Name Five Female Spies of the Civil War

[Pauline Cushman]

Citing Source:http://www.bitsofblueandgray.com/trivia.htmFive women who were spies during the Civil War.

1. Bell Boyd - for the Confederacy

2. Pauline Cushman - for the Union

3. Rose O'Neal Greenhow - for the Confederacy

4. Elizabeth Van Lew - for the Union

5. Mary Bowser - for the Union

I guess that this Civil War Trivia proves that women served as Spies and soldiers during the Civil War.

Name the only woman to have completed a fully documented Union Army enlistment. Jennie Hodges aka Albert D. J. Cashier, 95th Infantry ILL Vols.

I guess that this proves that a women who was enlisted in the Union army and worn the uniform of a soldier, i.e. Pauline Cashman, Jennie Hodger aka Private Albert Cashier, Sara Edmond aka Private Frank Thompson, Bell Boyd aka Luitenant Harry Buford,ect.. were more than likely walking through battle lines in uniform and in both union and confederate encampments in uniform as well.

[OVI]

I guess that this proves that a women who was enlisted in the Union army and worn the uniform of a soldier, i.e. Pauline Cashman, Jennie Hodger aka Private Albert Cashier, Sara Edmond aka Private Frank Thompson, Bell Boyd aka Luitenant Harry Buford,ect.. were more than likely walking through battle lines in uniform and in both union and confederate encampments in uniform as well.[/SIZE][/B]

I see no proof that Pauline Cushman enlisted in the Union army or ever wore a Majors uniform in any battleline or encampment.

Kent Dorr - Ohio
"Devils Own Mess"

[The Rambling Irishman]

"I guess that this proves that a women who was enlisted in the Union army and worn the uniform of a soldier, i.e. Pauline Cashman, Jennie Hodger aka Private Albert Cashier, Sara Edmond aka Private Frank Thompson, Bell Boyd aka Luitenant Harry Buford,ect.. were more than likely walking through battle lines in uniform and in both union and confederate encampments in uniform as well."

I've kept my mouth shut about this, but here goes. If you are truly wanting to portray someone correctly, then I would not base my impression on the "I guess" and "were more than likely" assumptions that you have made in this post and others. You lack the documentation to accurately portray this lady or any of the other lady spies. Historical interpretation cannot be based on what you think they might have worn. Research, and I don't mean looking at Trivia questions. Use 1st hand accounts and ORIGINAL RECORDS, not 3rd, 4th or even 5th hand ideas and personal thoughts of modern writers and "history buffs." I respect you for wanting to portray Ms. Cushman, however the documentation to accurately do this particular impression is not there. If you are just wanting an excuse to dress up like a soldier, just do it and stop trying to base it on one person.

[hanktrent]

Hint: larger fonts and brighter colors do not make facts more true. ;)

Women dressed in uniforms. Women spied. Nobody's disagreeing with that.

I don't even see anybody disagreeing that Pauline Cushman wore a Union uniform sometimes after her spying career was over, since we have photographic evidence.

The question is: what is your documentation that Pauline Cushman wore a Union uniform while she was still working as a spy? That's what you're claiming, right?

Everything you've provided us that's specifically about her, indicates just the opposite: the US uniform came after her spying career was over.

And, more importantly, why is this so important for you to prove? As Terre and I mentioned in one of the other threads, if you want to wear a man's uniform while portraying her during her spying career, there actually is some documentation that she wore a Confederate officer's uniform while spying.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[wheres_my_horse]

Citing Source:http://www.bitsofblueandgray.com/trivia.htm[B]

Five women who were spies during the Civil War.

1. Bell Boyd - for the Confederacy

2. Pauline Cushman - for the Union

3. Rose O'Neal Greenhow - for the Confederacy

4. Elizabeth Van Lew - for the Union

5. Mary Bowser - for the Union

I guess that this Civil War Trivia proves that women served as Spies and soldiers during the Civil War.

Name the only woman to have completed a fully documented Union Army enlistment. Jennie Hodges aka Albert D. J. Cashier, 95th Infantry ILL Vols.

I guess that this proves that a women who was enlisted in the Union army and worn the uniform of a soldier, i.e. Pauline Cashman, Jennie Hodger aka Private Albert Cashier, Sara Edmond aka Private Frank Thompson, Bell Boyd aka Luitenant Harry Buford,ect.. were more than likely walking through battle lines in uniform and in both union and confederate encampments in uniform as well.

Pauline,

Belle Boyd was NOT LT. Harry Buford. It does not matter how many times you repeat it, it just didn't happen.

