L. P. Brockett, The camp, the battlefield, and the hospital: or, lights and shadows of the great rebellion

“General,” replied Pauline, pointedly, “I have been seized and brought hither to meet charges laid against me, I presume; but assuredly not to investigate and decide my own case. You cannot be expected to believe my statement; therefore, all I can say is, to produce your charges and the evidence, and when the examination is over, I think that my loyalty to the South will shine with as bright and steady a lustre as does your own. After that, if you still doubt me, or if one suspicion still lingers in your mind, give me a place near you in battle, and you will see that Pauline Cushman will fight as bravely and faithfully as any man in your army.”

Half amused, and half convinced by this speech, the old soldier continued his searching examination, striving in every way to entrap and confuse her, and to elicit from her all the information which he could concerning the plans, movements, and operations of the Federal commanders. She, on the contrary, assumed an innocent appearance of ignorance on these points, although careful to speak the truth in whatever she did say. It was a keen contest of wit, and finally the general terminated the interview by saying, “As for yourself, Miss Cushman, I have to tell you plainly, that there are very serious charges against you, and I must give you into the custody of our provost-marshal-general, Colonel McKinstry, who is, however, a very just and humane man, and who will treat you kindly. Your subsequent fate will depend entirely upon the result of our investigation.”

“ Colonel McKinstry is, then, precisely the man I desire to see.; for through him will the proofs of my guiltlessness ”