Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-26


MAN. with the valorous deeds,
WV sacrifices and deprivations
the women of Europe are
undergoing for the cause for which
their countries are battling, the minds
of many of the men and women attend
ing the encampment of the Grand Army
of the EepubIic will revert to the part
the brave women of both sides took in
the civil war when they served as SOL
&iiers. secret service agents, scouts ana
nurses or in whatever capacity they
were most needed. whether marching
side by side with their male comrades
or waiting just behind the line of bat
tie for the wounded or dead
The stories of the lives of these wom-
en- read like border ronances of Scot
land. with all the bravery, daring. in
tclligence and science of a late GEN.
tury added.
The blaze of the campfire or the whiz
of stray bullet is not needed to give
zcst to the story of that memorable
night in March. 1863. i'm Woods Thea
ter. Louisville. Ky. when two paroled
Confederate officers offered the actress.
Taulfne Cushman. bride to propose
toast to Jefferson Davis and the Con-
fedcracy.
Miss Cushman. who became one of the
most noted spies in the Union army,
and was commissioned major by Sec
rotary Stanton. was born in New Or
leans in 1888, the daughter of Spanish
refugee and adventurer who left the
south and went west to Michigan. where
he became an Indian trader The
hardships of pioneer life did not suit
the taste of Pauline, and, being unable
to get employment there. she left her
father and went to New York to seek
work. She secured an engagement
there as variety actress, and later re-
turned to the south to play engage
ments.
Those were troublous days for itin-
Grant theatrical troupeS. Travelling
facilities in the south were more fire.
quently carriages for the rich. but OK
carts. .springless wagons and mule
teams for the less fortunate. So Miss
Cushman early became Injured to the
hardshps which later in her adventure
Gus career stood her in such good stead.
when she would have to roll up in her
blanket by a campfire at night or mount
and ride miles through the woods or
over dangerous road patrolled by the
sentries of the enemy.
She was playing an engagement in
THE Seven Sisters that night i'll
Louisville. when she was approached by
the two Confederate officers in a spirit
of fun and bravado, they having no
idea that she would accept the wager
But being of strong Union sympathy.
her woman's intuition told her that
there was chance to help the cause
which was SO near her heart. So she
parted the proposal and reported the
incident to Col. Moore. provost marshal
of Louisville, who seeing in this clever.
pretty woman a weapon for the north.
advised her to give the toast.
The following evening in the course
of the play. when the house was abso-
lutely quite, she went forward to the
front of the stage and boldly proposed
n toast to Jefferson Davis and the Con-
federacy. Then she cried with much
seeming enthusiasm: May the south
prosper and regain her rights.
Instantly the house was i'll an uproar
of conflicting sentiments and for mo-
ment il loked like Miss Cushman would
either be mobbed carried triumph
antly from the theater. She was ar
rested and taken before Col Moore, ac-
cording to their preconceived plan. os-
tensibly to he reprimanded. but in
reality to take the soldiers oath of al
legiance to the Union, receive officials
Instructions and become a spy for the
Union army.
Miss Cushman lost her position at the
theater, but remained in Louisville,
where she rendered valuable service to
the Army of the Cumberland until
April when she secured an engage
nent at Nashville, Tenn, in order to
be nearer the Confederate lines. In May
she WAS sent he yOnd the lines to gain