Princess Agnes Salm-Salm the quintessential queen of the 1862 winter camp at Falmouth VA noted that the camp was: "teeming with women." She and her husband lived in a hospital tent with a damask upholstered sofa, large bedstead with white silk canopy, turkish carpets and frou frous to create a harem motif. She held soirees, balls and receptions even having a supper prepared by Delmonico and his staff. Needless to say, such high living was highly resented by the troops who were huddled in their dog tents or under hastily erected mud and branch huts. In the fact the winter camp became notorious throughout the north.
There were several categories of camp followers: wives, sweethearts, adventurers, mothers, sisters, laundresses, maids, daughters, sanitary workers, nurses, refugees and of course the prostitutes. In the fact the camps were a magnet for women who came for all kinds of individual reasons.
In the south where camps were located in the backyard of civilian populations, young women flocked for day visits to flirt and maybe even catch a husband. The Carey sisters became famous for their visits which included improvised musicales and dramatic presentations as well as informal socials and levees where they "held court."
The most common women in camps were officer wives and families. Officers themselves were divided on the propriety of encouraging these visits. Some were adamantly opposed. Mrs. John B. Gordon was a common sight at her husband's headquarters, which was a source of continuous irritation to Jubal Early and Richard Ewell. Early disliked Mrs. Gordon intensely and when he noted her carriage in line exclaimed, "Well, I'll be! If my men would keep up the way she does, I'd never issue another order against straggling." Later, he was heard mumbling, "I wish the Yankees would capture Mrs. Gordon and hold her until the war is over." As to Ewell he changed his mind on the proprietary of wives visiting when he married. His wife began to follow him and even interfered with command decisions. She was heartily disliked by most of the men. Lee also disapproved of wifely visits although he did little to curtail the practice. While often bivouacked in the same city as Mary Lee, Robert only saw her four times sin four years. Sherman had Ellen visit early on, but she hated the privation and inconvenience. After their son died in Vicksburg, Ellen rarely visited Cump again.
No general had his wife with him more often than did Grant. Ironically no one seemed to resent her regular appearances. His staff often suggested that Julia visit and there was never a shortage of volunteers to escort her. Both Grant and Julia also kept it low key and few in government or the press knew how often she was there.
Julia was appreciated because she was always aware of protocol, invariably cheerful and helpful, and best of all she kept the General happy, a benefit his men embraced. In the fall of 1864 when Grant was becoming both restless and cranky as he settled in for a siege, the kind of warfare he hated most, Ruf Ingalls, his one time roommate from the academy suggested that he send for Julia who was in New Jersey with the children. Grant said he would like to, but there was no place to house her with winter coming on. Ruf said he would build her a cabin. He did and very quickly a street of cabins was created to house other officer wives and visitors. After arriving she wrote: "They all flattered me by saying that I must stay with him and that at headquarters they missed me. And so for the rest of this eventful winter, I was domiciled in this little cabin, enjoying not only the society of the Commanding General but of all the distinguished men and generals that visited headquarters that winter."
Laundresses also followed the army. Most were wives of enlisted men, a few were refugees hoping to earn some coin to feed their children and many were black either contraband fleeing from the South or impressed labor in southern armies. The job of camp laundry was brutal and odious. Having tried it on a limited basis, I can assure you that it is exhausting. Women often made little and settled for rations in exchange for their labors. "I lugged over 100 pails of water before breaking fast to fill the cauldrons. Ellen began the fires and went to collect the clothing from officers. At the end of the day I refused to give the major his shirts until he gave me coin, which he couldn't do until payday. This would not feed us supper. Caused a row when the colonel was called & finally paid me as the major was a friend. Me and Ellen packed up soon to find a better place for earning our keep." [Aurora Klem 1863]
Another group of camp followers who were the most colorful and caused a great deal of trouble were the adventuresses. Annie Jones gained notoriety with her antics involving Generals Kilpatrick, Custer, Sigel, and Stahel as well as Fernando Wood, congressman. Annie was accused of being a common prostitute, a spy, a thief, but she kept turning up in the Federal camps despite being temporarily jailed at the Old Capitol. She caused a stir and had a ball doing it. I suspect so did the Generals involved.
Sanitary workers were also a constant sight in Federal camps. Both cursed and praised, these women nursed and cared for the men, taught contrabands to read and write, complained incessantly about camp conditions and effectively lobbied for changes. "We all know in our hearts that it is thoroughly enjoyment to be here -- it is life, in short; and we wouldn't be anywhere else for anything in the world . . . Hundreds of lives are being saved by it. I have seen with my own eyes in one week fifty men who must have died without it, and many more who probably would have done so. I speak of lives saved only; the amount of suffering saved is incalculable." [Katharine Wormeley May 16, 1862 on the Mississippi.]
Then of course were the prostitutes who contributed so much to the carnal pleasures of the army while also contributing to the spread of venereal disease. Armies often moved out of an area so quickly the ladies of the night had no time to follow. Not a big deal since the Cyprians simply switched their clientele from blue to gray or vice versa. The establishment of City Point supply depot gave the Union ladies of the night pros both rest and security for the duration of the war.
"They have laid out a village to the east where the railroad bends to the docks. Streets, signs and even corduroy sidewalks with gutters . . .There were three parallel streets about four blockslong. Each block there are about ten structures on either side. They are for the most part one-storied, northern log or clapboard make. The number ofrooms are different. How many, I am not sure, since I have not been in any." [Sanitary work in a letter to his father.]
It seems the young man was scandalized that such an enclave of ill repute existed in camp. "I found that my conscience would not let it go unchallenged from me. I determined to see the place for myself, and to protest to General Grant in person." After providing details, the young man laments, "I have not yet been able to reach Grant to protest these matters." He does say that he was able to speak to Bowers who defended it "as necessary."  |
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Shane.Yes there were women who traveled in the army . I for one would not of want my family following me to a war. 
Oh Connie I like you, where were you when I was single? 
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