Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Marilyn warsofsky 15 minute play 4 men, 2 women, 6 either. Life of pauline cushman this biography of pauline cushman was written in 1865 by her friend, ferdinand sarmiento, prepared from her 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. 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. Born in new orleans, pauline s family later relocated to michigan. Actress and union spy pauline cushman in uniform with sword. Diary of pauline cushman, civial war spy, a historical. The actress who left the stage to become a civil war spy at. Major pauline cushmanfryer was an actress turned union spy during the civil war. Another, recruited by the secret service, packed a pistol and a hard punch. I am overjoyed, enthralled, that i, pauline, just might help with this war. Life of pauline cushman,the celebrated union spy and scout.
General bragg and fonal rescue by the union army under. 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. The celebrated union spy and scout, detailing her early history, her entry into the secret service notes, and memoranda. I came across papers in a stray suitcase early this evening, and this just might be the best yet. The actress who left the stage to become a civil war spy at the. In 1865, a friend, ferdinand sarmiento, wrote an exaggerated biography titled the life of pauline cushman. Miss major pauline cushman, the union spy and scout, who. In this book, the first full biography, william christen sorts through the pieces of evidence to draw a more complete.
Fast paced, pauline cushman, spy of the cumberland is a good book for anyone with an interest in the civil war or women in military service. 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. Major pauline cushman, spy of the cumberland posts facebook. She was, according to historian elizabeth leonard, one of the five women. Antonia ford and pauline cushman were as daring yet desirable as todays action movie heroines. Aug 12, 2019 the actress who left the stage to become a civil war spy pauline cushman, now featured in a smithsonian photography exhibition, unexpectedly found herself spying for the union after accepting a dare. Pauline cushman, now featured in a smithsonian photography exhibition, unexpectedly found herself spying for the union after accepting a. Spy of the cumberland, is an amazing biography of an extraordinary woman. Pauline would again travel to new orleans where she performed in a theater, met and married her husband, charles dickinson. 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. The actress who left the stage to become a civil war spy pauline cushman, now featured in a smithsonian photography exhibition, unexpectedly.
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. Christen spent thirteen years researching the major pauline cushman and compiled his findings into a complete and accurate biography that looks at the woman behind the legends. Her father was spanish, and her mother was french two nations that had both ruled the louisiana colony before the usa bought it from napoleon in 1803. Major pauline cushman lived a life full of adventure and travel. During her heyday, pauline was toasted nationwide as the scout of the cumberland. At the age of eighteen, she traveled to new york city to become a stage actress. Pauline cushman exploits became popular and she was featured by p. Tom thomas could that be his real name chooses to tell pauline s story through the eyes of her sister, henrietta woods black. Pauline cushman june 10, 1833 december 2, 1893 was an american actress, and a spy for the union army during the american civil war. Actress and union spy pauline cushman in uniform with.
Pauline cushman was an actress who turned union spy. When she turned eighteen, pauline ran away to new york to pursue a career in acting. This sweeping biography follows her service as a spy, detailing how she gained renown as miss major pauline cushman and embarked on a. Life of pauline cushman, the celebrated union spy and scout open. Born harriett wood in new orleans on june 10, 1833, cushman was raised in michigan but returned to louisiana at age 18 to. Tarilling 1 adventure of miss major pauline cushmanher performance as a spya narrow escape from a disagreeable death. 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 cushmans friends growing up were little indian girls. 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. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Returning to the stage, pauline was performing at louisville, kentucky when approached by union officers proposing she become a spy. Pauline cushmans parents moved to grand rapids, michigan to set up a trading post with indians. 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. Thrilling adventures of pauline cushman, the distinguished american actress and famous federal spy of the department of the cumberland.
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. Tom thomas could that be his real name chooses to tell paulines story through the eyes of her sister, henrietta woods black. Thereafter, pauline traveled to nashville, tennessee where she perfected her cover. Jan 24, 2016 tom thomas the lady was a spy is an ambitious and auspicious debut. This true, but littleknown story is the tale of a brave woman who helped the union army win the civil war. His most recent presentation to the roundtable was a photograph of the 17th michigan. She was accepted into their tribe and they called her the laughing breeze.
