Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-23
EMMA SEELYES HEROISM.
The story Of WOman who Fought In
she War.

bhe w ar
One of the most remarkable instances Of
the war is recalled by the recent action OF
the House of Representatives on the bill OF.
fered by Gen Cutcheon, OF Michigan, to re-
move from tie military record Of Franklin
Thompson, tue female soldier, the charge OF
desertion, in order that she might obtain
bounty and back pay due her at the time she
left the service. The report Of the military
committee on the case affords the fabric Of
romance. II traces the career OF an adven-
turous girl from the provinces from the time
she left her home In early womanhoOd to 20
to Boston, follows her through the provinces
on canvassing tour, and brings her up rs
an enlisted man at Flint, Mich, in a Mich
gan regiment. 1t carries her through the
war, mentions some OF her exploits and vicis.
STUDIES, and shows her finally in the Army of
the Cumberland, broken in health and spirits,
denied furlough, on the point Of being sent
to the hospital and fearing that this would
disclose her sex and subject her to the un.
comfortable experiences that would naturally
follow such a DISCLOSURE, she deserts and
gains the Ohio, after painful experiences,
and finally reaches Oberin, where she re-
sumed the habiliments OF her sex, and was
kindly treated by the people, who wondered
at the strange circumstances surrounding her
case and were curious to know her history.
Gen. Cuicheon told the House that this WON
an is Emma Edmonds Seelye, the wife OF a
worthy Nova Scotlan mechanic, now living at
Fort Scott Kan, that she served in his COM
mand, or 10 a command which he accom-
panied, and was a soldier OF marked ability
In the difficult line to which she WAS detailed
for service-that OF courier, spy and field
nurse. lie vouched fer her character In the
service, and said the circumstances OF her
desertion were 80 peculiar that she was en-
titled to consideration at the hands OF Con-
gress, considering the valuable and conspic-
uous services rendered by her to the govern
ment in many perlous situations.
There seems to be much romance in the
experiences Of this extraordinary woman
romance Of both the heroic and the tender
kind. After she deserted at Green river
bridge, Ky, and recovered her health sufi-
ciently, she wrote the work Nurse and Spy, "
which Immediately became a popular book
and attained an enormous sale, approXimat-
ing POO, 900 copies There is traceable in the
story a romantic strain involving IN attach
ment of her earlv life on the ST. Johns in
New Brunswick When she left her home
for Boston she severed as she supposed, a
sentimental attachment existing between her
and young man who lived not far from the
home of her childhood. She continued to
assumed mans attire as aNanvAsser in Bos-
ton and during her Canadian tour in the
same employment. She was so successful in
passing of for one Of the other sex that when
she reached the little town OF Flint, in Mich.
igan, she conceived the idea of enlistlng as
soldier and going to war She did enlist in
company F, Second Michigan infantry, Capt
William F. Smith and Col. Israel b. Richard
son commanding. Her Boston and Canadian
experiences had covered a period OF Ave
years In the latter portion of this period
she seems to have dropped her correspon-
dence with the friend of her earlier years in
New Brunswick. She proceeded with her
regiment to Washington where she procured
a detail for hospital service. She continued
in this service some time. being in almost
constant association and cooperation with
DR.. Bonnie, the regimental surgeon OF the
Second Michigan, and his wife. Her sex was
not suspected by the surgeon and his wife,
nor was it by others with whom she came in
contact. She was always treated as a young
man OF exceptionally tender sympathies and
retiring ways. Eventually she returned TO
the ranks and marched to the first Bull Run
battle She soon obtained q designation as
a mail carrier and Tegimental postmaster.
Col. Cutcheon of the goth Michigan, now a
member of Congress, says he and others sus-
pected that the frail and shrinking young
man was not what he pretended to be. In
fact he thought and seems to have had good
reason for thinking the mail carrier was a
female. What this reason was the congress-
man now refrains, evidently through motives
of delicacy from specifying.
After the battle of Bull Run she remained
during the long season of inactivity of the
Army of the Potomac under MeOlellAn's com
mand, in hospital and courier service also
taking hand in two or three spying enter
prises, which are but little more than limited
ut in her book. 1t was in the peninsulaI
campaign in the spring of 1862, that she ao-
cidentally ran across the friend Of her early
life. He was a lieutenant in New England
regiment. She WAS astOunded, but did not
disclose her identity. With great difficulty
she preserved her assumed character, 80 that
he did not suspect her. As letter carrier and
postmaster for the brigade she saw much Of
her old lover and they seem to have become
the best of friends She writes, however
of the continual embarrassment she lsbored
under to prevent him from recognizing her
1t was only through her tact that he did not,
1t can be imagined that she enjoyed this pc
culilr situation greatly, Notwithstanding the
| fear that she was under of identification.
The lieutenant was a staff officer, and as suot
had perilOus duty TO perform. He was sbo
and instantly killed while on duty at tn,
'front.' near the field of Fair Oaks. His fun
'eral-a simple martial burial. with nothing
but his uniform and blanket to enshrouC
him-occurred next day, 1t was over before
Franklin Thompson knew that he had beef
killed.
Again it may be imagined that her situa
ton was distressing. She touches upon thi
| lightly, however, and alludes to her meeting
with him as follows;
"When We met in the army we met a
strangers. The changes which Ave year
had wrought and the costume which l wore
together with change Of name, rendered /
impossible for him to recognize me. wa
glad that he did not, and took partioula
pleasure in remaining unreoognized. We be
! LII