Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-06-09
SaAaTHGILLING NARRATIVE.
Miss Mai Pauline Cushmau, The
Fedcral Scout and SPY. i.

Fc"crai NfOut ana SPY. Ia.
From he Defron Tribune, May "a. hez
Among the women of America who
heve made themselves famous since the
opening of thu rebellion, few have suffer-
cd more. or rendered more service to The
Federal cause than Miss Mai Pauline
Cushman the female scout and spy.I At
the commencement of hostilities she reaidr
ed in Cleveland, Ohio, and was quite well
known as clever actress
From Cleveland she went to Louisville.
where sire had an engagement in Woods
Theatre Here by her intimacy with
certain rebel officers, she incurred the
suspicion Of being rebel. and was arrest
ed by the Federal authorities. She ind
ignantly denied that she was rebel. al
though born at the South, and having a
brother in rebel Mississippi regiment.
In order to test the loye'for the old flag,
size was asked if she would enter the Sc
crct service Of the Government. She
readily consented, and was at once EN-
ploycd to carry letters between Louisville
and Nashville. She was subsequently
employed by Gen. Rosecrans, and was
for many months with the Army of the
4 Cumberland She visited the rebel lines
time after time. and was thoroughly ac-
qpainted with all the country and roads
in Tennessee. Northern Georgia, Ala.
bama and Mississippi, in which sections
she rendered ourarmics invaluable service.
She was twice suspected of beins spy,
and taken prisoner, but managed to es-
cape.
At last, howeycr, she was not so for
tune. After our forces had captured
Nashville, Maj Cushman made scout
toward Shelbyyille to obtain information
of the strength and position of the enemy.
and, while returning to Nashville, was
captured on the Hardin pike. eleven miles
from the latter city. She was placed on
a horse, and, in charge of two scouts, was
being taken to Spring Hill, the headquar-
ters Of Forrest.
While on the way to this place. she
feigncd sickness, and said she could not
travel any further without falling from
her horse. Her captors stopped at n
house on the roadside, when it was as
certained that Federal scouting party
had passeo the place an hour before
Knowing that her guards had important
papers for Gen. Bragg the quick wittcd
spy seized the fact and schemed to use i;
to her advantage.
Seeing an old negro, who appeared to
commiseratc her unfortunate plight, she
watched her opportunity and placed $40
in Tennessee money in his hand, saying ::
''run up the road. Uncle, and come back
in few minutes. telling US that four
hundred Fcdcrals are coming down the
street" The faithful negro obeyed the
order literally, and soon came back in the
greatest excitement, telling the story
The two g rebs" told him he lied The
old colored man got down on his knees,
saying: slassa. dey's cummin, sure
nuff; de Lord help US, dey is cuminin. "
The scout. at this believed his story,
mounted their horses, and skedaddled"
for the woods Miss Cushman. scizing a
! pistol belonging to woqaded soldier in
the house, also mounted her horse and fed
toward Franklin. She Travelled through
the rain, and, after nightfall, lost her way
Soon came the challenge of picket,
- Who comes there @ Thinking she had
reached the rebel line, she said: "a friend
Of JEFF Davis All right" was the
reply, "advapcc .Hd give the counter
sign"
She presented the countersign in the
shape Of canteen of whisky. She pass
ed five pickets in this way, but the sixth
and last was obdurate. She pleaded that
she was going to see sick uncle at
Franklin, but the sentry couldn't see it.
Sick and dishcartened. she turned back
Seeing u light at farm-hoase, she sought
shelter. An old man reached her kind
ly, showed her to room, and said he
would awake her at an early hour in the
morning, and show her the road to Frank
lin
A loud knock awoke her in the morn
ing from her Lethcan slumbcrs, and upon
arousng she found her horse saddled and
the two guards from whom she had escap-
ed the previous afternoon. She was taken
to the headquarters Of Forrest, and he
sent her. after a critical examination, to
Gen. Bragg Nothing could be found
against HtT Until seccsH WQiUd0 stole NeI
CATERS, tunder the inner sole Of which
we're found important documents which
clearly proved her to be spy.
She was tried and condemned to be
executed as spy, but being SICK. her
execution was postponed She finally
after lying ip prison three months, sent
for Gen. Bragg and asked him if he had
no mercy. She received from him thc
comforting assurance that he should maxi
an example Of her, and that he should
hang her as soon as she got well enough
1 to be hung deceDtly.
While in tnis state Of suspense, the
grand army Of Rosccrans commenced i,a
forward movement, and one fine day the
rebel town where she was imprisoned was
surprised and captured. aud the heroine
of this tale was. to her great joy, released.
She is now this city visiting f.ien s, nav.
ing arrived at the Biddle House one day
last week. Detroit Tribune Tuesolay.
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