Recovering from knee replacement surgery has been tougher than I expected, delaying the post-processing of my latest Jockey Hollow encampment photos and a blog interview post with a renowned reenactor in the Philadelphia area. With Mother’s Day in May, I decided my next post should instead feature women and my five favorite Camp Followers photographs.

You may be wondering: What is a camp follower?

A camp follower was typically a civilian—often a woman or child—who traveled with the army, providing support like cooking, laundry, nursing, and mending. Though not soldiers, they endured the same hardships and played a vital role in the army’s survival and morale.

To build on that background, the photo below is one I commented on in my April 1, 2026, blog about my visit to Guilford Courthouse in Greensboro, NC. Here’s what I wrote at the time:

In this photo, a woman tends to a “wounded” soldier during a reenactment at Guilford Courthouse. These women are an essential part of the story, making these events meaningful and special.

I took this as one of my first photographs at the 1777 Whitemarsh Encampment 2023. Like many women at these gatherings, she was focused on preparing food. What stood out immediately was her glasses, perched low on her nose. The vivid blue dress, red apples, and green grapes added lively color to the scene. The fruit's freshness and her absorbed expression struck me as both amusing and unexpectedly appetizing.

Here is a photo from the 2014 Battle of Wyoming reenactment—an event that unfortunately no longer takes place. It portrayed the harsh realities of frontier warfare in the Delaware Valley during the Revolutionary War, a style of conflict defined by sudden raids, shifting alliances among Patriots, Loyalists, and Native American groups, and a constant sense of danger for isolated settlements along the region’s borders.

As this image illustrates, women were not merely bystanders—they, too, often had to learn to defend themselves and their homes. Frontier warfare blurred traditional roles, exposing entire families—including women and children—to violence that reached into daily life.

There is nothing quite like a strong portrait. My initial reaction to this image is a sense of quiet confidence. It feels like yesterday when I took this, but unbelievably, it was from the  Battle of Monmouth all the way back in 2015. Seeing this photograph again brings back memories and a thought.

Now, I find myself reflecting on the details—especially the clay pipe. I wonder whether it was typical for working-class or camp follower women to smoke during the American Revolution. Based on what I understand, women did smoke clay pipes during that era, especially among the working class, though it was not universal, and acceptance varied by setting.

What’s funnier—the woman’s enthusiastic offer of a drink to the soldier, or his determined focus and refusal to break formation? Moments like these make reenactments so much fun.

This photo was taken at the Retreat at Fort Lee reenactment in late November 2017, when the cold made an alcoholic drink especially tempting. The authentic atmosphere enhances the scene—you can almost feel the chill and temptation. I enjoy photos with a comic twist.

I’ve been enjoying ON1 Software on my photos ever since I began photographing American Revolution reenactments—back in 2007. Every image on my site has been lovingly processed with this program. It’s a vital part of my workflow, and I often share about it on my blog because I truly rely on it. I personally edit every photo here, and ON1 remains a powerful, dependable post-processing companion.

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A great classic soul song to celebrate moms is “Respect” by Aretha Franklin. Originally written and recorded by Otis Redding, the song was transformed by Franklin into a powerful anthem of dignity, strength, and appreciation—qualities that resonate deeply when honoring mothers. Redding, who tragically died in a plane crash in 1967, left behind a remarkable musical legacy. I have a personal connection to his story, as I once lived for 5 years in Macon, Georgia, not far from where he lived.

Thank you for reading! Blog #111 will be posted on June 1, 2026. Be safe & well!

Huzzah,

Ken Bohrer