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Forgotten History -
"Little known facts and overlooked history"
Women in the Revolution
By Denis Mueller
The American revolution impacted everybody, even those not
directly involved in the battles. Rich women had to deal
with fewer luxuries and farmer's wives were left to attend
to the farms. This left only poorer women, with no other
means of support, to become what can be described as "camp
followers." They served the army as cooks, washerwomen and
carried messages. These women joined the army because they
had few other options.
Many came with their boyfriends and ended up doing traditional
chores for the army. Officers of the army were not quite sure
what to do with them. With rations in short supply, it was
difficult to allocate provisions for these women, but they
could not let them starve
.
Camp followers made valuable contributions to the effort.
There were many young boys in Washington's army and most of
them lacked hygiene skills. They were teenagers who needed
women to keep their clothes clean and their gear maintained,
otherwise, diseases would flourish and the boys could become
infected. One observer commented:
"Many of the Americans have sickened and died of the dysentery,
brought upon them in a great measure through an inat-
tention to cleanliness. When at home, their female relations
put them upon washing their hands and faces, and keeping
themselves neat and clean; but, being absent from such moni-
tors, through an indolent, heedless turn of mind, they have
neglected the means of health, have grown filthy, and poison-
ed their constitution by nastiness." General Washington felt,
however, that there were too many women in the army. He bann-
ed them from riding in the wagons with the soldiers. Despite
Washington's objections, women continued to ride in the wagons.
When Washington rode into Philadelphia, he wanted the women
out of sight, but the women ignored Washington and rode with
the soldiers.
Camp followers suffered many of the same risks and hardships
as the teenage soldiers did. Those who carried things and
served as messengers for the army were as likely to be shot
as their male counterparts. When smallpox hit the camps, they
died as well. These heroines suffered much and received very
little.
Despite their help they ranked on the very bottom of the social scale.
While the poor soldiers were thankful for their
help, the richer officers were not. They were described by
the officers as "the ugliest in the world to be collected."
Some camp followers helped the army in other ways. Deborah
Chapman, 22 years old, carried intelligence dispatches for
the General. Others rode through the night to tell the militiamen
that the British were on the way. They guarded their
homes and often hid soldiers from the British.
A few women even disguised themselves as men so they could
fight. Others carried water to the thirsty soldiers. The war
could not have been won without their help. After the war,
there were no pensions for them. They were cast away and for-
gotten. History tells the story of generals, but there were
no generals as dedicated as these women were. These ill fed,
poorly clothed and often destitute women served their country
well.
We should remember them.
Source: A People's History of the American Revolution, Ray
Raphael.
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Look, what does a cow eat? Corn. And what's corn? A vegetable. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.
Need grain? Eat chicken.
Beef is also a good source of field grass. And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of slop.
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Well, we all know that beer is not an animal, and it's not on the periodic table of elements, so that only leaves one thing, right? My advice: Have a burger and a beer and tell everyone you're on a vegetarian diet.
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A: Can't think of a single one, sorry.
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