Keystone Regiment
Vivandiere
as portrayed by Trinity Munro
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Despite what many think, there were women on the battlefields of the American Civil War. Many of these women were known as, and served as, Vivandiers, Cantonieres, or “Daughters of the Regiment”. Many times they would be a relative of an officer, often a wife wanting to be close to her husband during this time. Dressed in a version of the Army uniform (jacket, trousers and skirt), they would serve as laundresses, nurses, water carriers, flag bearers, couriers or messengers and care givers for the wounded. Writing and reading letters for the men, holding their hands when their time was near, trying to bring some sense of comfort to them as the darkness closed in. One of the best known Vivandiers was Mary Tepe, also known as “French Mary”. She started out her military career following her husband, Bernardo Tepe, into service with Company I of the 27th Pennsylvania Volunteers. After being robbed of a large amount of cash, $1600, by a band of soldiers including her husband, Mary resigned from the regiment. About a year later she joined the 114th Pennsylvania, Collis’ Zouaves. It was at this time she took to wearing her famous uniform of a blue Zouave jacket, red trimmed skirt, and red trousers over her boots. Along with the duties listed above, Mary also traded in contraband whiskey, tobacco, cigars, hams, and other items not issued to the soldiers by the government. Her pay amounted to about $21/month for a two year period. She received the Kearny Cross after the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863 for her assistance in organizing field hospitals. French Mary took her own life in May of 1901 by drinking “paris green” a pesticide/paint pigment. She was laid to rest in St. Paul’s Cemetery, in Carrick, Pennsylvania.While she may be one of the best known Vivandiers of the Civil War, there were many other brave women who chose to follow that path, both Federal and Confederate.
Federal:
Kady Brownell—has the distinction of being the only woman discharged from the Union Army.
Arabella Barlow—became known as “the Raider” for her ability to beg, borrow, and steal whatever her troops needed. She was married to Brigadier General Francis C. Barlow. During the battle as Gettysburg, the General was hit and it was believed that his spine was severed. However, Arabella spent months nursing him back to health and he returned to the fighting in January of 1864.
Major Belle Reynolds—A nurse who spent many weeks caring for the wounded near Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh) Tennessee. She was given the rank of Major by Illinois Governor Richard Yates, who it is said, believed in giving women the best of it. It should be noted that at the time, her husband held the rank of Lieutenant.
Confederate:
Nancy Slaughter Walker—A Native American who rode with Quantrill’s Raiders during and after the Civil War. Quantrills was also where many members of the (Jesse) James- (Cole) Younger gang received their military training.
Lucy Ann White Cox—Served as cook, laundress, nurse, and general helpmate for the 30th Virginia Infantry Co. A, which was her husband’s regiment. After her death in 1891, she was highly praised for her willingness to undertake “the perils and hardships of the field and march.” The Order of the Southern Gray, A Virginia women’s Civil War preservation organization has a Fredericksburg chapter named in her honor.
Jane Claudia Saunders Johnson—Married to Brigadier General Bradley T. Johnson. In May of 1861 approximately 500 Marylanders left Maryland to become the 1st Maryland Regiment. At that time, Maryland had not left the Union which meant the 1st was not equipped as other units. Mrs. Johnson volunteered to travel back to her home state of North Carolina to raise money to outfit her husband’s regiment. After doing so, she followed her husband to various locations throughout Virginia, organizing dances, theatricals and choral productions for the soldiers as well as putting together a reading library. She also worked with traveling pastors and priests to ensure the soldiers went to church every Sunday.
