Camp Follower
by T Trolley
(Historical fact: Women played a variety of roles such as warriors, spies and nurses during the American Civil War. These women were among the thousands known as "camp followers" who lived in forts and accompanied armies in the field. They were wives, widows, mothers and daughters who accompanied their male relatives in military service, sometimes because they wanted to, most often because they had no other option.)
(The stories of some women who participated in the war have not yet come to light and some may never be revealed, buried by the passing of the ages. History has yet to record the complete story of female soldiers in the Civil War, loyal southern and northern women and women’s sacrifices. But the following is one such story that has recently been recovered ...)
I didn't want Teresa to follow me into the danger of war, but she insisted. She claimed she just couldn't live knowing I would be in danger and wanted to go along "to watch out for me" since she didn't think I could exist in a wartime environment.
Teresa was tough but very beautiful. At 31 years old, she
was the daughter of a security agent and had learned how to use her fists
in the streets of
We were engaged to be married, but the war clouds loomed and I didn't think it was right for us to marry when I faced such danger. I told her that when I was about to leave -- and she began to cry. She told me she couldn't bear to wonder every minute of every day if I was OK and worried that I did not have the same natural ability as she did to survive in rough situations. "I have to come with you," she sobbed, "not only for my own sanity but to protect you!" I laughed inwardly at the thought of a Teresa thinking she needed to "protect" me like a mother hen, but her absolute devotion and love for me was more than I could refuse. I finally relented and gave her permission to accompany me into battle. I was concerned for her because she was a woman, but she seemed to be more worried about me since I did not have the kind of tough, fighting type of upbringing she had. Besides, having a companion like Teresa on cold winter nights snuggling up to me with her size 40DD chest, her gorgeous figure and her beautiful green eyes wasn't a bad thought at all.
(Historical fact: Many women performed what today’s armed forces would classify as a military occupational specialty (MOS). They cooked and laundered for the troops, melted lead and made ammunition, carried water, tended the wounded and delivered dispatches. When the army was not in the field many of these women lived on post in frontier forts where they worked in the kitchen and laundry, maintained the grounds and equipment and tended the children, animals and vegetable gardens.)
When the army was awaiting battle, Teresa mixed in well with
camp life in the fort where she did her share of preparing food for the rest
of the troops as well as washing uniforms and clothes for the army as well.
She also helped out in the garden at times -- something she had a real knack
for since she had a small garden herself in
(Historical Fact: Camp followers sometimes fought as women when a fort was under attack or by taking a fallen soldier’s place on the battlefield. Some adventurous women dressed as men and fought alongside the men and other women went to the battlefield to be with their husbands.)
Teresa wasn't behind the scenes when fighting erupted. She was right up at the front lines when I was there, with the rifle she had brought along, making sure "to protect" me.
I was surprised how brave Teresa was in the heat of battle.
She didn't shrink away at all when the bullets came whizzing overhead. In
fact, Teresa was quite a markswoman and I personally watched her take down
a number of rebel soldiers. She stayed at my side through many a battle and
skirmish as we moved with the Army of the
After several months, I found myself falling even deeper in love with this brave, beautiful "Betty Yank." She knew how to shoot with the best of the men and had more guts than most of the troops. She would hold the line with the others despite the onrushing surges of the Confederate lines toward us as they sounded their chilling "rebel yell" as they moved toward us. Even when some of the men broke ranks, she held her ground valiantly, firing away until I would tell her it was time to move. Only then would she give any ground whatsoever. I soon found out that her dedication was strictly to me -- she would not obey an order to retreat or charge until I followed the command. Only then would she make a move. She was not only my one true love, but also a female soldier who saw herself as being subordinant to me and me alone.
(Historical Fact: "The Wilderness" was a 70-square mile heavily wooded area of second growth hardwood, thick underbrush, and deep ravines, relieved only here and there by a few scattered clearings. So dense was the forest as to be almost impenetrable by troops in battle formation. The undergrowth was so heavy that it was scarcely possible to see more than one hundred paces in any direction. The movements of the enemy could not be observed until the lines were almost in collision. Only the roar of the musketry disclosed the position of the combatants to those who were at any distance.)
