Camp Follower

Camp Follower

Camp-follower is a term used to identify civilians 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 sutlery.

From the beginning of organized warfare until the end of the 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.