ludwick to Baking Director of the Continental Army. Ludwick’s breads provided some relief to Valley Forge. However, as if through divine intervention, another person would pull the Continental Army out of their dark tunnel.
The Oneida Indian Nation originally lived in present-day upstate New York. The tribe was an ally of the Continental Army and supported the Revolutionary War’s mission for freedom from the British. When the Oneida Nation heard of the dire situation at Valley Forge, Chief Oskanondonha (sometimes called Chief Shenandoah) sent his warriors south to join the Continental Army. In addition, he sent corn to the soldiers to fill their empty bellies. Polly Cooper, a young Oneida woman, stepped in as a cook for the Continental Army. She arrived in Valley Forge in the spring of 1778 with numerous baskets of white corn after walking 250 miles (some sources say 400 miles). Cooper taught the soldiers and their families how to properly cook the corn. She also had medical experience and treated sick soldiers back to health. Using her cooking skills, Cooper prepared meals like corn soup, corn bread, and corn mush, which often contained strawberries or nuts for better flavor.
At last, Valley Forge was no longer under perilous conditions, so Cooper announced she would be making her journey home. Out of gratitude, the Continental Army offered to pay her for feeding them and treating their illnesses. She refused. William Honyoust Rockwell (1870-1960), a descendant of Cooper and chief of the Oneida tribe, wrote:
George Washington is called the father of this country; an Indian woman of the Oneida Nation should be called the mother of this country. Her name was Polly Cooper. She cooked for George Washington and his staff of officers when they were located in Philadelphia. Polly Cooper would not accept cash payment for her part in the Revolutionary War. Isn’t that just like what a mother does for her children?
By the summer of 1778, Washington and his troops were more prepared than ever for their next battles. The Valley Forge National Park Service website reads: “Valley Forge was not the darkest hour of the Revolutionary War; it is a place where an already accomplished group of professionals stood their ground, honed their craft, and thwarted one of the major British offensives of the war.” The Revolutionary War finally ended in September 1783 when the Treaty of Paris was signed. On January 14, 1784, the Continental Congress ratified the treaty in Annapolis, Maryland, making the city the first peacetime capital of the United States. As for Polly Cooper, oral tradition states she received a shawl as a thank you gift from either Martha Washington or from the wives of the Valley Forge soldiers. The shawl remains in the possession of her descendants.
Historical records neither confirm nor deny the existence of Polly Cooper. In fact, as I compiled research for Polly Cooper, I was not able to find any scholarly sources about her in any of the databases I consulted. Does this mean Polly Cooper is a myth? This is a complicated question. What history shows is there was an Oneida woman by the name of Polly Cooper who lived during the American Revolution, and she also served as a cook for the American Army during the War of 1812. Is this the same Polly Cooper who was present at Valley Forge? It is certainly possible, but difficult to say for sure. It is important to consider that oral tradition and history was common during this era, especially for Native American tribes. The Revolutionary War was certainly supported by the Oneida Nation. Of them, Washington said, “The Oneidas have manifested the strongest Attachment to us throughout this Dispute.” This quote is dated from March 1778, about a month before Polly Cooper arrived. Additionally, this quote comes from a letter to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs Washington wrote while stationed in Valley Forge. Thus, with this statement from Washington, it is reasonable to say the Oneida Nation played a vital role in assisting the Continental Army, especially during the Valley Forge era.
In 2004, the Oneida Nation presented a bronze statue to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Sculpted by Edward Hlvaka, “Allies in War, Partners in Peace,” the 20-foot-tall statue depicts Polly Cooper in the center with Washington and Chief Oskanondonha at her sides. The three figures stand underneath a white pine tree, representing the Great Law of Peace of the Iroquois Confederacy, which included the Oneida Nation. The Great Law of Peace heavily influenced the principles of the United States Constitution. Currently, the statue is located on the fourth floor of the museum.
Though virtually no other information about Polly Cooper can be found via databases or other scholarly outlets, Native American tribes were crucial to the success of the Continental Army. Without the Oneida Nation, the fate of Valley Forge likely would have been much worse. Perhaps the Revolutionary War would have been lost and the history of the United States would have been entirely different. While details about Polly Cooper are fuzzy, it can be concluded that an Oneida woman, whether her name was Polly Cooper or not, must have been present at Valley Forge. Chief Oskanondonha’s efforts to send warriors and bushels of corn likely would have included sending an Oneida woman or women along to cook corn-related meals. History, despite the availability of documents, records, and sources, is complex and often does not have concrete answers. A lack of answers does not always equal a lack of truth.
I first heard about Polly Cooper during a recent visit to the National Museum of the American Indian Washington D.C. A docent gave a short presentation about the museum and then asked visitors if they had any questions. A woman raised her hand and said, “What should I visit first in this museum?” The docent responded, “Take the elevator to the fourth floor and go see the Polly Cooper statue.” Out of curiosity, I also went to the fourth floor because I had no idea who Polly Cooper was and why she was important to Native American history. When I found the statue and read the accompanying information panel, my jaw dropped. Like most children in the United States, I learned about the struggles of Valley Forge in school, but never heard the name Polly Cooper or that the Oneida Nation had assisted the Continental Army. Again, while the “true” story of Polly Cooper is hazy, everyday people are sometimes forgotten during the aftermath of historical events. Furthermore, prominent historical figures are sometimes embellished upon, such as the famous myth of Washington chopping down a cherry tree as a six-year-old boy. We might never know further details about Polly Cooper other than what is available through the Oneida Nation’s oral tradition. So, the burning question is this: can Americans call Polly Cooper the mother of our country, as Rockwell suggested in his writings?
Absolutely.
“Allies in War, Partners in Peace." Edward Hlvaka. Photo: Darlene P. Campos, 2024.
Accompanying Info Panel
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