She is considered one of the most successful civil war spies. At the age of eighteen she decided she should go to new york city to become an actress, where she. She was eventually captured, brought before general nathan bedford forest, and sent to general bragg for prosecution. Oct 10, 2008 this biography of pauline cushman was written in 1865 by her friend, ferdinand sarmiento, prepared from her notes and memoranda. Harriet wood, who later adopted the stage name of pauline cushman, was. Little did he know the new role she was about to play. This nonfiction book tells the story of pauline cushman, an actress who became a spy for the union during the civil war. Pauline cushman, now featured in a smithsonian photography exhibition, unexpectedly found herself spying for the union after accepting a. Born harriet wood in new orleans, she was raised in grand rapids, michigan, became a highly successful stage actress using the name pauline cushman. Pauline cushman was a stage actress who later became a spy for the union army 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. Pauline cushman was a spy for the union during the civil war, eventually promoted to the rank of major.
June 10, 1833 december 2, 1893 was an american actress and a spy for the union army during the american civil war. 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. 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. Actress and union spy pauline cushman in uniform with. In 1865, a friend, ferdinand sarmiento, wrote an exaggerated biography titled the life of pauline cushman. She lost her child to sickness by 1868, and married again in 1872 in san francisco, but was widowed within a year. Her entry into the secret service of the army of the cumberland, and exciting adventures with the rebel chieftains and others while within the enemys lines. General bragg and fonal rescue by the union army under. During her heyday, pauline was toasted nationwide as the scout of. Comprising her early history, her entry into the secret service of the army of the cumberland, and exciting adventures with the rebel. Jan 24, 2016 tom thomas the lady was a spy is an ambitious and auspicious debut. Her entry into the secret service of the army of the cumberland. Union spy pauline cushman, civil war cdv cowans auction.
Pauline cushman, spy of the cumberland a photograph of the. Born june 10, 1833 new orleans, louisiana died december 2, 1893 san francisco, california. Life of pauline cushman, the celebrated union spy and scout. Major pauline cushman, spy of the cumberland posts facebook. Tom thomas could that be his real name chooses to tell pauline s story through the eyes of her sister, henrietta woods black. While touring with a theatrical troupe in unioncontrolled louisville, kentucky, pauline was paid to toast confederate president jefferson davis after a performance. Together with her capture and sentence to death by general bragg and final rescue by the union army under general. Too well known to be of any service to the union the spy of the cumberland as she. Bill and glenna jo have led workshops on 19th century clothing and other aspects of civilian life, including dating photographs. Pauline cushman is the author of life of pauline cushman 0. Mar 27, 2017 tarilling 1 adventure of miss major pauline cushmanher performance as a spya narrow escape from a disagreeable death. Jan 03, 20 pauline cushman was a stage actress who later became a spy for the union army 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.
Pauline cushman was a stage actress who later became a spy for the union army. She was born as harriett wood in new orleans on june 10, 1833. She spent the majority of her life pursuing a career as an actress. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Spy of the cumberland 9781889020112 by christen, william j. Pauline cushman was an american actress and a spy for the union army during the american civil war. Rosecrans from photographic negative in bradys national portrait gallery. In 1863, a new opportunity presented itself, the chance to spy for the union. Miss major pauline cushman, the union spy and scout, who was.
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Pauline cushman used her skills as an actress to pretend that she supported the confederate cause during the civil war. Major cushmans remains now rest in the officers circle at the presidios national cemetery in san francisco. Her entry into the secret service of the army of the cumberland, and exciting adventure with the rebel chieftains and others while within the enemys lines. June, 1863 pauline cushman is rescued by union troops marching into shelbyville. Jefferson davis after a performance, which resulted in her being fired from her roles in her northern theater but was actually a plan to ingratiate herself with the enemy as a. After being fired from the theater, she began spying on the confederacy and jefferson davis, becoming friends with confederate officers. Mar 16, 2018 major pauline cushman lived a life full of adventure and travel. During her heyday, pauline was toasted nationwide as the scout of the cumberland.
Miss major pauline cushman, the union spy and scout, who was captured and sentenced to death as a federal spy, and was rescued at shelbyville by the union army under gen. These include maps of battle plans concealed in her shoes and battle strategies she reported to the union may 27, 1863. Npg, mathew brady studio, 1864 kate bateman 18421917 made her acting debut at age 4. Miss major pauline cushman, the union spy and scout, who. 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. The actress who left the stage to become a civil war spy at.
