Seymour reit biography books

“But how could you know the limits of your courage if you never put it to the test?”
― Seymour Reit, Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy

This book is at once educational, inspiring and just fascinating.

Emma Edmonds  was a smart and I'd say fearless, woman who was just a girl during the Civil War. She wanted to help the Northerners in battle but how could she? Women, after all, were not allowed to fight. And she did not want to stay on the edges doing something like sending Postcards. She wanted to make a difference. She wanted to change the world.

And she did.

Emma joined the forces by posing as a boy. At the time, they were desperate for troops. She slipped into costume easily. And nobody found out her secret during the entire time she was with them.

She started as a Nurse but in time, she would become a super spy, utilizing various disguises to penetrate the Confederate armies. She posed as a Slave. As an old lady. And even as a "distinguised gent".

Nobody ever found out her secret and her reputation as a Spy grew. It was only that she was known as a "he"

I had never heard of Emma but am sure glad I re