Deborah Sampson
Keeping Disguise
Deborah had to keep it very secretive that she was a women disguised as a man. She didn't make it seem easy, though. She had to lie that she had small pox when the men were going for flu their flu shots, refused medical help thinking that she may go unconscious and not be able to hide herself, and avoid bathing many times with the rest of the troops in the Hudson River.
Revelations
Sampson had nearly died from Malignant Fever. Her doctor, Benjamin Binney, had opened his house to her during her recovery until she was fully healed. Binney went to feel her heart beat, but while feeling her heart, he discovered she had breasts and that she wasn't a man. He was obligated to tell the army about her secret. When Deborah was fully recovered and Binney had sent her on a boat from Philadelphia to West Point, he gave her a letter to give to her General; her not knowing it was about her. The doctor had revealed to the General that soldier Robert Shurtlieff, was actually townswomen Deborah Sampson. After the revelation, she honorably discharged by General Henry Knox at West Point on October 23, 1783.
Sampson dressed as soldier Robert Shurtlieff during the American Revolution war
This statue stands at the entrance of the Sharon Public Library in Massachusetts
Citations
"National Women's History Museum." Education & Resources. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.
"Revolutionary War - Soldier Deborah Sampson." Revolutionary War - Soldier Deborah Sampson. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.