"Women of the Camp" ~ NY Brigade area Traditional Geocache

At the time of the American Revolution, the extreme hardships of a soldier made military life to be generally considered for men only. But there were women and children who traveled with the army and suffered the same hardships, even those of the hard winter of the Morristown 1779-80 encampment.

The women who traveled, lived and worked among the Continental troops were generally called "Women of the camp". These were typically wives of soldiers who, for whatever reason, were not able to provide for themselves or their families the necessities of life. They were therefore forced to follow their soldier-husbands, due to poverty, or the failure of their farm. Some were refugees, due to enemy occupation of their homestead.

Having women and children follow the army was discouraged by the leaders of the American military. The Continental Army found it difficult enough to feed the fighting men, let alone any extra people. In August of 1777, when General Washington needed the army to move quickly, he stated that; ...the multitude of women in particular, especially those who are pregnant, or have children, are a clog upon every movement. The Commander in Chief therefore earnestly recommends it to the officers commanding brigades and corps, to use every reasonable method in their power to get rid of all such as are not absolutely necessary...

But as the war continued, members of the army realized the benefits of women in the camp. During the Morristown encampment of 1779-80, the Pennsylvania government complained to the officers of the regiments from that state about the ―evil...of generally indulging soldier’s wives in drawing rations. In his reply by letter, General Edward Hand stressed that, while abuses should be corrected, the army should not withhold from ―deserving women ―that degree of support which necessities oblige them to sollicit (sic) and which in many instances the services of their sons, husbands or fathers give them a kind of title to demand from the public. He mentions their usefulness ―in cooking, washing & mending, attending to the sick &c‖ and so advocates that ―a number of women of good character proportioned to that of the men in each company be allowed to draw rations in each reg(imen)t.‖ (General Edward Hand to Joseph Reed, President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, March 19, 1780.)

In the final year of the war, Washington had to concede to New York troops and provide special assistance to their families.

He explained that these some of these troops were“... Long Islanders and others who fled with their families when the enemy obtained possession of those places and have no other means of Subsistence. The Cries of these Women; the sufferings of their Children, and the complaints of the Husbands would admit of no alternative. The latter with too much justice remarked "If pay is with-held from us, and Provisions from our Wives and Children we must all starve together; or commit Acts which may involve us in ruin." Our Wives add they "could earn their Rations, but the Soldier, nay the Officer, for whom they Wash has naught to pay them." In a word. I was obliged to give Provisions to the extra Women in these Regiments, or loose (sic) by Desertion, perhaps to the Enemy, some of the oldest and best Soldiers in the Service. (George Washington to the Superintendent of Finance, Newburgh, New York, January 29, 1783).

This geocache is approved by Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown NJ. Meeting historic and educational guidelines providing information about the American Revolution.

These educational "Jockey Hollow's Morristown National Park geocaches" are in conjunction with the upcoming "New Jersey American Revolution Geo~Trail" which will be located throughout New Jersey. The Geo trail geocaches are hidden at historic locations which have a connection to important New Jersey's American Revolutionary War history.

The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC is about promoting a quality caching experience in Northern New Jersey. For information on The Northern New Jersey Cachers group you can visit: www.nnjc.org.