The Story:
My father’s maternal ancestors lived in Henderson County, NC at the time of the Civil War. They were poor hand-to mouth farmers and Union loyalists. The men, after being forced into the Confederate Army, deserted the Confederates, and fled to Knoxville, the closest Union Army headquarters. Some joined the Union Army. Their wives and children, left behind in NC, were being denied provisions by the Confederate government and were starving. Additionally, their teenage boys were in danger of being forced to fight as the South grew more desperate. My Great Great Great Grandmother, Narcissus Beck Middleton, received word from her husband, Kinson, that the best hope for their survival would be to try to get to Knoxville and the Union lines. In August, 1864, she did just that, walking from Henderson County, with her 10 children, who ranged in age from 15 months to 18 years, and her adult daughter Mary Middleton Orr, and Mary's 19 months-old son. One of the children was my Great Great Grandfather, Benjamin, aged 11. They carried the 2 babies and whatever else they could carry of their possessions. It took them 18 days, crossing rivers, mountains, facing the threat of being jailed as traitors, attacked by men, starvation, drowning, all manner of danger. They all made it to Knoxville and survived.
After reading an account of their journey, written by Mary Orr as an old woman in the early 1900’s, I spent the last 3 years researching and writing nearly 30 songs for what I hoped would be an Appalachian Folk musical. My great hope was to record the whole thing with a full cast, but as I realized I did not have the resources for that, I decided to make an album of a selection of some of the songs. My choice of songs for this album leaned heavily on ones that I thought I could easily perform live, either by myself, or with my partner, Brandon. I have written many songs for this project that either need a whole choir, a bunch of children or soldiers or townspeople, or have several different characters and voices coming in and out of the songs. I have sadly and reluctantly left many of my favorite songs off of this album. But I have not given up on being able to record the whole project - someday.
Below is a very brief synopsis that may help to follow along with the selection of songs presented here.
Mary Orr and her son are forced to move in with her in-laws in Transylvania County after her husband joins the Union Army. She is uneasy about being in the middle of a historical conflict. (Trouble) Meanwhile, Narcissus’ children are starving and she learns that the only hope for their survival is to leave their home and travel to Knoxville. (Stand) Narcissus’ husband gets word to her about a group of Union loyalists in Western NC and East TN called the “Red Strings”. They indicate their support for the Union by either a red cord at their wrist, or red fabric in their window. Some think they drew their name from the story of Rahab in the Bible. (Look for Red) As they make their way through Western NC, they come upon a home and seek shelter from the woman inside, who turns out to be an old school friend of Narcissus. She welcomes them in, even though her husband is a Confederate soldier. She calls Narcissus “Sis”, her nickname from school days. They try not to discuss current events, but they can’t help it, and keep arguing with each other over their different viewpoints, finally ending in a stony truce. Narcissus steps away and meditates on her name, her nickname, and her failure to find common ground with an old friend. (The Myth of Narcissus)
In East TN, they come to the raging Nolichucky River, higher than usual from constant rain that August, and fear their journey may have come to an end. Although they crossed many other rivers, such as the French Broad, on foot, they will surely drown if they go in the Nolichucky. An African American woman with a small canoe comes by and Mary pleads with her to help them. The woman makes several dangerous trips to get the whole family across, even falling in herself at one point and using her pole to get herself back in the canoe. (Nolichucky River) After they are all across, Mary says in her account, “We went on our way, rejoicing.” (Rejoicing As I Go) Mary and Narcissus realize how far they have come and how this journey has changed them. (Count All the Stars) In East TN, Mary ventures into a small town to try to buy some bread for the children. She is confronted by a Confederate Soldier. (Lady So Fine) Mary, Narcissus, and Narcissus’ teenage daughter, Ellen, feel more hopeless than ever. (Can We Go Home) Mary’s sister Susannah tries to cheer them up by reminding them they are on an adventure. (In the Wilds)
Mary says in her account that Narcissus tells her, “I will make a pilot out of you, for you have more tongue than I.” Having made it safely to Knoxville, Narcissus shares a moment of reflecting on motherhood with Mary. (My Dream is You)