Where Duty Calls: The Story of Sarah Emma Edmonds, Soldier and Spy in the Union Army

At least 400 women enlisted and fought on both sides during the terrible national conflict that was the War Between the States. Their reasons for enlisting ranged from wanting to stay with their husbands or lovers to patriotism and a firm dedication to the cause for which they fought. Most of these women disguised themselves as men, and some were soon discovered and discharged. A few women fought in the war and their identity was never discovered. This book is about one of those young women, Sarah Emma Edmonds, whose identity was apparently never revealed until many years after the war ended. Emma's experience is especially interesting because during her enlistment she served as a Union Spy, causing her to adopt multiple identities in addition to her male disguise.