 The DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living through chemistry, presents the Cavalcade of America, tonight's star, Ginger Rogers. Tonight's DuPont Cavalcade is called Emma, just Emma, and begins in the Civil War month of September, in the year 1861. Now, here's our star, Ginger Rogers, as Nurse Emma Edmonds. Curious, isn't it? I was happy. The war was all around me. The field hospital was plotted with the cries of the wounded. But I, Nurse Emma Edmonds, was happy. How curious. How foolish. How false. His name was James Vernon, Lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac. He was quite tall. His hair was black. And the day I first saw him, there was blood on his cheek from one wound to die, while he seemed to grin at me from the other. Well, no. You look fine, even with only one eye to look from. Now, take your hand away. Let me see it. When were you shot? The tree was shot this side called a splinter. Emma. Hold it to the light. I will. Emma. I think I can manage, unless you prefer to wait for Dr. Edmonds, do you? I do not. I prefer Emma. Lieutenant, it is quite improper for you to... Call you Emma? Well, the orderly told me your name and that means we've been properly introduced since he's a very orderly orderly. Now, hold your eye to the light again, please. And hold very still, Lieutenant. I'm not a still man. I gathered that already. Now, this will hurt. No, I'm not worried. I heard my mother say once to a Scotch Presbyterian clergyman. Who? Sorry. That she was afraid I'd meet with some violent devil. But he looked at me and then he looked at... Almost. And he said, well, my good woman, if the wind is born to be hunged, you'll ne'er be groomed. There it's out. And nearly as long as my fingernail. Lucky it came out in one piece. Ah, but then I'm a lucky man. Has anyone ever told you that you have beautiful hair? Lieutenant, aren't you ever serious? Never. Then where will you be tomorrow? Because that's where I'm going to be tomorrow. Those first days together. Moments when we almost forgot the war. But there were other moments, more sober moments during the next weeks when he stared at the ground, groomed moodily. Go back to your patience, Emma. How it pleasant here with you, James. Go back. There are the sick and the wounded and the soon to be dead. They need you. I worked 11 hours, James. This half hour belongs to me. It's wrong. Who are we to know such contentment in the midst of so much pain? James, why did you join the Union Army? Because, well, because there's wrong and there's right. And maybe I believe most of the right this time is with the Union. And I would do something for what is right. I'm going back. There's wrong and there's right as you just reminded me. And it's right for me to go to them who need me more. If I haven't said so, I'm very fond of you. A very good night, James. And to you, Emma. A very good night. It was the last time I was to see him alive. While riding toward the battle line, he was struck by a miniball. Lieutenant James Vernon, without a shroud or coffin, wrapped in his own blanket, his body was committed to the cold ground. A very good night to you, James. Emma. Oh. Oh, it's you, Dr. Edwards. Living alone in the evening air is bad for you, my dear. Take a position's advice. It would go better with you if you wept. I have no tears now. Tears that are delayed cost more. Now, Emma, you're a woman. Cry. It would be good for you to cry. Dr. Edwards, I wish to resign as field nurse. I want to go to war. A very personal war. Now you're distraught, my dear. A few days of relief. I know what I need and it isn't enough to leave. Well, you can't avenge James. Besides, only men put on a uniform and fight only a man can. Wait a minute. I wonder. Yes, doctor. Emma, today I attended a staff conference at headquarters in which the general... Come, Emma, let's pay a visit to the general. Dr. Edwards was wrong to send you. This is man's work. Why? Are such things governed by a code of law? You're a nurse. Not any more, general. I have resigned as of this instant. You may not resign, nurse Edmunds, or over the work you want to do is hazardous. Hazardous in the extreme. One of our best agents was apprehended yesterday. This morning, two rebels we captured informed us that our agent has already been hanged. It could happen to you. If the wean is burned to the hand, it will never be droned. Huh? I'll make you pardon, nurse. Oh, nothing, general. I was just remembering something a dead man told me. You're a nurse. It's your duty to save the lives of our wounded men. By going through the rebel lines and returning with information, I can prevent men from becoming wounded. Nonsense. You'd be stopped in an hour. Would I, sir? Watch, general. This is a bottle containing a solution of silver nitrate. A rubble on my finger, like this. Well, your finger's turning black, well. Right. All right. Ten fingers can turn black. Two hands, two arms, my