Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-06-02
A Thrilling Narrative.
MISS MAJ. PAULINE cUsHMAS, THE FEDERAL
SCOTT AND SPY.


have made themselves famous since the
opening of the rebellion, few have sur
fered more or rendered more service to
the federal cause than Miss Maj. Pauline
Cushman, the female scout and spy.
At the commencement of hostilities she
resided in Cleveland, Ohio, and was quite
well known as q clever actress.
From Cleveland she went to Louisville,
where she had an engagement in WOODS
Theatre. Here by her intimacy with
certain rebel officers, she incurred the
suspicion of being rebel, and was ar
rested by the federal authorities, She
Indignantly denied that she was rebel,
although born at the South, and hay
ing brother in rebel Mississippi regi-
ment.
In order to test her love for the old
flag, she was asked if she would enter
the secret service Of the government.
She readily consented, and was at once
employed to carry letters between Louis
Vile and Nashville. She was subse-
quently employed by Gen. Rosecrans,
and was for many months with the army
of the Cumberland. She visited the
rebel lines time after time, and was
thoroughly acquainted with all the
country and roads in Tennessee, North
ern Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi,
| in which sections she rendered our ar
! mics invaluable service. She was twice
suspected of being a spy, and taken
prisoner, but managed to escape,
At last however, she was not so for
tunate. After our forces had captured
Nashville, Maj. Cushman made scout
toward Shelbyville to obtain informa.
tion of the strength and position of the
enemy, and, while returning to Nash
vile, was captured on the Hardin pike,
eleven miles from the latter city. She
was placed on horse, and, in charge OF
| two scouts, was being taken to Spring
Hill, the headquarters of Forrest.
While on the way to this place, she
feigned sickness, and said she could not
travel any further without falling from
her horse. Her captors stopped at q
house on the roadside, when it was as
certained that Federal scouting party
had passed the place an hour before
Knowing that her guards had important
papers for Gen. Bragg, the quick witted
spy seized the fact and schemed to use
it to her advantage.
Seeing an old negro, who appeared to
commiserate her unfortunate plight, she
watched her opportunity and placed SIC
in Tennessee money in his hand, saying
"run up the road Uncle, and come back
in few minutes, telling us that foul
| hundred Federals 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 "rebs" told him he lied
| The old colored man got down on his
knees, saying: "Massa, dey's cumin, sure
huff; de Lord help us, dey is cumin."
The scouts at this believed his story,
mounted their horses, and skedaddled''
| for the woods. Miss Cushman, Selling
a pistol belonging to wounded soldier
in the house, also mounted her horse
and fled toward Franklin. She Travelled
| through the rain, and after nighfall, lost
her way. Soon came the challenge of a
picket, "Who comes there ~ Thinking
| she had reached the rebel line, she said
"a friend of JEFF. Davis" "All right,
was the reply, advance and give the
countersign."
She presented the countersign in the
shape of a canteen Of whisky. She pass,
ed five pickets in this way, but the sixth
and last was obdurate. She pleaded that
Franklin, but the sentry couldn't see it
Sick and disheartened, she turned back
| Seeing a light at farm house. she
| sought shelter. An old man received
| her kindly, showed her to room, and
said he would awake her at an early
hour in the morning, and show her the
road to Franklin
A loud knock awoke her in the morn
ing from her Lethean slumbers, and
upon arousing she found her horse sad
died and the two guards from whom
she had escaped the previous afternoon
She was was taken to the headquarters
| of Forrest, and he sent her, after criti-
| cal examination, to Gen. Bragg. Moth
ing could be found against her until a
secesh woman stole her CATERS, under
the inner sole of which were found i'm
portant documents which clearly proved
her to be spy.
She was tried and condemned to be
executed as a spy, but being sick, her
execution was postponed. She finally,
after lying in prison three months, sent
for Gen. Bragg, and asked him if he had
no mercy. She received from him the
comforting assurance that he should
make an example of her and that he
should hang her as soon as she got well
enough to be hung decently
While in this state of suspense, the
grand army of Rosecrans commenced its
| forward movement and one fine day the
rebel town where she was imprisoned
was surprised and captured, and the he
roine of this tale was, to her great joy,
released She is now in this city visit
ing friends having arrived at the Biddle
House one day last week.--Detroa Tri-
6wte, Tuesday.