SARAH EMMA EDMONDS DRESSED AS A MAN TO JOIN THE UNION


By bblouin
Picture of Sarah Emma Edmonds.

In June 1948, women were officially integrated into the American Armed Forces; however, there were several instances of service from female fighters long before. During the Civil War, there were a few notable examples, but one interesting standout remains Sarah Emma Edmonds. Though some dispute the facts about Sarah Emma Edmonds, we still commemorate her service as a Soldier. This includes the admittance of Sarah Emma Edmonds Seelye, who would marry into the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) for her roles in the Civil War. Suggested read: Benjamin O Davis Sr and Son Fought Segregation As the First Black Generals

Sarah Emma Edmonds Before the Civil War

Sarah Emma Edmonds was born Sarah Emma Evelyn Edmondson in what is now Canada, but at the time, was still a British colony. Sadly, her childhood was not pleasant as her father was abusive. Growing up with her brother Thomas and sisters, Sarah was the youngest. She was often subjected to abuse complicated further because of perceived medical issues Thomas would have from time to time. An arranged marriage at age 15 would inspire Edmondson to change her name and flee her life of abuse. Her mother, who had also gotten married at a young age, helped her escape; however, her father eventually found her. Edmonds hadn’t gone far. She was still in New Brunswick working at a shop with a friend. It’s alleged that because of the circumstances of Sarah Emma Edmonds' early life, she was already forced to wear boy’s clothes and used to the style for quite some time. Additionally, she often read books from a very young age on fleeing home in search of adventure elsewhere from a very young age. Using this to her advantage, Sarah Emma Edmonds became Franklin Thompson and began traveling to America in search of a new life once more. This would lead Frank Thompson/Sarah Emma Edmonds to become a bookseller and publisher in Hartford, Connecticut, working for Hurlburt and Company to sell the Bible as a door-to-door salesman. On the move again, Edmonds discovered that life as Thompson made things a bit easier and arrived in Flint, Michigan in 1856. It was in the Wolverine State that she would find another calling: becoming a male nurse in the U.S. Army.

Franklin Flint Thompson Reports for Duty

Now known as Franklin Thompson, Sarah Emma Edmonds disguised herself as a man to serve during the Civil War. Enlisting in the 2nd Michigan Infantry, she was in key battles like Second Manassas and Antietam during the Maryland Campaign of 1862. Antietam, in particular, marked one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, where Edmonds faced the challenge of managing mass casualties as a field nurse working to save fellow Soldiers. Edmonds may have been a spy with intel about the Confederacy. She used the alias Charles Mayberry, and even posed as a Black man named Cuff. Edmonds also may have used the alias Bridget O'Shea to gain information. Malaria out Sarah Emma Edmonds' Civil War career to an end. She left the service to avoid discovery as a woman among men. Some accounts claim she did come clean before leaving. Regardless, Edmonds was still helping the U.S. after life as a Soldier by becoming a nurse at a hospital treating Soldiers in Washington D.C.

Disputed Claims

Two years before she married in 1865, Edmonds published Nurse and Spy in the Union Army, which told of her experiences as a Soldier. The only problem is that her claims were disputed and continue to be today. For starters, Edmonds told a newspaper that it wasn’t authentic. Ever since, there have been claims by others who find the accounts to have contradictory statements. What we do know is that Sarah Emma Edmonds did seem to serve in some capacity. However, the exact extent may be a bit different than reality. After the Civil War, she had military pension for her service. Additionally, she was laid to rest, for the second time, featuring full military honors for her time as a Soldier. Related read: The Tommy Gun Is a Complicated, Important Part of American History

How Did Sarah Emma Edmonds Die?

Sarah Emma Edmonds' cause of death was malaria complications. She passed away in La Porte, Texas, on September 5, 1898, at the age of 56. After the Civil War, she married Linus Seelye in 1867, had three children, and eventually went on to clear up her desertion so that her pension would become official. A position she would advocate for and win. The story of Sarah Emma Edmonds is incomplete because women in service weren’t of any concern during the time. Nevertheless, her unique place in history is important and fascinating no matter the finer details. Read next: Gen Z Remains Uninterested in US Military Recruitment Efforts


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