face. General, here is my disguise. You mean... Yes. Yes, of course. Negroes are constantly being captured and recaptured between the lines. No one will ever suspect a Negro woman. I won't be a woman. A Negro man can stay closer to headquarters without a rousing suspicion. What about your yellow hair? We can be shaved off. I can get a wig. I can dress in men's clothing. I can be a Negro fieldhand. General, you must allow it. I can do it. Believe me, I can do it. All right. Can you ride a horse? Indeed, as well as any man. It's against my strongest inclination. Can you shoot a pistol? Try, my general. All right. Now listen carefully. We've met with nothing but reverses. Wherever our troops have been deployed, we've been surprised. Our general shot the pieces. Part of the reason is faulty intelligence on our part. We've got to know the strength of the rebels camped against us. I said it before, general. Try me. Very well. I want to know how many troops they have, how many reinforcements, how many rifles, how many cannons to save lives to win this war. I've got to know, be prepared to go through the rebel lines near Yorktown. My head was sheathen. I was given a wig in some men's clothing. And at half past nine o'clock, I passed through the outer picket line of the Union army and made my way on foot now toward the rebel lines. The night was cold. The ground was damp. I was afraid. When I had gone what I hoped was a safe distance, I laid down and rested until morning. I'll shoot. You ready what I said, Yankee? Get those hands out of her. I'll shoot. Well, yes, sir. Yes, sir. After the light where I can see you, Yankee. Coming faster. I'm coming mighty faster. And I thought you was a Yankee, a dog gone. Yes, sir. I was a thinkin', major. Dog gone. Trying to run away from your master? No, sir, major. I was trying to run back, major. You know very well I'm no major. Boy, what are you trying to do? Who are you trying to fool, going back to your master? Come on. I'm taking you to the captain. Ladies and gentlemen, this broadcast of the DuPont Cablecade of America, starring Ginger Rogers and sponsored by the DuPont Company, makers of better things for better living through chemistry, marks an anniversary. For it was 15 years ago this week, on October 9, 1935, that our first program was broadcast. And Cablecade went on the air with these words. DuPont, one of America's oldest industries, presents the Cablecade of America, a series of episodes from American history, stories portraying the qualities that have guided the American people from the earliest days to the present time. It is the hope of DuPont that these human dramas will help perpetuate the finest traditions of American life. Because these same traditions of service, courage, and hope have always played a vital part in the progress of DuPont, whose research chemists are carrying on in the same spirit discovering and creating useful products so that the American people may have better things for better living. Tonight, as we start our 16th year with this 669th broadcast, that message still expresses the meaning and purpose of the DuPont Cablecade. And on this anniversary, we feel it's appropriate to rededicate Cablecade to those principles stated on its first broadcast 15 years ago, to help perpetuate the finest traditions of American life. The DuPont Cablecade continues, starring Ginger Rogers in Emma, the story of a nurse who disguised herself as a Negro boy to act as a spy for Union forces during the Civil War. My heart was pounding when they brought me to the Confederate captain, but he merely glanced at me and with a shrug of indifference, gave an order to the sentry and brought me in. Take him to the overseer. He's been put to work on the fortifications. They believed my disguise. Free the prayer of Thanksgiving. I was conducted to a breastwork which was in course of construction where there were about a hundred colored people at work. It has been easy, too easy. Perhaps I became overconfident though as I worked in the gravel pit. A Negro, close by, began to stare at me. Boy, I'm talking to you. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. What's your name? Uh, Willie. Yes, sir. Aren't you sure? Shown up. I-I's mighty doggone show. You use a heap of language, don't you, boy? Let me see your hands. Well, let me know. I'm going to hit you with my shovel. Shown up. Boy, you just ain't convincing. Uh, ain't. You ain't. There's genuine colored folks, and there's imitation colored folks. You, boy, pure imitation. Oh, for heaven's sakes, not so loud. That's better. Please, please. I'll give you five dollars not to say anything, please. Money ain't any use to me. Keep your money, boy. Keep your mouth shut. