Soldier, Spy, Heroine: A Novel Based on a True Story of the Civil War

Debra Ann Pawlak · Cheryl Bartlam du Bois

Jan 2017 · Sold by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

About this ebook

The Story of the Woman Who Fooled the Yankees and Rebels Alike.

As a child, Sarah Emma Edmonds dreamed of faraway places and adventure, often picturing herself as a man. When her abusive father traded her hand in marriage for a few head of livestock, she fled their farm and took on the identity of traveling salesman Franklin Thompson eventually settling in Flint, Michigan. There, as Thompson, she joined Company F of the Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry and distinguished herself as a true Civil War hero.

In between the First Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Yorktown, the Battle of Williamsburg, and the Battle of Fair Oaks/Seven Pines, Thompson nursed the sick and wounded, carried the mail across dangerous terrain, and became one of the Secret Service’s first spies. Using various disguises including that of a former slave and an Irish peddler woman, Thompson infiltrated enemy lines and stole vital information from the Rebels until a severe case of malaria took its toll.

Knowing that the medical attention she needed would reveal her carefully kept secret, she unwillingly deserted the Union Army in 1863. But Sarah Emma Edmonds wasn’t finished. She had a soldier’s pension to fight for and an honorable discharge to claim. Almost a decade after the war was over, she came forward and asked the astonished men she served with for their help in clearing the name of Franklin Thompson.

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction—novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Ratings and reviews

A true heroine in the American Civil War! I loved the story highlighting the amazing courage, fortitude and tenacity of this amazing woman! Although listed as fiction, this book was based on the heroics of a Canadian girl and her adopted country of USA! She was the only woman who enlisted and served faithfully to the Union army! As Franklin Thompson she was a nurse on the front lines and a spy! She served for 2 years until malaria drove her to seek medical help! Franklin was identified as a deserter! As her own self and with the encouragement of her husband she sought the help of her comrades to be recognized for her war contribution and allegiance to get her pension, a clearance of deserter and recognition for her valour and heroism! A great read about a genuine heroine!

From the beginning you just can't help but cheer for Emma. Sometimes the story might be a little too vivid but that is war. Truly loved all the twists and turns.

About the author

Debra Ann Pawlak is an award-winning author from southeastern Michigan. Her work has appeared in various publications such as Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Writer, Aviation History, and Michigan History Magazine. Additionally, Pawlak is a regular contributor to Scoliosis Quarterly. She resides in Farmington, Michigan.

Cheryl DuBois is prolific writer, screenwriter, producer, as well as the founder of the F.O.C.U.S. Institute of film in Hollywood. She is the author of multiple books including West of the Equator, G.O.D: The Great One Destiny, and Everyone’s a Medium: Your Responsibility to Spirit. She lives in Los Angeles, California.