"Cantienieres in ACW regiments" Topic

[From website "Daughters of the Regiment."
link

I was wondering if anyone had
1. Run across similar stories as those below and,
2. Included any in their table top regiments…

The Role of Vivandieres in the American Civil War

Though non-essential to fighting regiments, vivandieres performed some important functions. The most important was as a nurse. With her cask of spirits or a canteen of water, a vivandiere gave a wounded or sick soldier immediate attention, comparable to a modern triage situation. Some vivandieres were well-armed for self-defense, such as Sarah Taylor, who carried a sword, rifle and pistols. Annie Etheridge carried two pistols, and Marie Tepe was also armed with a pistol. Among the deeds of valor performed by vivandieres were Kady Brownell's actions at the battle of New Bern, where, carrying the colors into battle, Kady ran with the flag to the center of the field to show the Union troops that the 5th Rhode Island was not the enemy.15

Often the vivandiere was the wife of a soldier or the daughter of an officer, and the "daughter of the regiment" commanded the respect of soldiers in ways that other types of camp followers could not. A soldier in the 5th Wisconsin wrote of Eliza Wilson:

We have not seen a woman for a fortnight with the exception of the Daughter of the Regiment, who is with us in storm and sunshine. It would do you good to see her trudging along, with or after the regiment, her dark brown frock buttoned tightly around her waist, her what-you-call-ems tucked into her well fitting gaiters, her hat and feather set jauntily on one side, her step firm and assured, for she knows that every arm in our ranks would protect her. Never pouting or passionate, with a kind word for every one, and every one a kind word for her.16

Sarah Taylor was captured and paroled sometime after leaving Camp Dick Robinson, and appeared in this article in the Memphis Daily Appeal on July 18, 1863:

Sallie Taylor, "La Fille due Regiment." This notorious (beautiful, though she was) woman arrested, as our readers will remember, some months ago, and discharged upon her parole, has kept herself quiet recently, when, as we are informed, she so far captivated, if not captured, a private in Cobb's battery stationed at Clinton, as to induce him to steal the horse of one of the lieutenants of his company and to escape with her into Kentucky, where she may resume in propria personnae her nom de plume of "Daughter of the 1st (Bird's) Tennessee regiment." – Knoxville Register.17

Not all of those who wore the uniform of vivandieres were respectable, however. According to Kenneth Olsen, author of Music and Muskets:

Not all vivandiere[s] were as pure in heart as the fair Marie. The unofficial ministrations of a vivandiere attached to a New York regiment eventually got the generous lady into trouble. She was given the option of leaving the area quietly or being drummed from the camp. She elected the easy way out.18

Vivandieres seem to have been a more common sight during the first two years of the war, when fighting was sporadic and the armies spent much time in camps. As the war progressed and campaigns covered longer distances, there is less evidence of vivandieres remaining with the army. Alfred Bellard drew a picture and described a vivandiere, who may have been Marie Tepe, whom he saw in a hospital near Chancellorsville, in May, 1863.19 In September 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant ordered that all women be removed from military camps in his theatre. In the wake of this order, Annie Etheridge was forced to confine her activities to the hospital at City Point, Virginia, despite the endorsements of numerous officers, including the corps commander of the Second Corps. She returned at some point, however, because she was with the 5th Michigan when it mustered out in July 1865.20

I have one in my battalion :)

We have one in the 28th Pennsylvania…

Eric

Vivandieres are way over represented in reenacting. And they were not all that common in the actual war, either. Since I paint most of my units "generic" I would not think of placing a vivandiere with anyone. But if someone else does, frankly I don't care.

There is a side note here; each company was allowed 2 women per the regulations. They could draw rations but not pay (the form 13 which is the ration form is the only ACW form that mentions women) They were paid by the soldiers for cleaning and sewing. Not all companies had women and they clearly would not have appeared on the battlefield.

Well there's a thing!

I'd always imagined it to be a Napoleonic item from both First and Second Empires. I guess the influence of Zouaves ran deeper than I imagined.

Well played Bill!

Have to say that judging by the photo, getting the wrong side of Kady Brownell would have consequences!

Vivandieres are way over represented in reenacting. And they were not all that common in the actual war, either. Since I paint most of my units "generic" I would not think of placing a vivandiere with anyone. But if someone else does, frankly I don't care.

John the G:
I'm sure they are over represented. I have no idea how common they were, even at the beginning of the war, but if each company could have two women along on campaign, that is twenty women per regiment, 80 women or more per brigade and around 200 allowed per per division. An army could 'legally' have a thousand women or more following an army.

they clearly would not have appeared on the battlefield.

The classic roll for a Vivandiere/Cantieniere was to carry spirits to sell to the soldiers on the march and in battle. So, I would imagine that, while not all that common, they were on the battlefield.

One American example was Anna (Annie) Etheridge who lived in Detroit when the American Civil War broke out. Etheridge joined 19 other women in April 1861 who enlisted as vivandières with the Union's 2nd Michigan Volunteer Regiment. When the 2nd Michigan first saw action at Blackburn's Ford, Etheridge was reported to have nursed the wounded and to have brought water to the dying. She served with the Regiment throughout its battles, including both at Bull Run. At Chancellorsville, Etheridge was wounded in the hand when a Union officer attempted to hide behind her, and he was ultimately killed and her horse wounded. For her courage under fire, Etheridge was one of only two women awarded the Kearny Cross, named in honor of Gen. Philip Kearny.[12]{The other recipient was French Mary Tepe} Another Civil War vivandiere was Kady Brownwell.

French Mary Tippe of the 114th Pennsylvania

Site with pictures of 400 women who 'served' in the Civil War.

link

Yes, there's no doubt that there are too many vivandiers in reeanctment groups, just like there are too many fat, old reenactors in the ranks and too many Tiger tanks on wargames tables.

But we don't let that stop us from having fun :)

Agree with Scott.

As to the 2 women allowed per company, IIRC, that was in garrison, and not on campaign.

We have five in my unit. The wife being my favorite Viv. We allow five because the first hand account of a wagon with five Tiger Vivs leaving a battle in a wagon when the fighting got really intense. I think it was Cold Harbor, but I would have to look it up.

As to the 2 women allowed per company, IIRC, that was in garrison, and not on campaign.

Commanders may have made that distinction, but did the regulations make that distinction? There are photos of campaign camps with women represented.