Teresa wanted to take a quick bath in a nearby creek to wash off the day's grime. I agreed, but told her to be very quiet and careful. Teresa went down to the creek, stripped off her clothes down to the underwear, and got into the creek. When she was finished, she went to get her clothes and picked up what she thought were her attire. She looked at the clothes and then looked at a pouch. She was several yards away from me when she whispered loud enough for me to hear: "These aren't my clothes! I think it's a rebel courier -- a female one at that!"
(Historical Fact: Emmeline "Buffy" Piggott took
up secret service work, after her Rebel sweetheart died at
Suddenly I saw a figure come toward Teresa -- a female figure! She, too, was dressed in her underwear and was looking for her clothes! She was a few inches taller than Teresa, had long, curly blonde hair, and was about 15 pounds heavier than my woman. She was slightly overweight, but still was very attractive. I suddenly realized that this woman was the rebel courier who had just taken a quick dip herself -- and she was just a few yards away from Teresa!
I pointed at her and whispered, "Teresa! Turn around! Look out!" Teresa turned and the two women confronted each other, face to face!
Both women knew they were face to face with the female version of their enemy! At first, they didn't know what to do. The female within them did not cause them to immediately fight as it was against their nature. But then it was as though they thought twice and realized that they were both soldiers, just like the men -- meaning that in this situation, hand-to-hand combat was in order! And, when in war, hand-to-hand combat could mean death for the loser!
Suddenly I heard a shout from the wooods, "She's a Betty Yank, Buffy! Take her prisoner!" A rebel unit was within the vicinity! But then I heard someone from our side yell, "Get her, Teresa!" Thank goodness, a small unit from our side was there as well!
But the two units, though within shouting distance of each other, did not open fire. Someone then yelled, "Winner kills or takes the loser prisoner!"
Suddenly the flags of both sides appeared and the two sides began to cheer for their own women! Both women looked at their respective flags with some confusion and then, without saying a word, the two angrily grabbed each other by the hair and began whaling away at each other! The troops cheered as the women were yanking hair like crazy, as they knew they could very well be fighting to the death in a hand-to-hand combat situation!
My heart lept inside me as I realized what was going on! The woman who was my helpmate and my dear companion was now in a fight with another woman that could result in a tremendous triumph for her if she killed or took the blonde female rebel prisoner! But Teresa was also in danger of being killed herself in hand-to-hand combat or taken prisoner herself -- meaning complete and total humiliation in front of the entire world and more humiliation once in her enslaver's hands!
It's one thing for a man to die in hand-to-hand combat. That wasn't unusual. But two women in a fight to the death was different and it was downright bizarre and unbelieveable to me that my Teresa was involved in that kind of fight against another woman where she faced what normally only male soldiers encountered in hand-to-hand combat-- the ultimate consequence of death or humiliating imprisonment if she lost!
Of course, I was filled with fear for her as Teresa fought her larger adversary -- yet the enormous stakes Teresa faced in this wartime hand-to-hand combat battle against another woman was strangely exciting to me! I could do nothing for Teresa -- she had to do it all on her own. It was Teresa and her rebel opponent who would not only settle the score as to who was the better woman but who would decide who would live and who would either die or be embarrassed in front of everyone there by losing the fight and being taken prisoner! And that meant, of course, I could lose Teresa forever if she lost the fight!
The reality of this bizarre sight hit me hard. And even worse, I noticed that my Teresa found herself at a disadvantage due to Buffy's size as she loomed over Teresa and used her weight to get better positioning! To my total dismay and fear, Buffy pounded my Teresa with big punches to her chin and face, stunning Teresa and eliciting quick groans and moans from Teresa as they landed!
Even though the woman was bigger than Teresa, I was really shocked to see my woman hurt in a fair fight with another female! I had always pictured Teresa as a tough little gal who could take care of herself against any woman. But when the rebel blonde landed those huge punches and hurt Teresa, I was shocked that another woman could do that to her! And, seeing the surprising success she was having against Teresa, I began to worry that my woman would end up on the short end of this fight and have to pay dire consequences just as many a man did in the same situation -- prison or death on the battlefield!
There was no room for defeat and both women knew it. Suddenly, Teresa got angry at being hurt by the blonde and countered with punches to the ribs, but her retorts were simply not as strong or as effective as Buffy's blows to her chin! I held my breath as I began to think the unthinkable -- Teresa could actually die at the hands of another woman in a hand-to-hand combat fight to the end!
