Justin b

Hello, I’m Emma Edmonds. I was just informed that Private Franklin Thomson was charged with desertion. I am Franklin Thompson and I do not think I should be charged with desertion for many of reasons. One being that I had the guts to disguise  myself as a man to fight for our country and then became a field nurse.

I disguised as a man to get in to the army. I cut my hair and wore men's clothes. I am used to wearing mens clothes because I grew up on a farm in Canada with my dad wanting a boy and not me. I had to act like a boy so I would be appreciated a little more. On April 25, 1861 I was accepted into the army as a field nurse (7).

I also disguised as many other things like a slave and an Irish immigrant. When I was disguised as a slave I worked behind rebel lines. I retained all the information about artillery, weapons, and earthworks (50). I waited until nightfall when everyone was asleep and jotted down all the information in my notebook and then put it back in my shoe. I made it back safely and won a souvenir of a rifle gun. This was my first spy mission out of many.  I also won appreciation from McClellan.

I got shot on one of my missions. I got fixed up and then I was granted a furlough. When I was granted this furlough I still helped people. I worked at two different hospitals as a nurse while I was healing. I went out of my way to do this instead of just resting. When my furlough was over I went back to the camp. I was all healed. When I went back I was diagnosed with Malaria. I was going to die. After a couple of days I felt really bad. I thought to run away because the last time I ran away it did me good.

I don’t think I deserve to be charged with desertion because of all I’ve done and proved. I proved that women can do the same things as men. There was a reason for me running away.