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People of the Revolutionary War | Women of the American Revolution | Anne Bailey
Anne Bailey (1742-1825)
Mad Anne, who was she? During research I found there were two Anne Baileys. As there being two
of them, I would like to tell you what they have in common. Believe it or not, both Anne's had
been called "Mad Anne"! They both were living around the same time too. Also they
both had husbands who were soldiers. As you can see, they have many things in common.
First I'll tell you about Anne Warner Bailey. This Anne happened to be born in October 1758 in
Grotton, Conn. Anne was brought up by her uncle Edward Mills. She was married to Elijah Bailey.
The Battle at Grotton Heights was one thing she is famous for. It happened in Fort Grizzwald on
Sept. 6,1781. After the fighting, Anne walked three miles to the Fort in search of her uncle.
She found him heavily wounded. Her uncle asked to see his wife and child before he died. Anne
hurried home. When she got there, she had to catch and saddle the family's horse. Anne got the
wife and child. and then returned to her uncle . The wife rode the horse while Anne walked and
carried the baby. She received the name "Mother Bailey" because of that trip. After
she brought the family to the dying uncle, Anne went around to help all others wounded.
There was a flannel shortage at Grotton. Flannel was used to make cartridges for muzzle loader
guns. On July 13, 1813, Anne went door to door, collecting flannel for the soldiers. She even
gave up her own flannel petticoat. It was this patriotic act that gave her the name "Heroine
of Grotton". The "Martial Petticoat" has become celebrated in song and story.
Anne died on January 10, 1851.
Now let me tell you about Anne Trotter Bailey. She was born in Liverpool, England as Anne Hennis
in 1742. She went to live with relatives when her parents passed away in 1761. Her relatives lived
in Virginia near Staunton in the Shenandoah Valley, U.S.A. She married Richard Trotter in 1765.
She had one son named William. When William was 7 his father passed away. Richard was killed in
a battle on October 19, 1774. After he died, Anne left William with a neighbor named Mrs. Moses
Mann. Then Anne dressed like a man and joined the army. She went to many militia meetings to tell
the men to fight the British or the Indians.
Anne had four nicknames. They were: "A Daughter of the Revolution", "The Pioneer
Heroine of the Great Kanawah shore", "Mad Anne" and "The White Squaw of
Kanawah". The most fascinating nickname she had, I think, was "Mad Anne". The
Indians named her that because they thought she was possessed by an evil spirit and that she was
insane. They thought that because she could ride through Indian territory without harm. One time
the Indians were chasing Anne. She knew she couldn't out run them so, she jumped off her horse
and hid in a hollow log. Although the Indians looked everywhere, they couldn't find her so they
took her horse. Later that night, Anne snuck into their camp and stole her horse back. She rode
away and at a safe distance, she screamed and yelled like a wild woman.
The ride in 1791 was what Anne is most famous for. A runner was sent from Point Pleasant to Ft. Lee
to say Indians were going to attack with a large army force within a few days. The ammunition was
low in Ft. Lee at the time. They needed ammunition so they could fight off the Indians. Anne rode
a very dangerous trail alone. She rode 100 miles to Lewisburg across wilderness without roads to
get the gun powder. She returned with the much needed supply of ammunition. Anne died in November
1825 of old age. A poem was written in 1861 by Charles Robb about this ride. It was called "
Anne Bailey's Ride".
Anne Bailey, "the white Squaw of the Kanawha", is the heroine of border warfare days in
the Kanawha Valley. She is said to have been born in Liverpool, England. She came to America about
1761 and settled near Staunton, Va. Here she married Richard Trotter, who was killed in the Battle
of Point Pleasant. Immediately upon learning of her husband's death, Anne became "Mad Anne"
and, clothing herself in the garb of a frontiersman, set out to avenge her loss.
She became a scout and as such did her bit in the region of present Charleston during the American
Revolution and the Indian wars that followed. After they ended she resumed her civilian life and
customs, having meanwhile married John Bailey. Her remaining years were spent at Gallipolis, Ohio,
where she died.
by Suzanne Hollis
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