sutler
Army goods seller
A sutler was a civilian merchant who followed an army to sell provisions, liquor, and other goods to soldiers.
The term belongs to military history, particularly the American Civil War era, when sutlers operated from tents or wagons near encampments: The soldiers lined up at the sutler's tent to buy tobacco and writing paper.
The role disappeared as military commissaries took over supply functions.
Officer managing military supplies
- provisionerSupplier of food stores
- camp followerCivilian accompanying military forces
- wagonWheeled hauling vehicle
- encampmentTemporary military or refugee settlement
regiment · battalion · canteen · mess · rations · barracks · outpost · bivouac
One who transacts commercially
- vendorOne who sells goods
- peddlerRoving small-goods merchant
- merchantOne who sells wares
- purveyorProvider of goods
barter · goods · wares · merchandise · transaction · exchange · marketplace · retail
Controlled food portions
- suppliesResources for a task
- foodstuffsEdible items or ingredients
- tobaccoDried smoking leaf
- whiskeyOak-aged grain spirit
hardtack · coffee · necessities · goods · comestibles · victuals · staples · consumables
quartermaster
Officer managing military supplies
- provisionerSupplier of food stores
- camp followerCivilian accompanying military forces
- wagonWheeled hauling vehicle
encampment · regiment · battalion · canteen · mess · rations · barracks · outpost · bivouac · garrison
trader
One who transacts commercially
purveyor · barter · goods · wares · merchandise · transaction · exchange · marketplace · retail · wholesale
rations
Controlled food portions
- suppliesResources for a task
- foodstuffsEdible items or ingredients
- tobaccoDried smoking leaf
whiskey · hardtack · coffee · necessities · goods · comestibles · victuals · staples · consumables · groceries
sutlerquartermaster
Officer managing military supplies
commissariat · enlisted soldier · combatant · provost · camp follower
sutlerenlisted soldier
Non-officer in armed forces
soldier · combatant · serviceman · trooper · infantryman