Edmonds, Sarah Emma Evelyn (1841-1898), became the most famous woman soldier of the American Civil War (1861-1865). Edmonds, a Canadian, served in the Union Army disguised as a man. She used the name Frank Thompson.
Edmonds was born in New Brunswick, probably in Magaguadavic, in December 1841. She came to the United States in the 1850’s. In 1861, Edmonds enlisted in a unit organized by a friend. She served mainly as a nurse and messenger. She also went on several spying missions to learn the strength and location of Confederate troops. At times while serving as a spy, she pretended to be a black male laborer, a white female peddler, and a black female cook.
Edmonds became famous when she later wrote about her male disguise and spying missions. In 1897, the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union Army veterans, made Edmonds a member. She became its only woman member. She died on Sept. 5, 1898.
