Julia Marcum

 

Meet Julia Marcum, a girl of just sixteen when the Civil War broke out around her and divided this nation. You see, Julia and her family, were ardent supporters of the Union’s cause but lived in and among a population dominated by southern interests and support. To make matters worse, Julia’s father, Hiram, helped organize an underground railway to transport men north who wanted to join the federal army. Eventually, Confederate forces got wind of the secret operation and increased their presence in the area around her family’s farm. Naturally, this alarmed Hiram, who began sleeping in the woods to avoid capture. Sure enough, on September 7, 1861, 36 Confederate troops made their move and broke into his home, announcing their intent to kill Hiram (as well as the rest of the family). When they were unable to find him in the house, all but one of the soldiers spread out across the farm in an attempt to locate him. The remaining man began threatening Julia’s sister then proceeded to choke her mother. Seeing this, Julia grabbed a nearby ax for protection which, in turn, grabbed the attention of the soldier who then lunged at her with his bayonet. She managed to duck beneath his gun and deliver a chop to his face which set in motion a fierce fight, during which, the Confederate struck Julia in the eye with his bayonet and shot her finger off. Somehow, Hiram avoided detection and snuck back to the house to aid his daughter in killing the rebel. Julia was badly injured and ended up losing not only an eye, but part of her hand as well. Many thought she wouldn't recover but after several months she did, indeed, rebound. After this night, Hiram would leave the family farm (never to return) in hopes that his absence would spare his family from future danger, but sadly fate had other plans. Sometime later, a cousin (George), was hiding in the family’s barn, preparing for the journey north to join the union’s cause when, again, rebels found out and showed up to capture him. Once again, Julia’s courage and dedication to the cause drove her to act; She ran to alert George, but was discovered, and fired upon, by the troops. Luckily for her, their aim wasn't true, but cousin George wasn’t so lucky - He died in the skirmish. His death became the last straw for the Marcum family and they packed their bags, eventually settling in Williamsburg, Kentucky. After the war, Julia tried to work as a teacher, but her injuries forced her to retire. In 1884, she petitioned Congress for a pension to compensate for injuries incurred in defense of her country. The following year, Julia Marcum did indeed receive a pension for combat wounds, she was one of only a handful of women to get this aid. On May 9, 1935, Julia Marcum died in Whitley County, Kentucky at the age of 91. She received a military funeral and her body was laid to rest at the Highland Cemetery in Williamsburg. Throughout the years, I’ve heard that a person actually dies twice; Once when they stop breathing, and again, later on, when someone mentions their name for the last time. So let’s honor this brave woman by spreading her name, and story, around today. If you’d like to help, just share this post so that she might continue to live on.

Source: Facebook - Appalachian Americans