Vevandiere

[Megan O'Ruckus]

I currently am working on a character for a shoot for Sept, 2006 and would like more information on the Vivandiere's or Daughter's of the Regiment? Any one know much about this?
I just got started and think the woment who served in the Civil War should be recognized. So far I haven't found much.
Megan O'Ruckus:ty

[Pretty Mean Shawme]

The picture that GG posted the other day was a famous Viv..... (I can say it better than I can spell it!)

They were women who were paid my the military to perform medical duties, they had them on both sides of the war in the Civil war, and I belive they go back to the European wars. I don't know a whole lot about them other than you are embarking on a wonderful journey learning about them!

Please do share what you find out!

[Catawba Kate]

Well I got curious too and found this website http://www.vivandiere.net/. Good luck in your research and send us a picture of your finished outfit!

[Megan O'Ruckus]

I have found a few vague references on the Web regarding the Vivandieres. During the Civil War they were largely mothers, daughters or sweethearts of the men in the regiment. They were sutlers, selling alcohol and food, and were paid by the military just like the troops. They made $2.15 a month. The true Vivandiere that served with the Zuaves carried no weapons, their purpose during battle was to provide water and moral for the soldiers.
There was only one Vivandiere per unit.

Their "uniform" was "militaristic fashion in attire that resembled an exercise outfit of the period. They would wear military trousers and jacket (Zuzave) along with a knee length skirt." I found this information last night on a web page Womens Roles in the Civil War.

Guns Garrett, my husband, found an article this morning posted by a re-enacter that said if I were to portray a Vivandiere I should try to portray a real person. I have found references to several women and even saw their pictures. I have to admit that I am not crazy about wearing trousers under a knee length skirt. I am a person of considerable bulk already and that would seem to me that it would be extremely uncomfortable. On the other hand. A woman traveling with the Troops would have been more concerned with modesty that style. Hmmmm. As you can tell I still need to give this a lot of thought.

Megan

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

Just remember that the knee length skirt in question was sill worn very wide on a hoop-ish style as though you had on a hoop dress you hacked off at the knees and then put pants on under for modesty...which yes I think would have been a very big concern for women traveling with men who were not shall we say "camp followers" of a less respectible sort.

I think the idea is just great and I hope you will let us know how you decide to go with it and share photos when it is complete...we do so love photos...

Greeneyed (who REALLY misses her digital camera which is not yet home from Iraq) Gypay

[Chantilly]

Hi Megan! Good to see you at the GAF Shoot and glad to hear you plan to shoot next year! I researched this topic about a year ago...but went for the "Salute to the Military" dress. If anyone is interested in learning more -

Here are some websites with pictures -

http://www.civilwarweb.com/articles/05-00/vivandieres.htm

http://www.sallyqueenassociates.com/girls61.htm

http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=801

http://www.greenpointmonitormuseum.org/traveling_road_show/indexroadshow.htm


Other info -

http://www.uttyl.edu/vbetts/women_soldiers.htm - articles from Civil War Newspapers including multiple roles of women in the Civil War

http://www.zinkle.com/p/articles/mi_qa3905/is_200005/ai_n8887916

http://www.gdg.org/Research/People/mtepe.html

http://www.imahero.com/papa/report21.html

www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~jw3u/WomensRoles.pdf

http://members.ismi.net/mmcwr/scenes/vivandieres.html

http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/PeopleView.Cfm?PID=93

http://www.beaverbuckets.com/Barrel_vivandiere.htm

patterns -

http://www.harriets.com/CWladiesuni.htm

http://www.tstitches.com/store/tsb-105.htm

[Goldie]

This is my favorite line from those papers:

"SAVANNAH [GA] REPUBLICAN, June 5, 1861, p. 1, c. 3
An Amazon.—Mary W. Dennis, six feet two inches high, is 1st Lieutenant of the Stillwater company, Minnesota regiment. She baffled even the inspection of the surgeon of the regiment in discovering her sex, but was recognized by a St. Paul printer, who became shockingly frightened at her threats of vengeance upon him if he exposed her, and he decamped."

[Megan O'Ruckus]

Chantilly,
As always, you blow me away with your knowlege of history.
Several of the links I had found but not most of them. Thanks a million.

I do plan on shooting next year. I am still hesitant to shoot in an unknown situation and having read the scenarios from last year I didn't figure that I would be able to do it. However, the proof is in the puddin', so to speak. It wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. So, I'm gettin ready for some new type of fun!!:33
More later.

Megan