America 250 Moments
Polly Cooper
6/12/2026 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Many Patriot soldiers owe their lives to one woman from the Oneida Nation.
Many Patriot soldiers owe their lives to one woman from the Oneida Nation.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
America 250 Moments is a local public television program presented by APT
America 250 Moments
Polly Cooper
6/12/2026 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Many Patriot soldiers owe their lives to one woman from the Oneida Nation.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(upbeat music) [Narrator] Many Patriot soldiers owe their lives to one woman from the Oneida Nation.
As George Washington and the Continental Army struggled to survive the winter at Valley Forge, Oneida Nation Chief Oskanondonha sent tribal members to carry food relief to the Continental Army.
Polly Cooper joined the 50-person crew on a 400-mile trek from New York to Valley Forge to help with cooking and medicine.
Along with the scouts and warriors, the chief sent hundreds of baskets of white corn.
White corn must be carefully prepared before it can be eaten, and Polly was essential in teaching soldiers and their families how to cook it.
Even after the Oneida delegation left, Polly remained behind to care for sick soldiers and later refused pay for her services, saying it was her duty to help those in need.
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America 250 Moments is a local public television program presented by APT