Lakeside welcomes Sarah Emma Edmonds, brought to life by Women in History Ohio, a Cleveland-based nonprofit dedicated to educating through dramatic portrayals of notable women.
Edmonds (1841-1898) was a Canadian-born woman who disguised herself as a man to serve in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Born in New Brunswick, she fled to the United States at age 15 to escape an abusive father and an arranged marriage, adopting a male identity to live and work independently. When the war began, she enlisted in Company F of the 2nd Michigan Infantry, serving as a nurse, mail carrier and, at times, a Union spy.
She carried out espionage missions behind enemy lines using a variety of disguises, gathering critical intelligence for the Union cause. After being injured and falling ill with malaria, she left the army to avoid discovery.
Though her identity was later revealed, Edmonds was remembered by her fellow soldiers as a brave and dedicated patriot. She later secured a military pension, published her autobiography and was later inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
