Cushman, pauline, 18331893, spies, women spies, slaves publisher philadelphia. In a play that required her character to give a toast, she was dared on one occasion to toast jefferson davis. Actress and union spy pauline cushman in uniform with. Cushman, pauline, 183593, union spy in the civil war, b. She married a music teacher named charles dickinson in 1853 and had 2 children. Pauline cushman, now featured in a smithsonian photography exhibition, unexpectedly found herself spying for the union after accepting a. June, 1863 pauline cushman is rescued by union troops marching into shelbyville. Pauline was either forgotten or abandoned in the confusion, and she was released by the victorious yankees. Pauline cushman female spy of the civil war gothic western. And for pauline cushman that hope blossomed on june 27th 1863, when advancing union forces led the confederate army to pull out of shelbyville and retreat southwards. Npg, mathew brady studio, 1864 kate bateman 18421917 made her acting debut at age 4.
Living historian as major pauline cushman union spy available for events and speaking engagements in ny, pennsylvania and. Among the women of america who have made themselves famous since the opening of the rebellion, few have suffered more, or rendered more service to the federal cause than miss major pauline. Pauline cushman was known as a spy in the civil war for the union who was caught and nearly executed. This biography of pauline cushman was written in 1865 by her friend, ferdinand sarmiento, prepared from her notes and memoranda. She spent the majority of her life pursuing a career as an actress. She is considered one of the most successful civil war spies. Pauline cushman was an american actress and a spy for the union army during the american civil war. The mysteries of the secret service pauline cushman, the famous federal scout and spy, in the department of the cumberland. This 2014 e book version has a new introduction and has been carefully formatted postocr. Pauline cushman, actress and a spy for the union in the. But she could spy no moreeveryone throughout the country recognized her face and knew that she had been a union spy.
Ferdinand sarmiento, a friend of cushman, also wrote the life of pauline cushman. In the early 1870s, her popularity waned, and cushman moved west. Life of pauline cushman, the celebrated union spy and. Major pauline cushman, actress turned union spy photograph of pauline cushman, who served as a union spy during the civil war major pauline cushman lived a life full of adventure and travel. In 1865, her friend ferdinand sarmiento wrote her biography, the life of pauline cushman. Many consider the story exaggerated, but given the nature of the secret work she was doing on behalf of the union, the lack of corraborative information available at the time may have made her real deeds unprovable. As a result of her spy career, she was credited for being a highly successful union army. Tarilling 1 adventure of miss major pauline cushman her performance as a spy a narrow escape from a disagreeable death. Pauline cushman was a stage actress who later became a spy for the union army. Title actress and union spy pauline cushman in uniform with sword created published new york. At the age of eighteen, she traveled to new york city to. Major pauline cushman the confederation of union generals. Cushman was a spy at a time when the american civil war was going on.
She married august fichtner in 1872, but he died within a year. Born in new orleans, paulines family later relocated to michigan. In 1863 she was banished to confederate lines as a supposed southern sympathizer, when in reality she had already performed valuable services for union intelligence in. Born harriett wood in new orleans on june 10, 1833, cushman was raised in michigan but returned to louisiana at age 18 to became a stage actress, eventually changing her name to pauline cushman. This sweeping biography follows her service as a spy, detailing how she gained renown as miss major pauline cushman and one of the most famous union spies during the civil war, pauline cushmans exploits over the course of a few weeks in kentucky and tennessee secured her place in the annals of the war, yet the traditional stories are often based on myth rather than fact.
Too well known to be of any service to the union the spy of the cumberland as she. Life of pauline cushman,the celebrated union spy and scout. On december 2, 1893, pauline cushman fryer died in san francisco, at age sixty. Pauline cushman federal woman spy union army civil war. Miss major pauline cushman, the union spy and scout, who. The actress who left the stage to become a civil war spy. Major pauline cushman is buried in the officers section of the presidio. Pauline cushman, union spy american civil war forum. Christen wrote the book, pauline cushman, spy of the cumberland, a truly comprehensive story of her efforts as a scout for gen.
Rosecrans from photographic negative in bradys national portrait gallery. In 1872, she married and was widowed in san francisco. In the following years, cushman toured performing recitations of her army service and war escapades, and acted in a variety of plays. One of the most famous union spies during the civil war, pauline cushman s exploits over the course of a few weeks in kentucky and tennessee secured her place in the annals of the war, yet the traditional stories are often based on myth rather than fact. She then married jere fryer and operated a hotel in casa grande, arizona. She remarried a man named jeremiah fryer, they ran. Pauline cushman female spy of the civil war dakota livesay june, 2019 june, 2019 born in new orleans on june 10, 1833, pauline cushman grew up to be a raven haired woman so beautiful that, when arrested as a female spy of the civil war on the union side, general john hunt morgan was so smitten with her that he set her free.
This true, but littleknown story is the tale of a brave woman who helped the union army win the civil war. Pauline cushman biography, life, interesting facts. The actress who left the stage to become a civil war spy at the. True story of pauline cushman, celebrated union spy and scout, comprising her early history. Born harriet wood in new orleans, louisiana in 1833 she became a stage actress in the early 1850s and changed her name to pauline cushman. Life of pauline cushman, the celebrated union spy and scout by ferdinand l. Now known as miss major pauline cushman she toured the postwar u. In 1862, pauline cushman was a struggling actress employed in a louisville playhouse. June 10, 1833 december 2, 1893 was an american actress and a spy for the union army during the american civil war. At the age of eighteen, she traveled to new york city to become a stage actress. During her heyday, pauline was toasted nationwide as the scout of the cumberland. Tom thomas could that be his real name chooses to tell paulines story through the eyes of her sister, henrietta woods black. Pauline cushman was an actress who became a celebrated spy for the union army during the civil war, a hotel proprietress, the wife of a sheriff and in the end, a poor scrubwoman. Pauline cushman federal spy union army civil war sentenced to be hanged photo illustration historical print the soldiers called her major and she wore the accouterments of that rank.
Cushman was rescued when union forces retook the town. Life of pauline cushman, the celebrated union spy and scout. The theater fired her because she was now perceived as a southern sympathizer. Pauline made use of her confederate uniform, wearing it in a onewoman show she developed about her daring adventures. Life of pauline cushman the celebrated union spy and scout comprising her early history her entry into the secret service of the army of the cumberland and exciting adventures with the rebel chieftains and others while within the enemy s lines together with her capture and sentence to death by general bragg and final rescue by the union army under general rosecrans the whole. One of the most dramatic heroines of the american civil war, pauline cushman acted as a union spy and scout while behind enemy lines in the south. Read to know her story pauline cushman early life pauline cushman w. Her entry into the secret service of the army of the. One of the most famous union spies during the civil war, pauline cushmans exploits over the course of a few weeks in kentucky and tennessee secured her place in the annals of the war, yet the traditional stories are often based on myth rather than fact. Pauline would again travel to new orleans where she performed in a theater, met and married her husband, charles dickinson. Rosecrans and the union, as well as her life before and after the war. This nonfiction book tells the story of pauline cushman, an actress who became a spy for the union during the civil war.