As I stated in this post (http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/showthread.php?p=121055#poststop)


According to Richard Hall's "Women in Battle in the Civil War", it was Loreta Janeta Velazquez who passed herself off as Lt. Harry Buford, not Belle Boyd.

You have named one female that passed as a man through the war. You have named 5 spys [3 Union, 2 Confederate] that were female.

You can't therefore say that Pauline Cushman (1 of the 5 spys) both wore male uniforms and PASSED as a male. I already disproved one...

It is akin to me saying that I like pie. And since they make pie out of rhubarb, I must like Rhubarb pie.

Pauline had a heck of a better chance walking through lines as a female civilian than she did walking from the Union Lines dressed as a Major, finding the nearest phone booth to change, then walking through the Confederate Lines as a Reb soldier.

Her only documented spy mission is the one she was caught doing as Pauline Cushman, female actress.

Every one of Belle's exploits were as a female using her womanly charms.

[28thNY]

Hint: larger fonts and brighter colors do not make facts more true. ;)

You're right! That takes multiple threads repeating the same story without providing first hand sources.

[johnduffer]

Just out of curiosity are you related to Banjo Danny ? :D

John Duffre

[plankmaker]

I'd go with the Crazy Bet impression. I think it would be fun walking around talking to yourself and acting crazy (some say, I already do). Ever seen any post war pictures of Crazy Bet in her postmaster's uniform?

Mark Campbell
Piney Flats, TN

"No banjos were harmed in the making of this post."

[sbl]

Harriet Tubman?

"Ever seen any post war pictures of Crazy Bet in her postmaster's uniform?"

Mark.

Are there any?

[sbl]

Find William Growman's feet in the picture.

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u100/sbl1952/Period%20Clothing/hoopskirt%20era/WilliamGrowmanHiding.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u100/sbl1952/Period%20Clothing/hoopskirt%20era/crinolinomanie-par-nadar.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u100/sbl1952/Period%20Clothing/hoopskirt%20era/scan0006.jpg

[7thNJcoA]

I am a show me kinda guy... That being said if you have any "real" documentation I would love to see it. I agree with what was said earlier if you want to dress like a male soldier go for it. Do not try and use hasty hearsay as evidence and historical documentation. I have spent so many hours reading personal letters and auto biography's' to put together my impressions. I support anyone that can show thier time an effort by doing the proper research but the place you get your sources needs to be more credible its like looking up civil war soldier on Wikipedia and using that as your documentation.

[sbl]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u100/sbl1952/Period%20Clothing/hoopskirt%20era/YankeeNotions5.jpg


http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u100/sbl1952/Period%20Clothing/hoopskirt%20era/tournure.jpg


http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u100/sbl1952/Period%20Clothing/hoopskirt%20era/buckner-1-1.jpg

[wheres_my_horse]

Pauline,

Here is a excerpt from your previous post (http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14442)"Biography of Pauline Cushman-Spy by Micheal Fitzpatrick"


"Clasping an American flag to her breast, she took the following oath. United States of America Department of the Cumberland Office, Chief of Army Police May 26, 1863.
...

"When she had concluded the oath, Pauline kissed the flag she had sworn to uphold and prepared herself for the task ahead." She was then publicly evicted from the Union lines on the pretext that she was a southern sympathizer. For a cover she professed to be looking for a brother whom she claimed was a rebel officer.Cushman quickly became the darling of the Southern troops. Her good looks and her feigned interest in her gentlemanly escorts gained her numerous invitations from Confederate officers to accompany them along their lines.
...
While attempting to make her way back to the Union lines, Pauline came under suspicion and was arrested. She was escorted under guard by the Confederate cavalry raider, John Hunt Morgan, who was to deliver her to General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Gripped by panic, Pauline made an unsuccessful escape attempt, nearly making it to safety. When she was recaptured and searched, however, the incriminating notes were found. Though both Morgan and Forrest treated her with the utmost polite deference, it was made abundantly clear to her that she must not attempt to escape again.

...

Luckily for Cushman, the Union Army of the Cumberland under General William Rosecrans was just beginning its advance on Tullahoma, Tennessee, in an effort to keep the Confederates there from aiding those besieged at Vicksburg. The rebels were forced to abandon Shelbyville on June 27, 1863 after two days of fighting. ... When the Southerners pulled out, Pauline was left behind at the home of a civilian doctor. She was rescued by the advancing Federals just three days before her scheduled execution.


Pauline was transported as far as Murfreesboro in the personal ambulance of Gen. Gordon Granger. From there she was sent by rail to Nashville. ...

