juancaruca
In the midst of the American Civil War, two young women-Marie Picard, a seventeen‑year‑old Frenchwoman, and Annie Woodridge, a twenty‑two‑year‑old American-join the Union Army as vivandières (cantineras). This military "rank" at the time was reserved for women tasked with tending to the wounded amid the horrors of battle, as well as assisting with the supply of provisions.
The story focuses on Marie, who risks her life on numerous occasions to save her comrades during the harsh clashes against the Confederates, from the bloody Battle of Antietam to the carnage of Gettysburg. Along the way, she encounters a cavalry captain with whom she falls in love, forcing her into a difficult crossroads: love or duty. She must choose between marrying him and following the destiny society of her time reserved for women, or renouncing that love and remaining faithful to her vocation as a member of the Union Army.
The narrative intertwines historical events with personal experiences: Marie's fear and guilt in the face of her calling, the unconditional support of her friend Annie-cavalry vivandière happily married to a Union officer-the concern of her uncle Juan Gorriaga-who in his youth witnessed the deaths of some of the first vivandières in France-and the loyalty of the soldiers of the Philadelphia Zouave regiment whom she serves.
With a style accessible to all audiences, the work blends the rawness of war with human emotion, rescuing for the reader the nearly forgotten figure of the vivandières or cantineras, as well as the importance of their humanitarian and caregiving role.
Disclaimer: Original book written in Spanish. English version translated by non professional translator. Contributions to improve it are welcome.