Duty Then, Duty Now

“We are Coming, Father Abraham”

Dedicated to my deceased Mentress, Donna Nangle, and my Union and Confederate ancestors, who fought for their beliefs, and thought victory was theirs, until time decided their fate.

I set my hand to give words about this most exciting time in the Sesquicentennial observance. Far from my thought that this last year would slowly wind down this time we’ve had to honor 150 years ago, 2015 is proving that it is every bit as important. The mere fact that I was born in time to take place in this honor, is a thought that often accompanies my steps in recreating the past. Is this thought with you as well?

I have supported these events so far:

1. Wreath-laying ceremony on 12 February, at the Lincoln Memorial, in honor of his birthday. I represented my Elizabeth Van Lew “Tent” (named instead of chapter, for the nurses) of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865.

2. “The Surrender” at Appomattox, 9 April.

3. Living history recreation of 14 April, Ford’s Theater, President Lincoln’s assassination and death. My husband and I, as members of the Victorian Dance Ensemble, were invited to support the staff of the Theater.

The 17th of May will see my dear husband and myself at the review stand in Washington, D.C., with the other period spectators, for the Grand Review Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.

In supporting these and other events, I have learned from many wise, passionate, and learned individuals, who undoubtedly would never have crossed my path otherwise. In this, I have the thought that our ancestors did much the same. Coming from so many areas of our country, can you imagine what they thought when seeing and hearing much that was new? What about that accent? How about the way those shoes were stitched and tanned? United in dedication, yet vastly different in many ways, wasn’t the past similar to our country today?

Whatever drives me to honor the past, also directs further research into my own family history. I have recently discovered two more great-great grandfathers, who served for the Union. Lewis Napoleon Nuzum served in Battery F as a Private, for the 1st West Virginia, Light Artillery. He mustered in 20 August, 1861, at Palatine, for a three year service. He mustered out 18 September, 1865, in Wheeling, West Virginia. Lewis Nuzum was a great-great grandfather on my mother’s side.

William Lewis, Private, Lt. Powell’s Company, 8th Regiment, Virginia, Infantry, mustered in 8 December, 1861, in Charleston WV, for three years. This Regiment eventually became Company K, 7th Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry. He was promoted to Corporal on 1 December, 1862, and killed in action at the Battle of Droop Mountain, 6 November, 1863. His wife remarried and left their son and daughter in a guardianship arrangement – they both received pensions. This son, Charles Wesley Lewis, was a great-grandfather on my father’s side.

The National Archives and Records Administration is researching two other ancestors at this time, James Mason Kessel, and Francis “Frank” Mathews. The NARA, for $30.00, will research your ancestor, and I am very grateful for this service, when my ancestry.com and Fold 3 account fails. Most of my ancestors, in roles associated with farming, lived in Jackson County, Virginia, which became West Virginia on 20 June 1863. They were allied with the Union, but it is whispered that: “The Mathews were Confederates.” This is proven through records of cousins being in Mosby’s Rangers, in the Purcellville area of Virginia.

History is rarely simple. My own Mathews line is traced to a farm that was behind the stone Mathews house in the Manassas Battlefield. It appears that this Mathews freed his slaves before the war, and moved to Jackson County. One of his sons was named Jefferson Davis Mathews-did he come to regret this? He enlisted for service, but the trail ends. A Provost Marshall file shows a “Frank Mathews” recorded as a citizen in the possible role of spy. This seems likely, due to the little I have learned of his confederate cousins, his own setting free his slaves and moving to a Union County…a puzzle, wouldn’t you say? Added in are the great varieties of spelling and hearing – what was written down was taken as correct, yet who is to say that accents, dental problems, and the hearing ability of the record-taker were accurate? I can see where, in a marriage license, “Mathews” becomes “Matthew.” Agh! Throw in the lack of a solid paper trail (superior with Union vs. Confederate records), and you have a fine mess. James Mason Kessel also seems to be of Confederate alliance, and the NARA should provide clarity soon!

I firmly believe, that in any role we have in living history, we have a duty to perform. Sacred. As many of us have ancestors that served, we have a similar duty to recover our own family involvement in the War. This truly brings history to life! We are living proof of the past! Cast aside that television program, explore the Internet, and find your family history. For, this is an important part of your legitimacy when before the public. If you find portraying a famous person is just not your style, as I have, maybe it is because your ancestors are calling for you to represent them? I place this thought before you in the last year of our commemoration of the horrors of war 150 years ago.

I admit, the mere thought of my great-great grandfathers knowing, somehow, that I sit by President Lincoln as he dies, 150 years after the actual act, well, it more than stirs my soul. This feeling broadens as I represent them in my membership in the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865, at historic events. Why, I belong to the only “Tent” (named after the abodes of many of the nurses of that time) in Virginia of the DUVCW!

With these words, there is the great hope that your soul is stirred to enlist your own family history into service in today’s historic events. Should my words fall short, I ask that you familiarize yourself with the words (and music on the Web), written in response to the 1 July, 1862 call by Abraham Lincoln for 300,000 Volunteers to fight the Confederacy. It was a time of Union discouragement, inspiring this most stirring call to arms:

We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more,
From Mississippi’s winding stream and from New England’s shore.
We leave our plows and workshops, our wives and children dear,
With hearts too full for utterance, with but a silent tear.
We dare not look behind us but steadfastly before.
We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more!
We are coming, we are coming our Union to restore,
We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more!
If you look across the hilltops that meet the northern sky,
Long moving lines of rising dust your vision may descry;
And now the wind, an instant, tears the cloudy veil aside,
And floats aloft our spangled flag in glory and in pride;
And bayonets in the sunlight gleam, and bands brave music pour,
We are coming, father Abr’am, three hundred thousand more!
We are coming, we are coming our Union to restore,
We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more!
If you look up all our valleys where the growing harvests shine,
You may see our sturdy farmer boys fast forming into line;
And children from their mother’s knees are pulling at the weeds,
And learning how to reap and sow against their country’s needs;
And a farewell group stands weeping at every cottage door,
We are coming, Father Abr’am, three hundred thousand more!
We are coming, we are coming our Union to restore,
We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more!
You have called us, and we’re coming byRichmond’s bloody tide,
To lay us down for freedom’s sake, our brothers’ bones beside;
Or from foul treason’s savage group, to wrench the murderous blade;
And in the face of foreign foes its fragments to parade.
Six hundred thousand loyal men and true have gone before,
We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more!
We are coming, we are coming our Union to restore,
We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more!
With these words, my pen rests.

-By Karen S. Lyddane