Sarah Emma Edmonds was born in Nova Scotia in 1842. Her early childhood was marred by her father's resentment that she wasn’t a boy. Emma eventually ran away from home and fled to Flint, Michigan.
When the Civil War broke out, Emma dressed in men’s clothing, cut her hair and took the name of Frank Thompson. On April 25, 1861, Emma was sworn in as a male nurse in the Second Volunteers of the United States Army. She was sent to Washington for training and then to join McClellan in Virginia. Emma was assigned to the hospital unit of the Second Michigan Volunteers.
Emma Begins Work as a Union Spy
McClellan then sent out word that he was looking for a spy. Private Frank Thompson volunteered for the position. She studied local geography, weaponry, military strategy and military personalities.
Emma dyed her skin with silver nitrate and enlisted in the Confederate Army as a black man. She dressed in men’s clothing, wore a minstrel’s wig, and called herself Cuff. When Emma reached the Confederate front, she was assigned to work on the ramparts. At the end of the day her hands were bloody and blistered; she switched jobs with a slave. The second day she worked in the kitchen. She learned the size of the army, how many weapons they had, and learned of the “Quaker Guns” (logs painted black to look like cannons from a distance) that the Confederates planned to use at Yorktown.
Emma escaped and rejoined the Union Army. The information she took back impressed McClellan. Two months later, Emma received orders to return to the Confederate lines. She knew she couldn’t return as Cuff, since he was a deserter. She assumed the identity of a peddler woman named Bridge O’ Shea. Emma had no trouble getting into the Confederate camp, and returned to McClellan with information after being wounded while making her escape.
Emma's Missions Under Generals Sherman, Burnside, and Grant
The Second Michigan was then sent to the Shenandoah Valley. When Emma arrived, General Sherman issued orders for her to resume her job as spy. Emma used her Cuff persona several times while spying. In August of 1862, she used the disguise of a black laundress in the Confederate camp. While sorting clothes, she discovered official documents in an officer’s coat. She took the papers and went back to the Union lines. Her commanding officer was delighted with the find.
When the Civil War broke out, Emma dressed in men’s clothing, cut her hair and took the name of Frank Thompson. On April 25, 1861, Emma was sworn in as a male nurse in the Second Volunteers of the United States Army. She was sent to Washington for training and then to join McClellan in Virginia. Emma was assigned to the hospital unit of the Second Michigan Volunteers.
Emma Begins Work as a Union Spy
McClellan then sent out word that he was looking for a spy. Private Frank Thompson volunteered for the position. She studied local geography, weaponry, military strategy and military personalities.
Emma dyed her skin with silver nitrate and enlisted in the Confederate Army as a black man. She dressed in men’s clothing, wore a minstrel’s wig, and called herself Cuff. When Emma reached the Confederate front, she was assigned to work on the ramparts. At the end of the day her hands were bloody and blistered; she switched jobs with a slave. The second day she worked in the kitchen. She learned the size of the army, how many weapons they had, and learned of the “Quaker Guns” (logs painted black to look like cannons from a distance) that the Confederates planned to use at Yorktown.
Emma escaped and rejoined the Union Army. The information she took back impressed McClellan. Two months later, Emma received orders to return to the Confederate lines. She knew she couldn’t return as Cuff, since he was a deserter. She assumed the identity of a peddler woman named Bridge O’ Shea. Emma had no trouble getting into the Confederate camp, and returned to McClellan with information after being wounded while making her escape.
Emma's Missions Under Generals Sherman, Burnside, and Grant
The Second Michigan was then sent to the Shenandoah Valley. When Emma arrived, General Sherman issued orders for her to resume her job as spy. Emma used her Cuff persona several times while spying. In August of 1862, she used the disguise of a black laundress in the Confederate camp. While sorting clothes, she discovered official documents in an officer’s coat. She took the papers and went back to the Union lines. Her commanding officer was delighted with the find.
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