Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-23
Stranger than Fiction

story of the war of the rebellion, Just
made public by Congressional committees
report, is in some respects without parallel
even in the modern sensational novel The
latter part Of May. 1861. young woman en-
listed as private soldier iu Company F, Sec
ond Michigan Infantry Volunteers. The
name she assumed WAS "Frankin Thomp,
son " Her real name was Sarah f. Ed
munds, and she was native of New Bruins
wick Her mother died when she was quite
Young and her father married again The
step-mother did not make home a paradise
and the girl left to seek her fortune when she
was Il wears old She conceived the idea
that she could get better pay for work done
if she were man, and 80 she adopted male
costume and naturally proceed d to Boston.
There she secured employment az q canvass
or for a publishing house, and WAS very sue
cess full In 1859 she made tour through
Canada, and in the early part of 1861 reached
Flint, Mich. Then the war was the sole sub
Jet OF thought and talk. Her story, the real
romance and thrilling part of it. began there.
1t appears from the statement of the lady,
whose real name Row il Mrs. Sarah +. Ed
mund. Seelye, and whose home il at Fort
Scott, Kan that she had no other motive in
enlisting than love to G. ID and love for suf-
ferng humanity" and she felt called to 60
"
right. and if she could not fight she could
take the place of some one who could, and
thus add one more soldier to the ranks
"Franklin Thompson" first enlisted for three
months, and afterwards for three wears or
during the war. Her ambition seemed to be
not promotion. but to nurse and care for the
wounded; and this gift of nursing was inner
tied from her mother, who WAS an excellent
nurse. She went to Fort Wayne, Detroit
Mich. drilled, did fatigue duty, and in all
other respects performed her work as SOL
der. and when not on duty assisted in car
ing tor the sick. In time she went to Wash
ington, stood guard, did picket duty. and
other work incident to soldiers life, until
the regimental hospital became filled with
cases of sun-stroke, etc. and then she was
detailed on hospital duty. She went with
her company and remained in the ranks dur
ing the first fight at Bull Run, and at the
hospital at Centerville Heights she again
did duty in the hospital; and after tn.
Bull Run defeat she became mail
carrier to the Second Michigan Infantry and
subsequently postmaster. or rather pOstmls.
tress aud mail carrier fer the brigade to which
her regiment belonged -Berrys brigade, it is
said In this line of service she was engaged
all through through the Peninsular campaign.
1t is related that during the siege OF York
town she carried the mali on horseback for
the brigade from Fortress Monroe to the
troops in front of Yorktown. The letters,
papers, packages, etc averaged two or three
bushels each trip. and the distance traversed
was between twenty five and thirty miles and
this was often made through the night She
was in the battles of Williamsburg and Fred
erckshurg. and the seven day. fight, and
Fair Oaks. Though sick with chills ard
fever she worked among the wounded. MANY
a time when the Union troops were across
the Chickahominv she had to swim her horse
through the swit-running Stream. the bridge
being carried away, going back and forth
with the mail. This exposure resulted in her
/ leaving the army. Her experiences were
varied and exciting until she went to Kentucky
with her regiment in 1868 An APP
plcaton made by her at Lebanon
| for leave of absence was returned dis
approved, and in poor health and for
! fear her sex might be discovered if she was
ksent TO the hospital she sbsented herself with
out leave in April of the year mentioned,
and was thereafter borne on the rolls as de-
serter. She proceeded to Oberlin, Ohio,
where she remained some weeks, and then
went to Hartford, Conn, and made arrange
ments to publish book entitled Nurse and
| Spy which Was written for the benefit OF
| the sick and wounded soldiers and which re-
allied some thousands OF dollars. The San
itsry Commission, the Christian Commits
sion. and soldiers aid societies were the re-
cipients of nearly all that was her share.
The next chapter in this strange life was to
return to hospital duty. At Oberlin she had
discarded her male costume, and assumed
her proper dress, and never after wore anv
disguise except when sitting for pictures.
Her labors In the Christian Commission took
her to Harper's Ferry and various hospitals
from there to Clarksburg, W. Va. The war
/ over, she went to Oberlin, where she studied