Major pauline cushman lived a life full of adventure and travel. The actress who left the stage to become a civil war spy. Major pauline cushman the confederation of union generals. While touring with a theatrical troupe in union controlled louisville, kentucky, pauline was paid to toast confederate president jefferson davis after a performance. Pauline loved the bustle of the wharves and the excitement of the marketplace. This biography of pauline cushman was written in 1865 by her friend, ferdinand sarmiento, prepared from her notes and memoranda. Cushman, pauline, 183593, union spy in the civil war, b. Life of pauline cushman by pauline cushman overdrive. The theater fired her because she was now perceived as a southern sympathizer. Aug 12, 2019 actress pauline cushman 18331893 was a union spy and became a major celebrity.
She was also known by her last married name, pauline fryer, or her birth name, harriet wood. 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 maj. 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. Contentsshow early life pauline was born in new orleans, louisiana as harriet wood, and moved with her family to live in michigan. 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. Pauline cushman author of schaums outline handbook of. Pauline cushman, an actress, is known as a union spy during the american civil war. In 1863, during the civil war, she was presented with the greatest acting role of her life. Union spyplaying troops in tennessee pauline cushman travels and peforms for confederate forces in tennessee, georgia, and virginia in order to gather information from the troops. Major pauline cushmanfryer was an actress turned union spy during the civil war.
Tarilling 1 adventure of miss major pauline cushmanher performance as a spya narrow escape from a disagreeable death. Pauline cushman 18331897 was an aspiring actress when she was asked to toast csa pres. Thrilling adventures of pauline cushman, the distinguished american actress and famous federal spy of the department of the cumberland. Actress pauline cushman 18331893 was a union spy and became a major celebrity.
Born in new orleans, pauline s family later relocated to michigan. Together with her capture and sentence to death by general bragg and final rescue. At the age of eighteen she decided she should go to new york city to become an actress, where she changed her name to cushman. In lace and petticoats, she became a camp follower of the confederate army in kentucky and tennessee. Her entry into the secret service of the army of the. Born in new orleans, paulines family later relocated to michigan. Together with her capture an,life of pauline cushman,9781429015455,biography,asa bibliography. Pauline cushman 18331893 in 1862, pauline cushman was a struggling actress employed in a louisville playhouse. Major pauline cushman is buried in the officers section of the presidio. The loyal unionists gravestone lies in a cemetery in arizona, which is where she retired in her old age, remarried, and changed her name to pauline c. Pauline would again travel to new orleans where she performed in a theater, met and married her husband, charles dickinson. Title actress and union spy pauline cushman in uniform with sword created published new york. Tom thomas the lady was a spy is an ambitious and auspicious debut. Life of pauline cushman,the celebrated union spy and scout.
At the age of eighteen, she traveled to new york city to. Pauline cushman used her skills as an actress to pretend that she supported the. Barnum caught wind of her story, and decided to kickstart her national theatrical tour, miss major pauline cushman, the union scout and spy. The celebrated union spy and scout, detailing her early history, her entry into the secret service notes, and memoranda. 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. Together with her capture and sentence to death by general bragg and final rescue by the union army under general rosecrans. Pauline cushman june 10, 1833 december 2, 1893 was an american actress, and a spy for the union army during the american civil war.
Tom thomas could that be his real name chooses to tell paulines story through the eyes of her sister, henrietta woods black. Pauline cushman is born as harriet wood in new orleans, louisiana on 10 june 1833. In reality, she collected information about confederate spies and strategies and passed it along to union. Her father was a merchant, and the family lived in the heart of the city. 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 louisville and nashville. Life of pauline cushman this biography of pauline cushman was written in 1865 by her friend, ferdinand sarmiento, prepared from her notes and memoranda. American actress and a spy for the union army during the american civil war. His most recent presentation to the roundtable was a photograph of the 17th michigan. In a play that required her character to give a toast, she was dared on one occasion to toast jefferson davis. She was born june 10, 1833, and died december 2, 1893. Actress and union spy pauline cushman in uniform with sword. Pauline cushman quit acting to become a civil war spy rare. The actress who left the stage to become a civil war spy at the. At the age of eighteen, she traveled to new york city to become a stage actress.