Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-15
Lady Spies
Did Fine Job
In Civil War
Runyon Recalls Exploits
Of Few Famous Ones
BY DAMON RUNYON

WHlLE 'he movies ana 'i'e
w novelists have been giving
us numerous tales of the adven-
lures of lady secret agents OF
nearly every nation involved in
this war. it does not appear that
the United States engages in
female espionage.
assume that we have our
male agents, properly deployed.
picking up secrets of the enemy
and, of course, it is possible that
some of our patriotic girls are
similarly assigned, though /
doubt it. ! find nothing in the
records TO indicate that we have
used the dolls on such missions
since the days of the Civil War.
This is surprising in view Of
their value in those days. Both
the North and the South had
their women agents, then called
spies. They did not wear the
slinky dresses or have the CLAM
orous aspect of the lady spies
you see on the screen but they
ably discharged the most dan
gerouS and thankleSS of all war
service The fate of the captured
spy is usually shooting or hang
ing.
one Of the famous women
" spies and guides of the Con-
federacy, which had a much bet
ter secret service than the
Union for some time after the
outbreak of the Civil War. was
Nancy Hart, Virginia noun
tain woman. who knew every
foot of the region in which she
lived and often guided Stonewall
Jackson'S horSemen 10 the Union
outposts in West Virginia.
The Federals offered a bic
reward for her capture and she
was finally caught at Summer
vile in July. 1862, by Lieuten-
ant Colonel Starr of the Ninth
West Virginia. a photograph OF
her was taken in prison discloseS
a good looking lady with fearless
eyes, a firm mouth and bobbed
hair TO her shoulders. The phbto-
graph was taken by a wandering
photographer and Nancy's cap
tors placed a hat with a feather
on her head which lends a most
picturesque aspect to the lady.
Subsequently she GOT posses
sion of guards rifle, shot him
dead, hoped on Colonel STAIRS
horse and escaped 10 the Con-
federate lines. Not long after
ward she guided detachment
OF southern troopers under Ma
jor Bailey 10 Summcrville where
they surprised two companies of
the Ninth West Virginia. set
fire 10 some houses, grabbed
Colonel Starr and other officers
and quite number of men and
rode away.
DELE BOYD was another
- daughter OF Virginia who
served the South as a secret
agent and a picture of her
shows a stately lady CARRIED in
gorgeous evening gown of the
style OF the day with a sweeping
train. She lived at Martinsburg
and made numerous journeys
through the Union lines carry
ing information TO Jackson.
She was captured and sent 10
Baltimore but General Dix re-
leased her for lack Of evidence.
She continued her activities
undaunted, though the Fcd6ralS
carefully watched her. and took
information 10 General AShby
that materially aided Jackson in
his assault on Front Royal
She was again arrested by the
Feds. and letters of vast import
10 the Confederacy found on her.
She was confined in the old
Capitol prison in Washington
by order Of the secretary OF
war and afterwards sent South.
Matching these Southern
ladies in loyalty 10 her side and
in brilliance was Pauline CuSh-
man. an actress. who was born
in New Orleans but raised in
the North and who was employed
by the federal secret service,
first in Spotting Confederate
SympathiZers and spies in Louis
vile and Nashville. 1t was her
business 10 find out how they
conveyed information and sup
plies TO the ConfedcrateS.
WHEN RosecranS was making
w ready 10 push Braxton
Bragg across the Tennessee,
Miss CuShman. who later became
known as major 10 the Union
soldiers and wore the uniform
of the rank, entered the Con-
federate lines 10 ascertain the
location and strength Of the
Southern army.
She was caught and sentenced
10 be hanged but was fortui-
tously forgotten in the Confed-
crates hasty retreat from
Shelbyville and escaped.
She was received with great
rejoicing back in the Union lines
and became a famous figure
throughout the North. Her
ability as an actress was Of
great value to Miss Cushman in
her dangerous role, but her
knowledge of the terrain of GER