The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-05-31
A Thrilling Narrative.
Miss Major Pauline CusIlman,
the Federal Scout and Spy.

have made themselves famous since the
opening of the rebellion, few have suff-
cred more, or rendered more service to
the Federal cause than Miss Major Pau
line Cushman, the female scout and
spy. At the commencement of hos
tilities she resided in Cleveland, Ohio,
and was quite well known as a clever
actress. From Cleveland she went TO
Louisville, where she had an engage
ment i'm Woods Theatre. Eere, by
her intamacy with bertain rebel officers
she incurred the suspicion of being
rebel and was arrested by the Federal
authorities. She Indignantly denied
that she was arebel, although born at
the South, and having brothea in a
rebel Mississippi regiment. ,nJ p.
In order to test her love sor 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 Lou
isyille and Nashville. She was subse-
quently employed by Gen. Rosecrans,
and was for many months with the Ar
my of the Cumberland She visited
the rebel lines time after time, and was
thoroughly acquainted with all the
country and roads in Tennessee, Nor
thern Georgia, Alabama and Mississip-
pi, in which sections she rendered our
armies invaluable services. She was
twice suspected of being a spy, and ta-
ken prisoner, but managed to escape.
AT last, however, she was not SO fortu-
nate. After our forces had captured
Nashville, Major Cushman made a
scont towards Shelbyville to obtain in
formation of the strength and position
Of the enemy, and while returning to
Nashville, was captured on the Har-
din pike, IL 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 For
rest. While on the way to this place,
she feigned sickness and said she
could not go any farther without fall
ing from her horse. Her eaptors
stopped at house on the road side,
when it was ascertained 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 adj
vantage. Seeing an old negro, who
appeared to commiserate her unfortu-
nate plight, she watched her opportu-
nifty and placed $40 0m Tennessee mon
ey inihis hand, saying: ''run up the
road 'Cncie' and come back in few
minutes, telling us that 400 Federal's
are coming down the street" The
faithful negro obeyed the order literally,
and soon came back in the greatest ex-
citement, telling the story The two
''rcbs' told him he lied The old col
ored man got down ON his knees, say
ing: eMassa, dey's cummin, sure nuff;
de Lord help us, dey is cumin."
The scouts believed his story, noun
ted theis horses, and "skedaddled'' for
the woods. Miss Cushman, seizing a
pistol belonging to u wounded soldier
in the house, also mounted her horse
and fled toward Franklin. The trav-
elled through the rain, and after
nightfall, lost her way Soon came the
challenge of a picket--"Who comes
there?n Thinking. she had reached the
rebel line she said; GA friend of jeff
Davis" s'All right" was the reply,
advance and give the .countcrsign." !"
She presented the countersign in the
shape OF bottle of whisky She
pvssed five Of the 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 SEN
try couldn't see it. Sick and disheart-
eaed she turned back Seeing a light
at farm house she sought shelter. An
old man received her kindly, showed
her to aroom, and said he would a.
wake her ut an early hour in the NOR
ming, and show her tue road to Frank
lin. re L9Asil4 4iiii.lA 81
A loud knock awoke her in the NOR
ming from her lethean, slumbers, and
upon arousing, she found her horse
saddled and the, two guards from whom
she had escaped the previous afternoon.
She was taken to the headquarters of
Forrest and he, sent her, after crit
ical examination to Gen. Bragg. Moth
ing could be found against her, until a
secesll W oman stole her CATERS, under
the ipsole of which were found imports
ant documents which clearly proved
her to, be a spy. She was tried and
condemned to be executed as n spy,
but being sick herexecution was post
poned. She family, after lying in pris-
on three months, sent for. Gen.. Bragg
and asked him if he had no mercy.
She received 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 de-
Gently. y.oul3Forl rod 1gl9iin9< il9aii,i
4 While IN this state of suspense the
( grand army of Rosccrans commenced
its forward movement, and one fine
day the rebel town where she was inn.
prisoned, was surprised and captured,
and the heroine Of this tale was to her
great Joy released She is now in this
city visiting friends, having arrived al
the Biddle House one day last week.
She is on her way to New York, where
she has an engagement with Barnum,
4 who pays her $3.50 per month to re-
cite the story of her thrilling adven-
lures aud hai breadth escapes. - =
4 gn0IW NJ 2A- sno--2np .-- Llilt 'Ai
II - III tlyssr adr F1gVNel I. e.tG9n9 o
sd5d Mr.. CyrEsj ", Field states
I that the Great Eastern has not beer
I sold 10 the French Government. She
SAssold at auction for s25, ,ooO,. to a
4 company Of three persons, who have
Il chartered her To law the Atlantic cable