Kate Cumming was a Confederate Nurse for the Army of Tennessee during the Civil War. Her journal has been used as a textbook for nursing schools. Scottish by ancestry, she deeply loved Scotland and the South. With my emphasis on writing about Celtic issues and people, I decided some posts devoted to this Mobile, Alabama resident would be appropriate.
Jed Marum: Lyrics and Chords (For more information on Jed Marum, go to http://www.jedmarum.com/)
Jed Marum has written two songs about Kate Cumming. He says this about the one I decided to post today: “The song was inspired by a poem I found in the diary of Kate Cumming – a nurse who worked the hospitals that followed the Confederate armies as they moved throughout the South during the American Civil War.
Kate was a bright, intelligent and eloquent woman, a Scottish immigrant and woman of deep faith. She is a genuine hero to me for her dedication to the young men who fought and died so bravely for their various causes during America’s most trying times. She left her thoughts and recollections for us in a book called; Kate Cumming: Diary Of A Confederate Nurse. You’ll find it still print at Amazon and elsewhere.”
CHICKAHOMINY RIVER
© Jed Marum 2004
Capo 2
1) You’re a (C)slow rolling (G)flood, Chicka(F)hominy (C)River
But your gentle face (G)troubles me (F)deep to my (C)soul
For your waters rode (G)easy, (F)serene and so (C)gentle
While the battle and (G)bloodshed (F)around you did (C)roll
2) If your tale could be (Am)told, Chicka(F)hominy (C)River
And your banks sing the (Am)song of our (F)young and our (G)brave
You’ve been (C)bathed in the (G)blood of our (F)husbands and (C)brothers
Now sacred you (G)keep them (F)alone in their (C)grave
3) Now for families and loved ones, Chickahominy River
Sad hearts will be breaking, so far from your shore
For our sons we have left here in trust to your keeping
Chickahominy River take care of thy store
4) May your banks guard them well, Chickahominy River
May the bones of our dear ones lie calmly at rest
til of the trump of the dead shall awake them to glory
forever to live in the realm of the blest
BRIDGE:
(Am)Husbands and fathers, (Am)brothers and sons
We (F)pass them in trust to your (G)care
Repeat verse 4)
If your tale could be told, Chickahominy River
And your banks sing the song of our young and our brave
For our sons we have left here in trust to your keeping
Chickahominy River take care of thy store