| In addition to
battles, we portray everyday camp life in the 18th century.
During the period it was not uncommon for soldiers wives and
families to follow the army. They were known as camp followers
or distaff. Single woman were not generally allowed in camp.
While the armies in one sense frowned upon it, they learned to
grudgingly accept the positive aspects of the practice. It
decreased the desertion rates and the wives took in washing,
did the mending, and a host of other mundane tasks that helped
the army and the soldiers get along during the long periods
between battles and marches. Indeed the majority of the
soldier's life was spent in camp, drilling,
foraging for supplies and guard duty. Women as a rule drew
half rations and children, quarter rations. It was a hard life
but the family stayed together and made the army a more
effective, cohesive fighting unit |
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