JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
"Yes, another thread on our ladies in those uniforms variously known as Vivandieres. It's because between Vivandieres and Daughters of the Regiments and those who considered themselves one or the other were blurred lines. Plus some Vivandieres famously followed regiments literally to the front line like our Mary Tepe- some were not quite as steely or disallowed to be, fulfilling the role as they defined it from relative safety. This article implies all traveled with regiments which isn't true. BUT- whether or not they did it was immensely brave of these women. Moving and working in and amongst so many men dressed as they were, unconventionally was taking a massive step outside roles assigned to our sisters of the era. I'm mentioning this because I've bumped into articles a tad dismissive of Daughters of the Regiment who dressed the part and stayed out of harm's way. Most did. The reason Mary Tepe is so famous is she insisted on risking herself on battlefields, there was just no stopping her.
Mary Tepe at Gettysburg. This image is so haunting it constricts my heart. Such a tiny, feminine figure taking a moment in the carnage. What was she thinking?
Wearing her Kearny Cross. I always assume everyone knows she earned one and why. She was with the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry, Collis Zouaves, her regiment ( the 2nd ), for meritorious conduct in battle. Our French Mary.
I've also bumped into these women being referred to as thinly disguised prostitutes following regiments to ply their trade. Were there women forced into this as a means to eat or support children? Sure. They are another conversation poor things. Making supposition on Vivandierres and other ' duties ' is to dismiss the contributions of women like our Mary Tepe herself. It's as if well, men were there to fight but women would only be interested in hanging around a war for one reason and one reason only. Puleeze.
Not completely crazy about this article, it's fairly explanatory.
" ........, the vivandieres and cantinieres who traveled with regiments during the Civil War were women who, despite the constrictions of Victorian society, chose to serve alongside men during wartime in a role that American women thus far had not played. A part of their regiment, these women served several functions, all unheard of for American women of the time.
In America, the vivandiere was most often known as “the daughter of the regiment,” a title that was sometimes literal, as the vivandiere was usually the daughter, wife, or some other relation to an officer in the regiment. The role of these daughters of the regiment was to follow the regiment, assist in setting up and maintaining camp, not to mention their duties as nurses, carrying a canteen of water or whisky into battle, performing triage to the wounded on the front.
http://www.thecivilwaromnibus.com/articles/98/vivandieres-and-cantinieres-ladies-of-the-regiment/
Some of the pics are the European idea of a Vivandiere
American Civil War
Pinterest
This one is from a website the name of which is awful- and misleading **sigh**
The Daughter of the Regiment, La Fille du Regiment. Cantiniere. Vivandiere
These are all names for women who served in a similar capacity during the Civil War, and prior, particularly in the Crimean War. As the name suggests, vivandieres were originally associated with French regiments. They acted as nurses and cheerleaders, carrying kegs of brandy or wine with them to nurse wounded troops on the battlefield. "The dashing image of French soldiers, especially the Zouave regiments, in the Crimean War, captured the imagination of Americans in the 1850s, and, by 1859, several local militia regiments had adopted the name "Zouave," as well as interpretations of the colorful Zouave uniforms. Some of these local groups sported a vivandiere in their ranks.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War, most regiments were organized as independent companies of troops, raised in a local area. Some of these companies selected their own uniforms and accoutrements without regard to regular army practice. And some of these regiments also selected a local lady to serve as "the daughter of the regiment," the American equivalent to the French vivandiere."** They modeled their "uniforms" after those of the regiment they served, but there was no set or official uniform and thus much variation occurs. Civil War vivandieres were most common during the first two years of the war, although a few remained until the end. Since vivandieres were not sanctioned by the army, there is no official record of the number of women who served. The written records we do have come from newspapers and letters.
http://couturecourtesan.blogspot.com/2011/04/daughter-of-regiment.html
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/south-carolina-women-in-the-confederacy-udc.111175/
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/henriette-delille.110560/
Mary Tepe at Gettysburg. This image is so haunting it constricts my heart. Such a tiny, feminine figure taking a moment in the carnage. What was she thinking?
Wearing her Kearny Cross. I always assume everyone knows she earned one and why. She was with the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry, Collis Zouaves, her regiment ( the 2nd ), for meritorious conduct in battle. Our French Mary.
I've also bumped into these women being referred to as thinly disguised prostitutes following regiments to ply their trade. Were there women forced into this as a means to eat or support children? Sure. They are another conversation poor things. Making supposition on Vivandierres and other ' duties ' is to dismiss the contributions of women like our Mary Tepe herself. It's as if well, men were there to fight but women would only be interested in hanging around a war for one reason and one reason only. Puleeze.
Not completely crazy about this article, it's fairly explanatory.
" ........, the vivandieres and cantinieres who traveled with regiments during the Civil War were women who, despite the constrictions of Victorian society, chose to serve alongside men during wartime in a role that American women thus far had not played. A part of their regiment, these women served several functions, all unheard of for American women of the time.
In America, the vivandiere was most often known as “the daughter of the regiment,” a title that was sometimes literal, as the vivandiere was usually the daughter, wife, or some other relation to an officer in the regiment. The role of these daughters of the regiment was to follow the regiment, assist in setting up and maintaining camp, not to mention their duties as nurses, carrying a canteen of water or whisky into battle, performing triage to the wounded on the front.
http://www.thecivilwaromnibus.com/articles/98/vivandieres-and-cantinieres-ladies-of-the-regiment/
Some of the pics are the European idea of a Vivandiere
American Civil War
This one is from a website the name of which is awful- and misleading **sigh**
The Daughter of the Regiment, La Fille du Regiment. Cantiniere. Vivandiere
These are all names for women who served in a similar capacity during the Civil War, and prior, particularly in the Crimean War. As the name suggests, vivandieres were originally associated with French regiments. They acted as nurses and cheerleaders, carrying kegs of brandy or wine with them to nurse wounded troops on the battlefield. "The dashing image of French soldiers, especially the Zouave regiments, in the Crimean War, captured the imagination of Americans in the 1850s, and, by 1859, several local militia regiments had adopted the name "Zouave," as well as interpretations of the colorful Zouave uniforms. Some of these local groups sported a vivandiere in their ranks.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War, most regiments were organized as independent companies of troops, raised in a local area. Some of these companies selected their own uniforms and accoutrements without regard to regular army practice. And some of these regiments also selected a local lady to serve as "the daughter of the regiment," the American equivalent to the French vivandiere."** They modeled their "uniforms" after those of the regiment they served, but there was no set or official uniform and thus much variation occurs. Civil War vivandieres were most common during the first two years of the war, although a few remained until the end. Since vivandieres were not sanctioned by the army, there is no official record of the number of women who served. The written records we do have come from newspapers and letters.
http://couturecourtesan.blogspot.com/2011/04/daughter-of-regiment.html
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/south-carolina-women-in-the-confederacy-udc.111175/
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/henriette-delille.110560/