Camp follower
Encyclopedia
Camp-follower is a term used to identify civilian
s and their children who follow armies. There are two common types of camp followers; first, the wives and children of soldiers, who follow their spouse or parent's army from place to place; the second type of camp followers have historically been informal army service providers, servicing soldiers needs whilst encamped
, in particular selling goods or services that the military
does not supply, these have included cooking
, laundering
, liquor, nursing
, sexual services
and sutler
y.
From the beginning of organized warfare until the end of 19th century, service-providing camp-followers were a vital part of an army's system of support and before sutler services were militarized even military goods were often provided. Camp-followers usually accompanied the baggage train and they often outnumbered the army itself, adding to its logistic problems. The term may also be applied to someone who scavenges after a battle. In United States history, Molly Pitcher
was considered a camp-follower during the Revolutionary War, while there were also a number of camp-followers on both the Union
and Confederate
sides of the American Civil War
.
Modern camp-follower children are now more often called military brat
s in several English-speaking countries. In the United States, Canada and Great Britain, the term military brat
refers specifically to the mobile children of career soldiers, who traditionally have been camp or base followers. In the United States this practice of base-following, or camp-following, dates all the way back to the beginning of the Republic.
Today at least 12 million living Americans aged between 18 to 80 grew up without home towns and within the U.S. military—moving from base to base all over the United States, and around the world. In the last 15 years, work has been done to document and describe the unique subculture of children and teenagers who grew up attached to, and moving constantly with, the US military.
Multigenerational aspect: 38% of currently living American military brats are also the children of military brats: In many career military families, this tradition goes back for generations. Some consider the modern American U.S. subculture of military brats and American multi-generational career military families to border on being a distinct ethnic group. Precedents of multi-generational Camp-follower or military families evolving into distinct ethnic groups exist in many parts of the world and throughout history, for example the Cossacks of Russia, the Samurai
class in Japan, and the Kayani of Pakistan, to name just a few military-derived ethnicities.
Some work has also recently been done to document and describe military brat
subcultures from other English speaking countries as well.
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
s and their children who follow armies. There are two common types of camp followers; first, the wives and children of soldiers, who follow their spouse or parent's army from place to place; the second type of camp followers have historically been informal army service providers, servicing soldiers needs whilst encamped
Military camp
A military camp or bivouac is a semi-permanent facility for the lodging of an army. Camps are erected when a military force travels away from a major installation or fort during training or operations, and often have the form of large campsites. In the Roman era the military camp had highly...
, in particular selling goods or services that the military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
does not supply, these have included cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
, laundering
Laundry
Laundry is a noun that refers to the act of washing clothing and linens, the place where that washing is done, and/or that which needs to be, is being, or has been laundered...
, liquor, nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
, sexual services
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and sutler
Sutler
A sutler or victualer is a civilian merchant who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters. The sutler sold wares from the back of a wagon or a temporary tent, allowing them to travel along with an army or to remote military outposts...
y.
From the beginning of organized warfare until the end of 19th century, service-providing camp-followers were a vital part of an army's system of support and before sutler services were militarized even military goods were often provided. Camp-followers usually accompanied the baggage train and they often outnumbered the army itself, adding to its logistic problems. The term may also be applied to someone who scavenges after a battle. In United States history, Molly Pitcher
Molly Pitcher
Molly Pitcher was a nickname given to a woman said to have fought in the American Revolutionary War, who is generally believed to have been Mary Ludwig Hays...
was considered a camp-follower during the Revolutionary War, while there were also a number of camp-followers on both the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
sides of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Modern usage
"Camp-follower" has also been used to describe the modern families of military personnel who accompany soldiers while traveling; either during active military campaigns (more common in less-developed countries), or during peacetime military deployments (more common in developed countries), especially moving from military base to military base in a nomadic lifestyle (more common in developed countries).Modern camp-follower children are now more often called military brat
Military brat
A military brat describes people who spend their childhood or adolescence while a parent serve full-time in the armed forces, and can also refer to the unique subculture and lifestyle of American military brats, the term refers to both current and former children of such families.Lifestyle: The...
s in several English-speaking countries. In the United States, Canada and Great Britain, the term military brat
Military brat
A military brat describes people who spend their childhood or adolescence while a parent serve full-time in the armed forces, and can also refer to the unique subculture and lifestyle of American military brats, the term refers to both current and former children of such families.Lifestyle: The...
refers specifically to the mobile children of career soldiers, who traditionally have been camp or base followers. In the United States this practice of base-following, or camp-following, dates all the way back to the beginning of the Republic.
Today at least 12 million living Americans aged between 18 to 80 grew up without home towns and within the U.S. military—moving from base to base all over the United States, and around the world. In the last 15 years, work has been done to document and describe the unique subculture of children and teenagers who grew up attached to, and moving constantly with, the US military.
Multigenerational aspect: 38% of currently living American military brats are also the children of military brats: In many career military families, this tradition goes back for generations. Some consider the modern American U.S. subculture of military brats and American multi-generational career military families to border on being a distinct ethnic group. Precedents of multi-generational Camp-follower or military families evolving into distinct ethnic groups exist in many parts of the world and throughout history, for example the Cossacks of Russia, the Samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
class in Japan, and the Kayani of Pakistan, to name just a few military-derived ethnicities.
Some work has also recently been done to document and describe military brat
Military brat
A military brat describes people who spend their childhood or adolescence while a parent serve full-time in the armed forces, and can also refer to the unique subculture and lifestyle of American military brats, the term refers to both current and former children of such families.Lifestyle: The...
subcultures from other English speaking countries as well.
See also
- Military dependent
- Military brat (U.S. subculture)
- Military bratMilitary bratA military brat describes people who spend their childhood or adolescence while a parent serve full-time in the armed forces, and can also refer to the unique subculture and lifestyle of American military brats, the term refers to both current and former children of such families.Lifestyle: The...
military dependent subcultures in several English-speaking countries - TrossTrossThe Tross was the camp follower contingent of the Landsknecht mercenary regiments which originated at the end of the fifteenth century and were the dominant form of infantry mercenary force throughout the sixteenth century. Each Landsknecht unit traveled with a Tross contingent, which followed...
Medieval German camp followers - War Child (disambiguation) Descriptions of term meaning child of war, including child of a military family, or active duty soldier