Meanwhile, as my fears escalated for Teresa, Buffy just kept coming down with huge blows to the side of my Teresa's left cheek with her big right arm! But Teresa, obviously knowing what the consequences were if she lost, did not crumble as she gallantly stayed in there, absorbing the blows and then countering with her own rapid, surprisingly powerful punches to the ribs!
But it was evident that Teresa -- to my great despair -- was slowly and reluctantly yielding to the bigger, heavier and more powerful, though slower, Buffy as Teresa's counterattacks were just not up to snuff with Buffy's attacks!
If things kept going this way, then Teresa would either die at the hands of the rebel woman or be dragged off into enemy lines in humiliation and become the prisoner of another woman!
But just as it looked like Buffy was taking control of this life and death struggle, Teresa angrily countered with two huge, powerful blows to the body which hurt Buffy more than ever!
And that's how the fight went for several minutes. Teresa would get behind and use every fiber in her being to fight back to a standstill, but just as she would get back to an even position and make a move to take away the initiative, Buffy would slowly go on the attack and take a slight advantage again! Then Teresa would be forced to turn it up a notch to regain even footing only to have the bigger Buffy regain her advantage! Teresa had fought Buffy to a standstill once again, but had obviously expended a lot of energy to keep a larger girl at bay, just to gain equal footing!
Then Buffy suddenly came out of nowhere with a powerful roundhouse right to the side of my Teresa's cute little chin! Teresa let out a short cry of pain! For a moment I thought Buffy might have fractured or even broken Teresa's jaw! Buffy then tried to trip Teresa, and Teresa staggered -- partly from the hard punch to the side of her chin and partly from the trip!
I yelled, "Teresa, don't let her do that to you!" The rebels could sense the fight going in Buffy's direction and the Confederate side cheered her on, hoping to see my Teresa killed or taken prisoner! What a horrible feeling it was, hearing men yell for my woman's defeat which would possibly mean her death or imprisonment!
Buffy pushed Teresa backward as Teresa staggered in the same direction -- and Teresa went down to her back! I held my breath and my heart lept to my throat in fear as Buffy ran over to Teresa's right side, went down on one knee next to her, and before Teresa could roll away or sit up, grabbed Teresa's shoulders with both hands and with a combination of her weight and arm strength forced Teresa's shoulders down to the ground to pin her, taking firm control of Teresa as well as the fight!
I gasped in dismay as a rebel soldier yelled, "She's got her now!" But just as I began to worry that Teresa was finished, Teresa quickly bucked the big woman off of her as she rolled to her left! Teresa got to her knees as Buffy stood over her with both hands in her hair! They remained that way for several moments with the rebels cheering for Buffy to finish my woman and our side urging her not to give up as Buffy kept Teresa from getting up! But Teresa wouldn't go back down to her back despite Buffy's attempt to throw her back down to her left with her hairpull! Teresa now had hold of Buffy's wrists, but Buffy had a strong grasp!
Suddenly Buffy hit Teresa hard in the nose with a knee, knocking Teresa back to the ground again! Buffy quickly sat on Teresa's chest, held Teresa down by the shoulders, and then moved her big legs up over Teresa's shoulders, pinning her!
Teresa was helpless! Buffy had her pinned! Teresa was struggling and bridging in a desperate effort to somehow dislodge her big adversary!
Then I heard a rebel soldier bellow, "Thataway, Buffy! Now -- finish her!" The mere mention of Buffy "finishing" my Teresa caused my heart to skip! How would this rebel woman finish Teresa? By choking her to death while hitting the back of her head against the ground? Punching her in the chin with that huge right hand until she knocked my Teresa out in front of the whole world and then claim her as her own possession -- taking her away from me forever?
(Historical Observation: North or South is not at issue. Personal courage, determination, intelligence and resourcesfullness can be admired from either side.)
