Emma Edmonds Letter By Leo Wild

War Department,

 

My name is Emma Edmonds. I am an ardent Unionist and enlisted in the army under the alias of Franklin Thompson. I recently found out that I had a dishonorable discharge and I’d like to tell you some significant reasons why my title should be changed to an honorable discharge. I’ve done many things to help the Union cause win the war. I’ve been disguised as many people and gained lots of valuable information. Most of all, I am a woman. I spent two years giving assistance to the North and I feel that with all my great accomplishments, it is unfair to have a dishonorable discharge. I’m am asking that you please change this after all the supportive things I have done.

One reason why I’d like to reinstate as an honorable discharge is for gaining worthy details about the rebels artillery. I disguised myself as a slave named Cuff to go behind rebel lines. I figured that nobody would suspect a slave to be a spy for the Union. Also, who would notice one new slave out of thousands in the South. At the rebels camp, I drew a diagram of new earthworks and put it in the lining of my shoe to give back to McClellan (50). I noted down the types of weapons as well as the quantity. This was not an easy job being a slave but I got through it. I had to work 12 hours a day with silver nitrate on my face. I could’ve been caught at any moment but was I was not.

Another reason to show why I deserve an honorable discharge is because of my generosity and kindness. Not just for the Union but for both sides. On this mission I was disguised as an Irish peddler named Bridget O’Shea. I walked through the doors to see a dying Confederate soldier crying for water (69). I went into the other room to get him a cup and then put a blanket under his head to ensure his comfort. Even though I was supporting the Union, I went out of my way to help a soldier in need on the Confederate side.

My next reason why I would like to have an honorable discharge is because of my dedication top secret information that helped the North win the war. I was not a regular spy just like anyone else. I did a great job and was noted for that. I was granted a furlough for two weeks because of my outstanding job. My colonel said I couldn’t have done any better. Two weeks to sit back and relax would’ve been great. I spent a couple nights exploring the city, but was so dedicated to aid the Union, that I went back to be a volunteer nurse (91).

The last reason I would like to be reinstated as honorably discharged is because I helped capture and arrest an important Confederate spy. Charles Mayberry, my name under this mission, was an employee of a boss who worked with Mr. Hall. Hall was a Confederate spy who had given valuable information about the North to his colonel. He needed to be stopped or soon secrets would start spilling out about Union plans of attack. My contact and I revised a plan where the Union soldiers would capture us, arest Hall, but then let me free (110). We were riding our horses along a secret path when the soldiers jumped out of the underbrush. The soldiers locked Hall up and congratulated me on yet again another successful mission.

Once again, I ask you to please consider reinstating my title as honorably discharged. I hope you keep in mind all these great accomplishments when making your descision. I understand that I was charged absent without leave but I felt that I needed to rest and could not let out my secret. It was for the best cause with no intentions to abandon the Union. For a woman to have such a great number of achievements and successful missions is worthy to be reinstated as honorably discharged. I’ve been through hard tasks and disguised myself as a man for two years. I have helped this country become what it is today and I ask you to please consider reinstating my title as an honorable discharge in the United States Army.

Sincerely,

Emma Edmonds