Sarah Emma Edmonds aka Frank Thompson
once again, this historic piece really isn’t about ones sexuality. i’m just reporting and making observations. seems 2 me that if one wants 2 do battle they have 2 do it as a man. and while we are not necessarily in a war on a day 2 day basis, i do see my studs as soldiers that go out in uniform every day and challenge society. they fight for our rights by just steppin out the door. our rights to b whomever the hell we want 2 b. they fight for our freedom 2 b whatever kinda womyn we want 2 b. i can’t say that i understand what studs go thru. that would b a lie. but i do appreciate it. cuz they do it for all of us. they are all our rainbow soldiers and i got y’all back. ok. i’m off the soapbox. and with that said, here’s a piece of your history ladies:
Sarah Emma Edmonds aka Frank Thompson
American Civil War Soldier, Spy, Nurse
Emma Edmonds was one of approximately 400 women who succeeded in enlisting in the army (either Union or Confederate) during the Civil War. Her uniqueness is that she not only succeeded in remaining in the army for several years, but was also eminently successful as a Union spy-all while impersonating a man.
Emma was living in Flint, Michigan, when the first call for Union enlistments went out. She wanted to answer the call. So she cropped her hair, got a man’s suit of clothing, took the name of Frank Thompson and tried to enlist. It took her four tries but finally she did in fact get sworn into the Union Army (at that time the physical consisted merely of asking the enlistee questions-no medical examination). On April 25, 1861, Emma Edmonds alias Frank Thompson became a male nurse in the Second Volunteers of the United States Army.
After training in Washington, D.C., Emma’s unit was sent south to be part of McClellan’s campaign in Virginia. Private Thompson (Emma) was assigned as a male nurse to the hospital unit of the 2nd Michigan Volunteers and had no trouble in maintaining her masculine masquerade.
On 5 July 1884, a special act of Congress granted Emma Edmonds alias Frank Thompson an honorable discharge from the army, plus a bonus and a veteran’s pension of twelve dollars a month. The resulting Special Act of Congress read:
Emma lived out the rest of her life in La Porte, Texas, where she died on September 5, 1898. She is buried in the military section of Washington Cemetery in Houston, Texas. In honor of her duty and devotion to her country she is the only female member of the organization formed after the Civil War by Union veterans-The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). In her own words Emma Edmonds said of her adventures: “I am naturally fond of adventure, a little ambitious, and a good deal romantic-but patriotism was the true secret of my success.”
Read her full story HERE
