Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War

Belle Boyd was the daughter of a wealthy Southern tobacco farmer and shopkeeper. Her unwavering confidence commanded attention.

On July 4, 1861, 17-year-old Belle waited at her home in Martinsburg, Virginia, ready to defend herself, her family, and their enslaved workers from the Union soldiers due to arrive any moment after the Union victory at Falling Waters. Belle supported the Confederate war effort alongside other women by raising money, doing laundry, and sewing clothes. Soon finding that work boring and repetitive, though, Belle started flirting with rebel soldiers, dreaming of more.

That night, Union General Robert Patterson ordered his army to raid and pillage the area. When soldiers arrived, claiming the Boyd home as federal property, one man tried to force himself on Belle’s mother. Belle shot him.

In 1861, when Emma Edmonson enlisted in the Union Army, she had already been living as Frank Thompson for four years. Emma’s background in farm work made it easy for her to keep up; she even had experience with loading and firing rifles. Prior to enlisting, Emma sold Bibles in Canada and Michigan. Many men slept fully clothed and rarely washed, making it easy for Emma to go undetected.

Emma had adopted her male persona to avoid being married off by her abusive father, Isaac.