About 20,000 women followed their husbands to war.
They were known as camp followers. Some were looking for adventure. Others wanted to be with their loved ones. But most became camp followers to survive. They were poor women who were afraid that they and their children would starve with their husbands at war. Camp followers were paid for doing laundry or serving as nurses, and they were fed. Women got half as much food as men did (half rations). Children got quarter rations.
