Campfollowers and sutlers played a vital role in the 18th Century army.  

Campfollowers were mainly civilian women and children who would follow the army in order to keep their husbands and fathers company, as well as to do odd chores around camp (such as cooking, cleaning etc). Although Washington disliked camp followers and thought them as "Useless mouths", many women and children continued to follow the army, and they were a welcome scene in any camp.

 
New York regiments were no exception. Many of the campfollowers from Long Island became refugees after the British captured Long Island in 1776. These hardy souls endured many of the hardships and tortures that the individual soldiers put themselves through, and were only able to return home after the British evacuated New York City in 1783, 7  years later.

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