Hospital Commissary

Impressionists Pauline Zamorski and Julie Sedlock portray women camp followers sanctioned by the United States Sanitary Commission for hire to prepare commissary rations for the hospital’s staff and patients.

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Pauline and Julie charm visitors at Harpers Ferry.

Unlike the common practice in military units where cooking responsibilities were often rotated among the men, officers like our surgeon received an allowance to purchase supplies from the Brigade Commissary and could hire civilians to cook their meals. Our ladies present a perspective on women in the Victorian era and the impact the war. They discuss food preference and preparation of the period including cooking over a campfire or hearth. They also present a display of foods and brands common for the time period.

Pauline and Julie do mending and knitting between preparing meals for the Field Hospital staff.