The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-27

she returned again to tbs army. Not until
twenty years later was it known by her most
intimate comrades in the service that the
Frank Thompson" whom they had known
and loved was a Toman-a truly wonderful
case of.conesaied identity
The peculiar mental and physical charac-
teristics that rendered such role possible
we're in large measure the natural outgrowth
of the circumstances surrounding her child
hood and youth. Sarah E. f. Edmonds for
such was her maiden nance was born on a
far from St. Johns river, where she lived I'M
til about % years Of age.
Her constant companion from infancy was
an older brother: and as little Sarah ad-
vanced in years she failed to develop any de-
clded taste for household work, or for any
Of the young lady pursuits of that day. but
was passionately devoted to out-of-door lfe,
and spent the most OF her time roaming over
the farm with her brother. helping him In
him she rode drove, skated and hunted
chopped down the trees of the forest, fisAed
In the streams, or on snowshoes tracked the
wild deer. Naturally keen, fearless, alert
she became a supefb horsewoman, fine shot,
and strong and skilled in the various forms
Of outdoor labor, so that later In camp aHd
field she could handle ak, gun spade with
the best. All this open-air exercise gave her
an unusual physique for the women of her
day She was broad-shouldered, vigorous and
athletic, with muscle OF iron and nerves Of
steel
It was quite natural upon approaching
womanhood that the desire should come to
Miss Edmonds to make a career for herself;
but there were few vocationS open TO We
men in those DAYS that could appeal to one
of her peculiar powers and equipment: one
day however, a copy OF the newly revised
edition of the Bible fell into her hands. Miss
Edmonds was an earnest Christian, and had
an Unsuitable desire for education, and
the idea came TO her that she might lay the
foundation for broadening her life by can
wasting for subscriptions for this new Bible.
Partly from the love OF adventure, and
partly from the business prestige it would
give her. she determined to take advantage
Of her stalwart figure, assume mans cos
tune, and. under the name of Frank
Thompson carry on the business OF agent
for the revised edition of the Bible. She met
with no difficulty in the disguise, and was
She worked her way selling Bibles down
through Nova Scotia and the states until in
the fall Of 1860 her route brought her to
Miss Edmonds was at this time with so
many others greatly agitated by the din
cuities between the North and the South.
Though not an American, and not obliged
to remain in the country during a conflict,
she es2oused the Federal cause with ardOr;
and when. Immediately following the firing
on Fort Sumter. and the presidents call
for troops, the Flint Union Grays asked for
recruits. Frank Thompson among the
first 70 present himself.
Although volunteers in those days were not
subject to the strict examination OF our re-
cent recruits, Frank felt rather nervous and
gramme, particularly when he noted how
the man ahead of him in the line treat
ed. However, the examiner merely looked
into the frank, honest face took hold OF the
firm, strong, but fair hand, and asked:
well. what sort OF living has this hand
earned2"
With the dash native TO her, Frank replied:
well. up to the present, that hand has been
chiefly engaged in getting an education" And
the examiner PASSED on.
Within a short time Frank was with the
Army OF the Potomac. devoting every pos
sible moment to caring for the sick and
consoling the dying. After the terrible de-
feat at Bull Run, she fingered on the field
ministering 10 the wounded though repeatedly
warned that 1.-The rebs were coming until
finding herself quite alone she proceeded to
make her way to CentervilIe As the Con-
federates had not then arrived she could not
make up her9mind to continue her retreat
without first Eotng-dnto tfls Stone Church
crowded with SEounded and dying Union SOL
diers She sremakned, giving them water.
until the tramp ofcayairy was heard at the
very door FEza Sic darted out, and as the
night was exceedingly dark. and the rain
coming down IN torrents. managed to elude
observation. Seeing that there was no escape
By the street. she climbed fence. ran
across lots coming out on the Fairfax road,
| ana started on the double-ouick for Wash
ington. She arrived at Alexandria at noon
next dav. her shoes literally worn on her
| feet. and nearly exhsuted. having walked the
Th6is dizfanceftrs the rain without food.
one morning when the troops were Sta