The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-09-03
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
A Thrilling Narrative.
Mfss Major Pauline Cushmnu the Federal
Scout and Spy.

MIss Major Pauline Cushmnu the Federal
Scout and Spy.
Among the women of America who have made
themselves famous since the opening of the rebel
lion, few have suffered more, or rendered more
service TO the Federal cause than Miss Major
PAULINE CUsHxAS, the female scout and spy. AT
the commencement OF hostilities she resided IN
Cleveland, Ohio, and was quite well known as a
clever actress.
From Cleveland she went to Louisville, where
she had an engagement in Woods Theatre. Here,
by her intimacy with certain rebel ~oftlcers, she in
Cured the SUSPICION of being a rebel, and was ar
rested by the Federal authorities. She indignant
ly denied that she was n rebel, although born at
the South, and having a brother In q rebel Mis-
eissippi regiment
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
Louisville and Nashville. She was subsequently
employed by General 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, Northern Georgia, Ala
bama and Mississippi, in which section she rem
dered our armies invaluable service. She was
twice suspected of being a spy, and taken pris-
oner, but managed to escape.
At last, however, she was not so fortunate.
After our forces had captured Nashville, Major
Cushmsn made q scout towards Shelbyville to
ODN1En AEAOl VI LAC eLECuRIi auu pOSlllOu
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 We 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 ut a house on the roadside, when it was
ascertained that a Federal scouting party had
passed the place an hour before. Knowing that
her 0uaria ha1 frnpnrfanf for Con Proo.
the quick-witted spy seized the fact and schemed
to use it 20 her advantage.
Seeing an old negro, who appeared to commits
crate her unfortunate plight, she watched her
money in his hand. saying: =" run up the road,
Uncle and come back in a few minutes, telling
rs that four hundred Federals are coming down
the street" The faithful negro obeyed the order
literally, and soon came back in the greatest ex-
element, 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
nun de Lord help US, dey is cumin."
The scouts ct this believed his story, mounted
their horses, and IS skedaddIed': for the woods.
Miss Cushman, seizing a pistol belonging to a
wounded soldier in the house, also mounted her
horse and fled toward franklin. She travelled
through the rain, and, after nightfall, lost her
way. Soon came the challenge Of a picket who
comes there ?" Thinking she had reached the
rebel line che said "a friend of JEFF Davis"
All right" was the reply, Z" advance and give
the countersign."
She presented the countersign in the shape of a
canteen Of whisky. She passed FIVE pickets in
this way, but the sixth and last was obdurate.
She pleaded that she was going to see a sick uncle
at Franklin, but the sentry couldn't see it. Sick
and disheartened she turned back. Seeing a light
at q farm house she sought shelter. An old man
received her kindly, showed her to a 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 morning 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 q critical examination, to
Gen. Bragg. Nothing could be found against
her, until q secesh woman stole her CATERS, under
the inner sole of which were found important !
documents which clearly proved her to be a spy. |
She was tried and condemned to be executed as
O spy, but being sick, her execution was post
poned. 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 ex- |
ample of 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 day the rebel town where she was i'm
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 at the Biddle House one day last week.
Detroit Tribune.