Pauline cushman bustle dress

Pauline Cushman

  • Period: to

    Pauline Cushman

  • Happy Birthday!

    Happy Birthday!
    Pauline Cushman is born as Harriet Wood in New Orleans, Louisiana on 10 June 1833.
  • Becomes Actress at Age 18

    Becomes Actress at Age 18
    Harriet Wood, (from now on using her stage name as Pauline Cushman) begins her acting career at the age of 18.
  • A House Divided

    A House Divided
    "A house divided against itself cannot stand."-Abraham Lincoln
    The first signs of the Civil War begin to appear.
  • South Caroline Secedes

    South Caroline Secedes
    South Carolina secedes from Lincoln and the Union by majorital vote; a stunning 169/0.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Emancipation Proclamation
    Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation-freeing slaves in opposing states.
  • Creates her Double Identity

    Creates her Double Identity
    Toasts Confederate President Jefferson Davis at Wood's Theatre in politcally divided Louisville. Kentucky; though loyal to the Union-thus creating a double identity and inagurating herself as a spy for the Union.
  • Union Spy-Playing Troops in Tennessee

    Union Spy-Playing Troops in Tennessee
    Pauline Cushman travels and peforms for Confederate forces in Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia in order to gather information from the troops. These include maps of battle plans (concealed in her shoes) and battle strategies she reported to the Union
  • Arrested & Sentenced to Hang

    Arrested & Sentenced to Hang
    Pauline Cushman is found with incriminating papers depicting battle strategies, is arrested, and sentenced to hang in Shelbyville
  • Bailed Out

    Bailed Out
    Pauline Cushman is saved from being hanged by first falling ill, and then the Union forces invade Shelbyville, allowing for Cushman to escape.
  • Gettsyburg Address

    Gettsyburg Address
    Lincoln gives his most famous speech: The Gettysburg Address-recognizing all of those lost in the Battle of Gettysburg
  • Honorary Major

    Honorary Major
    Pauline Cushman is given the award of Honorary Major by future president James A. Garfield, and is referred to by Abraham Lincoln as, "The Little Major",
  • Lectures, and P.T. Barnum

    Lectures, and P.T. Barnum
    For about three-five years, Cushman travels, giving lectures on her times as a spy at war, and next performs with P.T. Barnum in his first shows as a 3-ring circus.
  • Surrender at Appomatox Court House

    Surrender at Appomatox Court House
    General Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union. The Union has won the Civil War!
  • The Greatest Show on Earth

    The Greatest Show on Earth
    P.T. Barnum opens his world famous 3 ring circus, hailed as, "The Greatest Show on Earth
  • Married (again)

    Married (again)
    Marries a Mr. August Fitchner of San Francisco, CA. Runs a hotel with him until their split. This is her 3rd husband. She has lost 3 children in infancy.
  • Pendleton Act Passed

    Pendleton Act Passed
    Congress passes the Pendleton Act-this establishes civil service comission and fills government positions, starting from highest merrit, ending in lowest merrit.
  • American Federation of Labour Founded

    American Federation of Labour Founded
    The American Federation of Labour is founded-Samuel Gompers is the first President of the orgnization.
  • "Looking Backward"

    "Looking Backward"
    Edward Bellamy publishes the novel: "Looking Backward", looks at a cooperative future between all states and nations
  • Commits Suicide.

    Commits Suicide.
    Cushman dies of opium overdose at the age of 60-in her later years she became addicted to pain-killers and Opium. This was believed to have been a suicidal act.
  • Memorial Service for The Little Major

    Memorial Service for The Little Major
    Pauline Cushman is given a funeral with full military honors to create a beautiful memorials in rememberance of her.