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. You better feel your wheelbarrow. The overseas is looking this way. Go on, get to work. For a few minutes, I was in a panic. Then I tried to submerge my fear in work. I labored there under the broiling sun. My back ached, and the muscles in my arms and thighs quivered with fatigue. And when it seemed I could not survive another moment, there was a most welcome boy. Sit down, boy. I'll fetch you a little. Oh, thank you. I'm so tired. You've been working without sense. Tomorrow, don't put quite so much on your shovel. When you load your wheelbarrow, it'll only have weight. When you lift it, use your whole body, like this. It'll save your strength. Oh, you're good to me. Why? Just tell me why. Don't ask so many questions. You've been more than kind. Kindness ain't enough. I don't know. What could be better than kindness? The truth. Now you're the one asking questions, aren't you? All right. I won't ask any questions. But I'll tell you something. I watched you. You're dressed like a boy. You look like a boy. Only you ain't a boy. You're a woman. Oh, if you repeat that to anyone, I'll hang you for it. I won't repeat it, but there's smarter people than me. And if I could see what you really are, there'll be others to see what you really are. Ma'am, you're in danger. Yes, I was in danger, but there were tens of thousands of Union soldiers in greater danger, and there was the memory of a tall lieutenant in the army of the Potomac who was now past all danger. I had a duty to perform. There were things I had to learn, information I had to bring back, and there was not much time. Where are you going? I'm going to take a walk. You had a hard day. You're tired. Walking is good for fatigue. Ma'am, you'll stay put just where you are. You've been good to me so far, and I appreciate it, but this is none of your business. It is my business. You're a spy, ma'am, aren't you? You're a spy for the North. How does that make me your business? You've been seen talking to me, spending a lot of time with me. If they capture you, they'll hang us both. Look, there's certain information I need to know, and I won't know it by staying here, will I? It ain't safe now. In a little while, I'll go with you. No. Either together, ma'am, or not at all. I guess you win. All right, we'll go together. We've gone over everything. This is the last place. How do you count it, ma'am? I'd say 12 guns in that battery there on the beach. How big do you make them to be? I'd say 32 pounds. Oh, 12, 32 pounds. I've got it. Now, how many on that landing? No. 64 pounds. 64 pounds. I'll remember that. Now, come on, let's get out of here. What's that noise out there? I said, what's that noise? What are you two doing here? Evening, Captain. What are you doing here? We works here. Us is building up the fortification. Why aren't you asleep? Too hot to sleep tonight, sir. That's not good enough. Corporal. Yes, Captain. These men are lying. You know what to do with them. I'd do, sir. And do it. If they make one move to run away. I shoot. Correct. You shoot. Now, take them off. Are these them? These are them, all right. Two of you, stand up. Boy. Yes, sir? What's this here in my hand? A rifle. What's this in my other hand? Oh, another rifle. What does a rifle do? It shoots. Bullets. It shoots bullets and it kills you dead. Stone dead. You understand that, boy? Sergeant, stop that. Stop behaving like a bully. Yes, Captain. Remember your soldier in the Confederate Army. Boy. Yes, sir, Captain. Those two rifles are for you. Oh, sir? Sure. Sentry duty. Sergeant, you scared this poor boy so he's almost turned white. It was true. The silver nitrate solution was wearing off and I was actually turning white. Fortunately, they marched Wilbur and me into the darkness. And soon we found ourselves in an open field very close to the Yankee line. Ma'am. Yes, Wilbur? You scared? Terribly scared. You got good reason. That stuff's wearing off fast. You won't fool anybody another day. Well, then I guess I'll have to go tonight. Yes, ma'am. Straight ahead. Toward them trees. That's where the Yankee troops are. I'm deeply grateful to you, Wilbur. I'm the one to be grateful, ma'am. I was born a slave. I was raised a slave. And now there's folks going to war so I don't need to be a slave no more. The Yankee lines are straight ahead, ma'am. And that's the way to go. Straight. When they had buried the man I loved, I didn't cry. And when I'd been standing alone and frightened between the rifles of North and South, I also didn't cry. But now with the quiet words of a man who'd been enslaved all of his life, now I cried. And perhaps my tears were in atonement for all the sorrows and agonies of the living. The hands and knees I began to creep slowly toward the Union lines. They had hurt me in the dark. I tried to make my body small. These were not bullets fired by the army. These were the bullets of Union soldiers. I was bringing back information to save their lives and they were trying to kill me. I clawed the earth with my fingernails until they split. I bit my lip until it bled. I crawled a little farther and fell into a muddy crater. It was smaller than my own grave would be. But for a few hours at least, I was safe. In the first light of morning, I tied my white handkerchief to the barrel of my rifle and signaled the Union centuries that I was coming in. Hold your fire! Hold your fire! It'll take too long to say, please, please don't waste any time. Take me to the general right away. I'm glad to see you, and I can't tell you how glad. General, I've memorized suit and details. Would you give me a moment, sir? Whenever you're ready. And 12... 