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. Photograph of pauline cushman, who served as a union spy during the civil war. Title actress and union spy pauline cushman in uniform with sword created published new york. This 2014 ebook version has a new introduction and has been carefully formatted postocr. By the end of the war in 1865 she was touring the country giving lectures on her exploits as a spy. Mar 27, 2017 tarilling 1 adventure of miss major pauline cushmanher performance as a spya narrow escape from a disagreeable death. Her name is pauline cushman, an actress turned civil war spy whose story dances between the boundary dividing history and fiction. Pauline cushman was a stage actress who later became a spy for the union army. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Pauline cushman travels and peforms for confederate forces in tennessee, georgia, and virginia in order to gather information from the troops. At age 18 she headed for the new york stage and enjoyed a degree. The woman who became famous as pauline cushman was born under the name harriet wood in new orleans in 1833.
Spy of the cumberland by historian william christen, cushman was an avid newspaper reader, and read with interest about women who had been discovered dressing up as men in uniform in order to help war efforts. Pauline cushman is born as harriet wood in new orleans, louisiana on 10 june 1833. 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. Born in new orleans, paulines family later relocated to michigan. When the civil war broke out, dickinson joined the union army as a musician, and died of dysentery in 1862. At this point in her life, she was too famous to be a spy any longer. She spent the majority of her life pursuing a career as an actress.
This biography of pauline cushman was written in 1865 by her friend, ferdinand sarmiento, prepared from her notes and memoranda. One of the most famous union spies during the civil war, pauline cushmans. The subtitle is derived from her service as a spy for the union army of the cumberland in tennessee. Born june 10, 1833 new orleans, louisiana died december 2, 1893 san francisco, california.
Tom thomas the lady was a spy is an ambitious and auspicious debut. 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. These include maps of battle plans concealed in her shoes and battle strategies she reported to the union. She also noticed that there seemed to be no consequences if they were caught for the. Miss major pauline cushman, the union spy and scout, who was. An early biographer, ferdinand sarmiento, wrote, the deeds of the scout of the cumberland will live as long as american hearts beat. Life of pauline cushman, the celebrated union spy and. Rosecrans from photographic negative in bradys national portrait gallery. Read to know her story pauline cushman early life pauline cushman w. She was born june 10, 1833, and died december 2, 1893. Have you read my book, pauline cushman, spy of the cumberland roseville, minnesota, edinborough press, 2016 william christen. Together with her capture an,life of pauline cushman,9781429015455,biography,asa bibliography. Born in new orleans on june 10, 1833, she moved with her family at a very early age to grand rapids, michigan.
Contentsshow early life pauline was born in new orleans, louisiana as harriet wood, and moved with her family to live in michigan. June 10, 1833 december 2, 1893 was an american actress and a spy for the union army during the american civil war. Major pauline cushman, spy of the cumberland posts. This nonfiction book tells the story of pauline cushman, an actress who became a spy for the union during the civil war. Cushman suffered from arthritis and rheumatism in her final years. Christen closes with a look at how cushmans story became embellished in fiction and film until the remarkable reality became mythologized. Life of pauline cushman, the celebrated union spy and scout. She was also known by her last married name, pauline fryer, or her birth name, harriet wood. In reality, she collected information about confederate spies and strategies and passed it along to union authorities. Spy of the cumberland 9781889020112 by christen, william j. She lost her child to sickness by 1868, and married again in 1872 in san francisco, but was widowed within a year.
Pauline cushman was known as a spy in the civil war for the union who was caught and nearly executed. Bill and glenna jo have led workshops on 19th century clothing and other aspects of civilian life, including dating photographs. 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. Cushman was also helpful to the union still becaue of her knowledge of the geographic terrain. Mar 16, 2018 major pauline cushman fryer was an actress turned union spy during the civil war. June, 1863 pauline cushman is rescued by union troops marching into shelbyville. 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, spy of the cumberland a photograph of the. June, 1863 pauline cushman is captured and condemned to hang as a spy, effectively ending her career as a spy. Pauline cushman was given the name harriet wood at the time of her birth, which she said occurred in new orleans on june 10, 1833. Pauline cushman was a spy for the union during the civil war, eventually promoted to the rank of major. 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, an actress, is known as a union spy during the american civil war. For about threefive years, cushman travels, giving lectures on her times as a spy at war, and next performs with p. After the civil war ended, pauline went back to her acting career as major cushman. Breaking every rule of genteel society, they joined one. Pauline cushman by kiri pitts timeline timetoast timelines. Born harriet wood in 1833, cushman changed her name when she moved. Pauline cushman used her skills as an actress to pretend that she supported the confederate cause during the civil war. Her entry into the secret service of the army of the cumberland.