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In the time of the Revolution, a regiment of Hessian soldiers hired to fight on the British side were camped in South Carolina. They took possession of the lower part of the house of a farmer named Gibbes. The family were forced to retire to the upper story.

Two American boats came up the Stono River, and attacked these Hessians. Cannonballs were soon falling all about the house. Mr. Gibbes, who was so ill that he could hardly walk, got leave to move his family to another place. To do this, the whole family had to cross a field where the cannonballs were flying thick. At last they got out of reach of the cannons. Then they remembered that a little baby had been left behind. Neither Mr. Gibbes nor his wife was able to travel back to the house again. The farmer's slaves refused to go. All the rest were children.

Little Mary Anne Gibbes was only thirteen years old. The baby that had been left was her cousin.

"I will go and get him," she said.

It was a dark and stormy night. She went back into the heat of the battle. When she reached the house, the soldier who stood at the door would not let her go in. But, with tears in her eyes, she begged so hard that he let her pass. In the third story of the house she found the baby.

Then downstairs, and out into the darkness and the crash of battle, she went. The cannonballs scattered dust over her and the baby when they struck near her, but she got back to her family at last, carrying the baby safe in her arms.

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the story multiple times.
  • Read the synopsis.
  • Review the vocabulary terms.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Brave Mary Anne Gibbes crossed a battlefield thick with flying cannonballs to rescue her baby cousin. Both she and the baby made it to safety.

Vocabulary

Hessian: A native or inhabitant of the German state of Hesse.
Retire: Withdraw to or from a particular place.
Cannon: A large, heavy piece of artillery, typically mounted on wheels, formerly used in warfare.
cannonball: A round metal or stone projectile fired from a cannon in former times.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After you read the lesson, narrate it aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Map the Lesson

  • Little Mary Anne Gibbes crossed a battlefield thick with flying cannonballs in South Carolina.
  • Find South Carolina on the map.

Activity 3: Complete Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing   

  • Click the crayon above. Complete pages 47-48 of 'Second Grade American History Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing.'

Review

Question 1

What did the Gibbes family forget when they fled their house?
1 / 4

Answer 1

The Gibbes family forgot their baby at the house.
1 / 4

Question 2

Why was it dangerous to fetch the forgotten baby from the house?
2 / 4

Answer 2

It dangerous to fetch the forgotten baby from the house, because getting to the house required crossing a battlefield.
2 / 4

Question 3

Why was little Mary Anne Gibbes brave?
3 / 4

Answer 3

Mary Anne Gibbes was brave because she crossed the battlefield to save the forgotten baby.
3 / 4

Question 4

What almost hit Mary Anne Gibbes and the baby as they crossed the battlefield?
4 / 4

Answer 4

Cannonballs almost hit Mary Anne Gibbes and the baby as they crossed the battlefield.
4 / 4

  1. What did the Gibbes family forget when they fled their house? The Gibbes family forgot their baby at the house.
  2. Why was it dangerous to fetch the forgotten baby from the house? It dangerous to fetch the forgotten baby from the house, because getting to the house required crossing a battlefield.
  3. Why was little Mary Anne Gibbes brave? Mary Anne Gibbes was brave because she crossed the battlefield to save the forgotten baby.
  4. What almost hit Mary Anne Gibbes and the baby as they crossed the battlefield? Cannonballs almost hit Mary Anne Gibbes and the baby as they crossed the battlefield.

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