Of the Continental Line
Distaff / Campfollowers
Few modern Americans realize that in the Eighteenth century it was not uncommon for wives and even children to follow their soldier-husbands and fathers on campaign. Many of these women simply had no place else to go. For others, it was a way of performing patriot service. No matter what their reason, they often shared a soldier's hardships in campaign and camp life. While George Washington initially wanted to ban women from following the
army, he later decided their value outweighed the problems brought on by the necessity of managing a horde of women and children.
The women of our reenacting Seventh Virginia attempt to educate the public about women's roles and work as wives, mothers, merchants, nurses, laundresses, and campfollowers.