With her cover blown, Pauline's days as a spy were over. "In recognition of her valuable services General Gordon Granger and James A. Garfield (a future president of the United States, but then chief of staff for the Army of the Cumberland under General William Rosecrans) awarded her the honorary rank and title of major of cavalry." She traveled north to public acclaim and went on the lecture circuit under the guidance of P. T. Barnum. Dressed in the uniform of an army major, she told paying audiences embellished stories about her adventures.

One spy mission, as a woman. 1 month, 1 day. Her cover blown, the army sent her north. Doesn't sound like she was running between the lines to me. Doesn't sound like she started to wear the uniform until after she was "promoted." Nor does it sound like they kept her around camp....

[plankmaker]

Scott,

All the pictures of Crazy Bet I have seen have her in what looks like a very heavy mourning dress. We used to get looks when we went out on her b-day and have a little ceremony at her stone at the cemetery.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/murden/3657238212/

Mark Campbell
Piney Flats, TN

[tompritchett]

Moderator Hat:Would you please refrain from using the bold and large print as that is the equivalent to shouting. This is Bob Szabo's dinner party and you are expected to behave as you are at such a table. Continously shouting as loud as you can to make your point would be considered extremely rude and definitely un-ladylike behavior at the dinner table. So why would you think that it is acceptable behavior here.

Reenactor Hat: I am going to echo Simon's question buried somewhere in the threads - What exactly is your goal? Are you looking for an impression that would "justify" your wearing a military uniform without having to hide your sex or are you seriously wanting to develop an impression of Pauline Cushman regardless of where your research may determine is the most appropriate way to do so. If your goal is the former, then whether you realize it or not your goal will automatically bias your research as you can no long look all the data objectively. If your goal is the latter, I would suggest that you link up with a Confederate unit (preferably a Bn or larger) and work out an arrangement with the staff officers where you can portray a lady day-guest who innocently flirts with the various officers in the staff (be sure to clear with the officers' significant others also). But regardless, I am indeed curious about what your ultimate goal is.

[sbl]

....with women's names.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErPsx8zdnX4

[uozumi]

I thought that it was Loreta Janeta Velazquez who claimed to have been Harry Buford. Oh well, her story was pretty far-fetched anyway. It would be truly fascinating to find out that even half of her story was true.

Steph Farra

[Linda Trent]

From the Gallipolis [Ohio] Journal of May 21, 1863, picked up from the Wheeling [WVa.] Intelligencer, May 14, 1863.



How Major Darr's Female Prisoners Were Disposed Of.





As is well known, the Provost Marshal within the past few months has received quite a number of female prisoners from different parts of the State, with the history of most of whom our readers have been made acquainted through these columns. Within the past two or three days most of the girls have been disposed of. Mary Jane Green, of Braxton, charged with

destroying the Government telegraph, Miss Jennie DeHart, charged with being a spy, and Miss Margaret Murphy, were sent beyond the Federal lines.-- Mary Summers, Elizabeth Hays, Marian McKenzie and Mary Jane Prater, all of whom were arrested in the uniform of soldiers, supposed to be common prostitutes, were taken into Pennsylvania, out of the reach of the camps and there drooped [sp?] down to take care of themselves.


In addition to this, Major Darr still holds the two Miss Copelands, daughters of Colonel Copeland, who reside near Clarksburg. They are charged with carrying letters to the rebel army, and appear to be well educated and intelligent young ladies.


Ellen Conner and Harriet Stewart are also held in custody as spies. The were arrested a day or two since in Harrison County as spies. Miss Conner states that she is no spy, and that at the time of her arrest she was hunting her lover, a member of the 6th Virginia Infantry, who had seduced and abandoned her.


Miss Stewart claims that she is a cousin to Miss Conner, and went with her in search of the lover aforesaid, for the purpose of keeping her company.





Of course there's also 'Frank Martin,' whose sex was discovered after serving 10 months. She begged to remain in the army and was so granted. She was wounded at Murfreesboro where her sex was again discovered, this time by Rosecrans and he ordered her to be mustered out. A longer version of the story is in the Gallipolis [Ohio] Journal of May 7, 1863.


As has been said, no one's doubting that some females in the ranks wore uniforms. In fact, we can all probably list quite a number of them. A regiment organized about 30 miles from my home had two females in the ranks Mary and Mollie Bell, of the 36th Virginia recruited out of Buffalo, [W] Va. Mary and Mollie have already been mentioned on one of the many threads on this topic.

And two others were Abbie Kerr and Mollie McLeod, of Fairmont, [W]Va, who happened to be staying with Mrs. Hull in McDowell, Va., but to the best of my knowledge they only relayed messages in civilian garb. Yep, there were a fair number of female spies. Most only had about 15 minutes of fame, and then dropped out of the lime light, while others like Miss Cushman had the world's greatest manager. :rolleyes:



Yep, there were women in the ranks. Some wore the uniform of the army, and others wore female garb depending upon their role.


