Framed Female Patriotism - Mrs. Steel and General Greene by Alonzo Chappel

Female Patriotism – Mrs. Steel and General Greene by Alonzo Chappel depicts a moment from the American Revolution, showcasing the role of women in supporting the Patriot cause. Mrs. Elizabeth Maxwell Steel, a well-known Patriot from North Carolina, presents General Nathanael Greene with two bags of coin to supply him and his army after learning he was penniless. "Take it, you will need it, and I can do without the money". The scene took place in Salisbury, North Carolina, in 1781, when Greene stopped at her tavern while leading his forces against the British and symbolizing the financial and moral support that civilians—especially women—offered to the war effort. Mrs. Steel's act of patriotism is a prime example of how women contributed to the war, not only as spies or nurses but also through financial support and resourcefulness.