Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero
Sarah was only nineteen but she had already been dressing as a man for three years Originally she had cut her brown wavy hair and put on pants to escape a marriage arranged by her parents She had run away crossing the border from Canada into the United States trading a bridal gown for trousers trading countries without a single regret Once she discovered the freedom of taking big strides unhindered by heavy skirts and the freedom to travel when and where she wanted she couldn’t put a dress back on
Now as Frank Thompson she joined the long line of men snaking around the Michigan courthouse eager to give back to the country that had given her a new life 5
just a moment there When it was her turn she leaned over for the pen ready to sign on to the Union army the recruiter said Sarah froze Could he tell she was a woman How She’d been fooling people for so long she thought her disguise was perfect Growing up on a farm she’d learned to handle a gun and a horse Even then she’d put on her brother’s homespun pants to hunt So learning to walk talk eat and gesture like a man had come easy to her By now it was a habit 6