Pauline's biography on Google books, originally written in 1865 (close to the time that it happened) and I have no doubt that this part is true (or as true as it gets) says:



Garfield determined that she should receive some testimonial of appreciation. Accordingly Pauline was formally proclaimed a Major of Cavalry, and a special permit was furnished her to procure all the necessary equipments befitting her new rank. Thus she became known to the soldiers as Major Pauline Cushman, a title that she is justly proud of...





The loyal ladies of Nashville, hearing of the promotion of the brave and daring spy, and deeply sensible of the honor thus conferred upon one of their own sex, prepared a costly riding-habit, trimmed in military style, with dainty shoulder-straps, and presented the dress to the gallant major with all the customary honors.
If Garfield furnished her with the ability to procure all the necessary equipments befitting her new rank, and since she was too weak to return to spying, how can one conclude that she wore a US Cavalry Major's uniform before she received the rank?



I'm sorry, but I'd honestly like to see some of your real research that you claim to have done on this topic. I'm not an expert on Miss Cushman at all, but seeing all the errors in the Wikipedia stuff that you're quoting, I'm just really hoping that you can share something more solid, something that you've actually found in either a primary or secondary source that shows her wearing a Union major's uniform, and that women had no rights back then.


In closing, I must agree that I have found these threads fascinating as I've learned more about the real Miss Cushman, or at least what many of the 19th century would have known about her. I don't personally have enough of an interest to go out and buy a book about her, but I have enjoyed finding what I have about her. I just wish that Linda would come back and reply to some of our questions.


My big question is still, what date was she freed? I've tried an internet search and still haven't really found the answer. Some things say about 3 days before she was to be hanged, but when was her execution scheduled?


Thanks!


Linda Trent.

[hanktrent]

My big question is still, what date was she freed? I've tried an internet search and still haven't really found the answer. Some things say about 3 days before she was to be hanged, but when was her execution scheduled?

Try googling June 27, 1863 and her name. That seems to be the date everyone agrees on, without sources. A look in the ORs might show if that was indeed the date Shelbyville was evacuated.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[Mint Julep]

Try googling June 27, 1863 and her name. That seems to be the date everyone agrees on, without sources. A look in the ORs might show if that was indeed the date Shelbyville was evacuated.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

In "Tennessee's War", compiled and edited by Stanley Horn, on pages 186 and 187, he gives the story of Cushman based on contemporary accounts. According to him, Cushman's rank of Major was awarded to her by the Nashville Chief of Police, a fellow Horn calls "the bogus 'Colonel' Truesdail". Cushman was performing at a theater in Nashville, Allen's New Theater, and was making public statements about her sympathy for the Confederacy. Per local practice, she was sent beyond US lines, crossed into Bragg's lines and began gathering information and sending it to Nashville. CS scouts picked her up on the road transporting information and carried her back to Shelbyville. When she heard she was to be hanged, she became "prostrated" and ill and her sentence was postponed. In the meantime, Rosecrans began to advance, Bragg fell back and Cushman, too ill to travel, was deposited with a local Unionist, Doctor Blackburn. It is suggested in the contemporary accounts that she was feigning her illness.

He does not name a date, however, the events described in the book occur between June 23 and June 29.

Shelbyville was a hot bed of Unionists, so much so it was locally called "Little Boston".

[Mint Julep]

Shelbyville is also pretty close to where Vallandigham was "dropped off" by the Federals between the lines at Wartrace.

Shelbyville was a happening place during the war!!

[sbl]

I just checked my ORs on CD. Nothing on Pauline Cushman, or a female Cushman. The only Pauline is a steamer.

[sbl]

Try googling June 27, 1863 and her name. That seems to be the date everyone agrees on, without sources. A look in the ORs might show if that was indeed the date Shelbyville was evacuated.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXIII/1 [S# 34]
JUNE 23-JULY 7, 1863.--The Middle Tennessee, or Tullahoma, Campaign.
27,1863. -- Action at Shelbyville.

