Camp Followers - Contrary to popular belief, a camp follower was not a woman of questionable virtue. In fact, a camp follower wasn't necessarily a woman at all! Camp followers were comprised of men, women, and children who provided services to keep the British Army on its feet. This included artificers, sutlers (merchants), drovers, and artisans like coopers, wainwrights, and blacksmiths. They all performed essential services and were licensed by the army to be a part of the campaign community.

A license was given as a means of insuring that the camp followers followed the rules of the army. These licenses would detail, for example, when and where the sutlers could trade, particularly if they were trading in alcoholic beverages, where they would travel in relation to the army, and what would happen to them if they didn't follow the rules. In order to get a license, the individual would have to show they were of good character and had a value to the army. This license could be revoked if there were rules broken, and the person "drummed out of camp," a ceremony which would let everyone know in no uncertain terms that this person was persona non grata.

Women who followed the army were referred to as distaff. This term originally was used in spinning, just as the word spinster was taken to describe an unmarried woman.

While the British High Command was reluctant to encourage women to encumber the Army's movements, they realized that the women performed a valuable function (not least of which in keeping the men from deserting). For this reason, a certain number of women were allowed to embark on the ships with the troops leaving England. The actual numbers depended on specific units, but primary sources reveal that numbers ranged anywhere from 6 to 10 women per company. There were occasions when the numbers far exceeded these limits and the High Command would reprimand those responsible for letting too many women on the boat. There were also cases where women paid their own passage to the colonies to be with their husbands, fathers, or brothers. The numbers of women were increased as soldiers married local loyalist girls. This became such a problem that orders were sent down to commanding officers stating that any marriage had to be approved by the commanding officer in advance and that the commanding officer had to ensure that the lady in question was virtuous and of good moral character.

The role of women in camp was fairly limited. Contrary to popular belief, they did not serve as seamstresses, or cooks. Most companies would have soldiers who trained as tailors in their civilian days, experts in fitting and sewing military uniforms. For the most part, men were required to cook their own meals, although many that had families travelling with them would eat with their families. The most common occupation for women was as laundresses and nurses. Other women could serve as servants to the high ranking officers and their families. For all these jobs, a woman would receive a wage, as well as full rations, thereby contributing to their family's finances. Even children would receive half rations, although in times of war supplies could be interrupted. At those times, the families would be the first to lose their rations, so some financial security was important. There were also women who would try to add to the family budget by selling rum on the black market - if they were caught, they would be drummed out.

At least three women in each company were laundresses. They performed an important job, as the British Army had high standards for appearance. Doing laundry was heavy work. The average laundry tub weighed 35 pounds empty. It would have to be filled and emptied with a dipper because they wouldn't be strong enough to tip it. It would take three women all day to fetch and boil water, wash and rinse the clothes and dispose of the water. They were not allowed to perform these tasks near camp as laundry water was considered filthy and unhealthy, nor were they allowed to wash in streams, because this would contaminate the drinking water. Ignoring either of these rules would result in being drummed out of the army and even being sent home to England on the next available ship.

Another job was nursing. In those days, hospital nurses back in England were the dregs of society as only the poor went to hospital. The rich were nursed at home. When a battle was expected, each company would order two women to act as nurses. If they did not appear, they could be sent home to England. They were not allowed to act as nurses in hospital camps where their own husbands were being treated. Yet, on the other hand, a nurse could be paid up to 8 shillings per day, more than the soldiers got. Nursing became a desirable job. For this reason women served on a rotation, allowing all the higher pay.

Watch this space for the Distaff Handbook for the Ninth of Foot, with guidelines on how to assemble your 18th Century wardrobe!

For more information, please contact Maren Lauder at marenlauderhotmail.com