But Teresa seemed to react to the "Finish her!" command as she wriggled her gorgeous body and bridged her shoulders out from underneath Buffy's knees! She then desperately tried to push Buffy away with her free arms from her back, but Buffy kept her position atop Teresa with her weight pressing against the chest of Teresa! This couldn't help but to weigh heavily on her chest and eventually tire Teresa out by impeding her breathing if Buffy remained in this position atop Teresa! Teresa was still fighting hard, but she had to get out completely from beneath Buffy! Teresa was desperately trying to push Buffy away while at the same time trying just as desperately to keep her wrists away from Buffy's grasp, who was trying to recapture them and pin Teresa again!
But just as the size of Buffy was seemingly beginning to slowly take its toll on my gal -- to my surprise and relief -- Teresa succeeded in pushing Buffy off her after a huge effort! Teresa worked her way to her feet, grabbed Buffy's hair with her left hand and slammed a right fist into Buffy's body! Buffy moaned as she loosened her grasp on Teresa's hair! Teresa hit Buffy in the sternum again and Buffy went down to one knee, still holding onto Teresa by the hair though Teresa's grip on her hair is stronger!
Teresa, pressing her advantage to my delight, hit Buffy in the sternum again! Buffy went down to both knees as my heart raced with excitement at the turnaround and heard Buffy moan as the blow forced her to release Teresa's hair and grab her wrists in an attempt to get them out of her hair and to also try to keep Teresa from punching her!
Buffy got to one knee and made a move to get up, but Teresa reared back and let Buffy have it right in the sternum again with a huge right hand! Buffy groaned, grabbed her sternum with her left hand, and fell to her back as the Union side let loose with its loudest cheer of the fight as I was the chief cheerleader!
The body blows had really taken their effect on Buffy now as she lay on her back, holding her sternum in pain! Buffy got to her knees but Teresa grabbed her firmly by the hair with both hands as Buffy grabbed Teresa by the wrists, trying to pry her hands out of her hair!
Teresa suddenly reared back and -- putting her entire back into the punch -- hit Buffy in the upper sternum again, causing Buffy to squeal in pain and fall to her back once again, holding her sternum!
Teresa quickly moved over to Buffy, sat on top of her, grabbed her by the wrists and pinned her to the ground in schoolgirl fashion! What a site it was to see my little woman sitting atop the bigger Buffy, pinning her to the ground in a fight that would mean sweet victory or either death or imprisonment! Buffy freed her hands and tried to push Teresa off her as Teresa tried to grab her hands again! To my dismay, Buffy succeeded in pushing Teresa off her and got to her knees, but Teresa grabbed her by the hair and Buffy once again found herself trying to pull Teresa's hands out of her hair!
Buffy got to her feet and grabbed Teresa by the hair! Teresa's grip was slightly stronger and she moved Buffy around by the hairpull, but for all intents and purposes Teresa had let Buffy get away for the second time in the fight! I began to wonder if Buffy's size was just too much for Teresa and if she were destined to lose this all-important fight, simply because Buffy was bigger than her!
Just then, Teresa spun Buffy down to her knees again as Buffy still had Teresa by the hair! Buffy quickly got to her feet again, still holding onto Teresa's hair as Teresa was yanking and pulling at hers! Again Teresa used her arm and back power to whip Buffy back down to her knees and once again Buffy got back on her feet! She and Teresa both yanked and pulled at each other's hair!
(Historical Observation: It is an accepted convention that the Civil War was a man's fight. But men were not the only ones to fight that war. Women bore arms and charged into battle, too. Like the men, there were women who lived in camp, suffered in prisons, and died for their respective causes.)
Teresa slowly moved Buffy around with her hair pull again! Suddenly she reared back and, using her strong back to add additional power, lashed out with a hard right hand deep into the chest of Buffy! Buffy moaned, grabbed her chest with her left hand and fell backward to her back! Teresa, in the words of one Union soldier, suddenly looked like she was "kicking asssssssss!"
Teresa, sensing victory, sat on Buffy and looked like she was going for the final pin! Buffy began to sob, "Ohh! Ohh!" as she tired and seemed to sense Teresa was trying to finish her as her energy began to wane and was becoming less and less able to defend herself! The Union side could sense the end approaching and leaned forward waiting for Teresa to finish her off! A rebel soldier yelled some encouragement to Buffy with a hint of desperation in his voice, but I knew this fight was Teresa's for the taking!