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXIII/1 [S# 34]
JUNE 23-JULY 7, 1863.--The Middle Tennessee, or Tullahoma, Campaign.
No. 1.--Reports of Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Cumberland.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Manchester, Tenn., June 28, 1863.
(Via Murfreesborough, Tenn., June 29.)
On the 26th, General McCook moved across from Liberty Gap, and at noon of 27th closed up with General Thomas' rear, at Beech Grove. General Thomas, at the same time, drove the enemy from Fairfield, while Reynolds pushed to this place, where he arrived yesterday noon, capturing 20 prisoners.
Heavy roads, made nearly impassable by constant rain, detained General Crittenden's column, en route from Bradyville to this place, and it has not yet all arrived. Bragg put his whole army in retreat upon Tullahoma yesterday morning. General Gordon Granger and General Stanley advanced from Christiana yesterday morning, and entered Shelbyville at 6 p.m., capturing three pieces of artillery and 300 prisoners. The bridge across Duck River was saved. At 9 p.m. last evening Granger started in pursuit of Bragg's train, not then more than 9 miles beyond Shelbyville. He has not yet been heard from. A cavalry force was sent from here last night, to cut the railroad toward the Tennessee. Nothing but heavy and continued rain has prevented this army from reaching Tullahoma in advance of Bragg.
W. S. ROSECRANS.
H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief.

[sbl]

Nothing about a female spy so far.

[Rob Weaver]

Turbicio Vasquez eluded the Sheriff of Monterey County, Ca in 1870 by hiding under a woman's skirt at a fiesta. (That just seemed relevant for some reason.)
I think this stuff about what a spy wore and whether he or she is/was male or female is irrelevant for most reenactment settings. Harrison got it right in "Gettysburg:" when you do your job right, no one knows you're doing it. Unless you're part of a scripted first person, role-play style setting (which would be a lot of fun), spying is simply off the radar. Utterly pointless. Might as well wear jeans and a T-shirt. Write up your intelligence findings and mail them in the week before. What war-stoppers are you going to uncover? "There will be Confederates in the vicinity on Saturday. Mixed force of infantry, heavily reinforced with artillery with some cavalry videttes. Quality unknown. Likely to remain until Sunday afternoon. Big village. Bring packs. Come quick. PS: Bring packs."
If you're giving a lecture and want to dress like Pauline in an officer's uniform, have at it.
This is getting tiresome, though. It's a free country and reenacting is a hobby. Wear what you want: uniform, ball gown, clown suit. What seems to be going on here is that there's a certain look you want, and you're going to cherry-pick evidence until you get to it. But the all-Pauline, all-the-time format has worn thin with me.

[Linda Trent]

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXIII/1 [S# 34]
JUNE 23-JULY 7, 1863.--The Middle Tennessee, or Tullahoma, Campaign.
27,1863. -- Action at Shelbyville.

Thanks Scott. So that means that she was only in the service from March through June. That's only about three months, much of that time in prison. I was always picturing spies as having been in for a couple of years or such, so that's another thing I learned. :D But this means that one who wishes to portray Miss Cushman would be very limited in events where she could accurately be portrayed.

Of course that doesn't stop the Lees, Lincolns, and so forth from attending events that they weren't at. :confused:

Linda.

[tompritchett]

I'm just really hoping that you can share something more solid, something that you've actually found in either a primary or secondary source that shows her wearing a Union major's uniform,

Linda, regardless of the lack of backup documentation for the Wickapedia picture of her wearing the uniform, the picture itself is primary documentation that she wore it. The primary question is where. Based upon all that has been posted, I would suggest that the picture was taken when she was touring with P.T. Barnum as she seems quite healthy and recovered from her imprisonment combined with the references that she did wear some form of uniform when touring with Barnum. Also the picture is cited as being taken sometimes in the 1860, which places it in the right decade.

[Linda Trent]

Linda, regardless of the lack of backup documentation for the Wickapedia picture of her wearing the uniform, the picture itself is primary documentation that she wore it. The primary question is where.Yep, you got me again. :D Of course I was saying that she obtained her honorary rank after she was rescued, so where is the documentation that she wore the uniform while spying? And I'm in full agreement with you that I believe that Barnum was behind that. :cool:

I agree with what a number of people have already suggested. If one is interested in Pauline Cushman, one must read Bill Christen's book. From what I've seen online he's obtained numerous papers from the National Archives and some stuff from out west. He also debunks a lot of stuff from the primary source books. Again, this isn't my forte, but I respect the fact that it is for others.

For me, my primary interest is in what did the people of the 19th century knew about her, and I've been able to do a bit of research on that and share it. I hope I've been of some assistance in one way or another. I do think that these threads have been a learning experience for all.

Linda Trent

[OVI]

Id love to know what kind of reaction the Cushman impressionist thinks she is going to get at reenactments? If she shows up in a Majors uniform what is her role...other than punch line for "what the **** was that?" I can see the uniform at talks and presentations about her life but the impression itself doenst work for reenacting. I've certainly learned more than I did about Pauline Cushman, which wasnt much.

Kent Dorr - Ohio
"Devils Own Mess"