[eng] In the twenty-first century, there is a growing interest in the role of women in armed conflicts. Well studied in the twentieth century, it is not the case for the nineteenth century and the Napoleonic wars. Although studies have recently investigated this subject (Mihaely; Cardoza), there is still research to be done. In this article, we examine the role and fate of the cantineers during the peninsular war (1808-1814), during the battles, the prison ships in Cadiz, and the prison camp in Cabrera, from memoirs of French soldiers and officers published throughout the nineteenth century.