In 1778, when she was 18, Deborah Sampson enlisted in the continental army. She dressed in Men's clothing, and used the name 'Robert Shurtliff'.
The first battle she fought in was that of Terrytown. Durring the battle, she suffered several wounds. Her fellow soldiers brought her to a hospital, but she fled out of fear that her true identity would be discovered.
Although some of her wounds had been treated before she left the hospital, she still had two musket balls embeded in her leg. She was able to successfully remove one of them with a pocket-knife and sewing needle, but she was unable to reach the other. This left her with a limp for the rest of her life.