Both women's faces were beet red. But Buffy also looked tired and spent -- as well as desperate and a little frightened! Teresa saw this and went into overdrive, trying even harder to pin Buffy!
Buffy struggled desperately with Teresa to keep from being pinned, knowing what the consequences of being overcome would be! But Teresa quickly got back on top of the struggling, tiring blonde and grabbed Buffy by both wrists to pin Buffy! Buffy gasped almost in resignation as she exhaled in exhaustion!
Teresa held Buffy's arms down with her knees, lifted her right fist high in the air, and plunged it into Buffy's chest! Buffy arched her back and bellowed out a roar of pain as the Union side cheered! Teresa then lifted her fist up high again and brought it down hard into Buffy's chest again! Buffy squealed in pain as the punch hit her chest with a thud while the Union side again roared its approval!
Buffy grit her teeth, her face as red as a beet, and wriggled her body in defiance -- knowing that she was now in danger of losing! She tried to sit up, but Teresa easily positioned herself in a perfect schoolgirl press on Buffy's chest!
Buffy desperately kicked and bridged, but Teresa held on like a female sailor going through rough seas! Buffy continually bucked and kicked and was really making it hard for Teresa to continue to hold the pin! Buffy then stopped kicking due to her exhaustion, turning her head and gasping in air! This pause allowed Teresa to solidify the schoolgirl press!
But suddenly a determined Buffy began a furious bucking action with her big, powerful legs! She broke free of Teresa's grasp, but Teresa remained atop her like a rodeo rider on a bucking bronco! Buffy bucked Teresa off her, but Teresa pushed her back down to the ground as she tried to sit up! Teresa quickly climbed atop Buffy and pinned Buffy to the ground by the wrists once again!
Teresa then hit Buffy hard in the sternum and she groaned and went limp -- but only for a moment as she continued her desperate fight for survival -- though that fight no longer had the fervor it did only moments ago!
Teresa then thumped Buffy hard with three big right hands to the sternum! "OHHH!" groaned Buffy! Buffy continued to struggle to get away, but her efforts were obviously slowing!
Buffy stopped momentarily to catch her breath, allowing Teresa to strengthen the pin on the trapped Buffy! Buffy, sensing defeat and possible death or imprisonment, desperately renewed her attempts at escape by wriggling and twisting and bucking! Teresa found it more and more difficult to hold her pin, though she continued to do so!
This second-wind resistance by Buffy lasted close to two minutes! But still, Teresa retained her schoolgirl pin on Buffy despite the surprisingly spirited and determined resistance being displayed by Buffy as she tried to shed herself of Teresa! Buffy paused to take a rest, allowing Teresa to tighten her schoolgirl pin once again! Teresa was just riding Buffy out and letting the big blonde tire herself out as Buffy was obviously expending a lot of energy.
Buffy lay on the ground, securely pinned with red face, gasping for air -- but now she wasn't struggling! She lay like that for almost 10 seconds as Buffy's fatigue was becoming more and more obvious! Teresa's sternum punches had taken the fighting spirit out of Buffy and now Teresa was just riding her out!
Buffy summoned all her strength and thrusted upward in a bridging position! This dislodged Teresa only slightly as she still retained the pin!
Suddenly, Buffy went limp, collapsed and gasped, "OK, I've had enough! I give up! Please, don't kill me! I will be your prisoner!" The Union side cheered loudly as Buffy had nothing left! That was the last of her energy and her fighting spirit! Teresa had won!
Teresa slowly got off of Buffy as Buffy lay there, softly sobbing as she wasn't sure whether Teresa would kill her or humiliate her by taking her prisoner! Teresa stumbled over to a nearby Union flag as the Federal side urged her on and pulled it out of its holder with both hands as she struggled to keep her feet since she was very tired as well! She then slowly walked over to the sobbing, prone Buffy -- huffing and puffing as she made her way over to her -- and then covered the beaten Buffy with the Stars and Stripes from head to toe!
The Union soldiers cheered and some raised their hands in exultation as Teresa also lifted her hands over her beaten foe, who clearly was sobbing and trembling beneath the flag of defeat and humiliation that Teresa had covered her with! Teresa then grabbed the beaten rebel girl by the ankles and dragged her to the Federal trenches -- and then over into them! Teresa had won the fight -- and had her very own southern female prisoner!