Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-07-08
Miss Maj. Pauline Cushman.
THE FEDERAL SCOUT AND SPY.

THE FEDERAL SCOUT AN d SPY.
Among the women of America who
have made themselves famous since the
opening Of the rebellion, few have sui
fered more or rendered more service to
the federal cause than Miss Maj. Pau
line Cushman, the female scout and spy.
At the commencement of hoSiilities she
resided in Cleveland, Ohio, and was quite
well known as clever actress
From Cleveland she went to LOUIS
Vile. 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
arrested by federal authorities
She Indignantly denied that she was
rebel, although born at the South, and
having a brother ina rebel Mississippi
regiment.
In order to test her love for the old
flag. she was asked if she would enter the
secret service of he government.-
She readily consented, and was at once
employed to carry letters between Louis
vile and Nashville. She W a subse
quently employed by Gen. Rosecrans,
and was for many months with the army
of the Cumberland. She visited t h e
rebel lines time after time, and a 6
thoroughly acquainted W h all b e
country and roads in Tennessee, North
ern Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi,
in which sections she rendered our armies
Invaluable service. She was twice sus-
peeted of being spy, and taken prisoner,
but managed to escape. i
AT last however, she was not so for
tunate. After our forces had captured
Nashville, Maj. Cushman made scout
toward Shelbyville to obtain information
of the strength and position ofthe enemy,
and, while returning to Nashville, was
captured on Hardin pike, eleven
miles from the latter city. She W a s
placed on a 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
feicned sickness, and said she could not
travel any further without falling from
I h horse. Her captors stopped at
house on the roadside, when it was ascer-
aimed that Federal scouting party bad
passed the place an hour before. Know
ng that her guards had important papers I
or Gen. Bragg, h quick-witted spy 4
eized the fact aud schemed to use it to t
Ter advantage. C
Seeing an old negro, who appeared to &c
,ommiserate her unfortunate plight, she G
watched her opportunity and placed $40 I
n Tennessee money in his hand, saying c
run up the road, Uncle, and come back C
n few minutes, telling US that four huns d
Ired Federals are coming d W n the Q
treet." The faithful negro obeyed the +
,rder literally, and soon came back in the {
greatest excitement, telling the story
The two "rebs" told him he lied. The
Did colored man got down on his knees,
saying "Massa, dey's comm, sure huff
de Lord help us, dey is COMM"
The scouts at this believed his story,
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. S h e travelled
through the rain, and after nightiall, lost
her way. Soon came the challenge OF a
picket, "Who comes there p Thinking
she had reached the rebel line, she said 4
"a friend of jeff. Davis" "All right"
was the reply, advance and give the
countersign."
She presented the countersign in the
shape of cantcen Of whiskey. S h 81
passed five pickets in this way, but the
sixth and last was obdurate. She plead
ed that she was going to see sick uncle
at Franklin, but the sentry couldn't see
it. Sick and dsheartened, she turned
back. Seeing light at farm house
she sought shelter. An old man receiv-
ed her kindly, showed her to a room, anc
said he would wake 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 b 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 a critical examin-
alton, TO Gen. Bragg. Nothing could be
found against her until a secesh woman
stole her CATERS, under the inner sole o f
which were found important documents
which clsarly proved her TO be a spy