1232 pounders on the beach at Gloucester Point. Yes. 864 pounders on Yorktown Landing. Yeah. At Fort Grafton at least two ten-inch... generalize. It will take me about ten minutes to write it down. Take all the time you need, Emma. Meanwhile, sir, under the inner soul of my left hue, you'll find a drawing of the Confederate fortifications around Yorktown. Wonderful, wonderful. As Edmund, I wonder if you know what you've done for the Union cause. I'm too tired to know right now. General, will the Union army do something for me? Anything, my dear. What is it, just stated? A bathtub, general, filled with hot water at the take of soap. Waterly. Yes, sir. A bathtub, hot water and soap for Nurse Edmunds, even if you have to send to the White House for it. Yes, sir. One moment. First take the following order. All commanders of regiments will prepare to march. Gentlemen, Ginger Rogers. I want to read two short entries from the notebook which Nurse Emma Edmunds kept. One day after the Union army marched, she was able to write, at about 8 o'clock in the morning, our advance guard entered Yorktown. And on the last page of her journal, she wrote, Oh, Lord of righteousness, give us peace which is no counterfeit. Thank you, Ginger Rogers. And now, Bill Hamilton speaking for Dupont. Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Colonel John Stillwell, a trustee and past president of the National Safety Council. Thank you, Mr. Hamilton. The man or woman who has a job in industry today is actually safer from injury at work than at home. This in itself says much for industry safety record. Among American firms, the Dupont Company has for many years maintained a truly outstanding safety record. For seven consecutive years since 1942, Dupont has received the National Safety Council's annual award of honor for distinguished service to safety. I am happy to announce that Dupont's 1949 record has earned the award for the eighth straight year. Dupont is the first organization in the world to win the Safety Council's Fire Center eight times in a row. And now it gives me great pleasure to present this eighth award to Mr. Harold L. Miner, Manager of the Safety and Fire Protection Division of the Dupont Company. Thank you, Colonel Stillwell. The men and women of the Dupont Company are justifiably proud of their effective work to prevent personal injuries, saving thousands of employees each year from injury, hurt, and suffering. I am happy to accept this distinguished service to safety award on their behalf. Dificates of this safety pendant with its white field at Green Cross and Seven Stars will be flown with pride over all Dupont plants and with special pride over our Nylon plant at Martinsville, Virginia. This plant is continuing unbroken the world's best safety record, now over 25 million man hours without a lost time injury. Our thanks to the National Safety Council. Our appreciation and sincere congratulations to all Dupont employees. Thank you, Mr. Miner and Colonel Stillwell for joining tonight's Cavalcade of America program and participating in this presentation of the National Safety Council's Award of Honor to the Dupont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. This is Cy Harris reminding you to join us next week when the Dupont Cavalcade will present two stars, Lee Bowman and Ralph Bellamy. Tonight's Dupont play was written by Morton Wishingrod. Ginger Rogers may soon be seen starring in the universal picture The Groom War Spurs, featured in the cast with Miss Rogers, was Ozzie Davis as Wilbur. Music was composed by Arden Cornwell and conducted by Donald Boris. The program was directed by John Zoller. Ladies and gentlemen, on October 24th, United Nations Day, a 20-ton freedom bell will be installed and dedicated in the shadow of the Iron Curtain in Berlin. The bell will have been made possible by Americans in the Crusade for Freedom, a great campaign of truth to communicate our ideals of friendship, freedom and peace to the people of the world. By joining this Crusade for Freedom, you may help to fulfill the hope inscribed on the freedom bell, a paraphrase of Lincoln's word that gets his word, that this world under God shall have a new birth of freedom. Don't forget next week, Lee Bowman and Ralph Bellamy on the Dupont Cablecade of America, which come a few from the Belasco Theater in New York and is sponsored by the Dupont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living through chemistry.