Miss Major Pauline Cushman, Union Spy and Scout, CDV

Uncredited CDV of Pauline Cushman in uniform, posed with her sword, with two cent revenue stamp on verso.

Cushman (1833-1897) was an aspiring teenage actress when she became involved in espionage on behalf of the Union. Caught with incriminating information, Cushman was sentenced to be executed as a spy and saved only by the timely arrival of Federal troops at her prison in Shelbyville, TN. Lincoln awarded Cushman an honorary major's commission and she engaged in cloak and dagger work until growing notoriety blew her cover. With the benefit of a populist biography, Cushman toured the country speaking about her wartime exploits and profiting from the sale of CDVs.
Condition Report: Corners clipped. Light, even toning.