Life and Legacy of Lucy Higgs Nichols
An unsung hero of a dreadful war, Lucy Higgs Nichols was taken in and protected from slavery by soldiers she went on to help save the lives of
America has a fractious past, with infighting and battles against foreign forces being part of this tapestry. The Civil War in the 1860s pitted Americans against each other in a struggle that would decide the future direction of a nation. During the conflict, some experts believe up to 850,000 Americans died, by far the bloodiest war the USA has ever fought.
As countrymen went to war against each other, one of the major social issues that they did so for was slavery. Freed slaves supported soldiers of the Union, and there are examples of men fighting against Confederate forces. Women also supported the soldiers and one such story of a slave born in North Carolina, who escaped slavery and tried to build a life for herself and her daughter.
Born in Halifax County in 1838, Lucy Higgs Nichols was enslaved by the Higgs family. Lucy was moved around a lot during her early life, across North Carolina and Mississippi. The Higgs family did eventually settle in Tennessee, and not long after they did the American Civil War began. During the conflict, Lucy discovered that she would soon be moved even further south. It was then that she knew she needed to escape. The understanding from slaves was that the further south they were taken, the harder it was to escape to freedom.
In 1862 Lucy and Mona escaped, 30 miles away to the town of Bolivar. It was the same state as the Higgs family, but it would be a decision that would be the beginning of a new life. Whilst in Bolivar, they came across the 23rd Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, a meeting that would benefit all involved.
Lucy’s owner tried to get her back, but the soldiers she was staying with ensured she was safe. The Confiscation Acts of 1861 and 1862 ensured her safety, and the men made sure this freedom would remain for both Lucy and Mona. To show her gratitude, Lucy became a cook, seamstress, and nurse to the regiment as they went around the battlefields of the war.
Lucy looked out for the troops and vice versa involved in battles at Vicksburg, Atlanta, and Sherman’s March, a scorched earth campaign against the Confederate forces in Georgia during 1864. She built a loyalty towards the regiment, remaining with them even after Mona died after the Vicksburg surrender in July 1863.
Mona was thought to be very popular with the soldiers, who helped to organise a funeral for her. In 1865 following the war’s end, the regiment returned home, and some of the men invited Lucy back to live with them in New Albany. Over the years, Lucy was able to make a home for herself and she continued to look out for the former soldiers and they continued to return the favour.
In 1892 Congress passed the Nurses’ Pension Act which gave all nurses who served during the war the right to a pension. The act said that “all women employed by the Surgeon General of the Army as nurses, under contract or otherwise, during the late war of the rebellion.” Lucy applied, but the authorities said they were unable to find her records, despite being an active member of the 23rd regiment. It was at this point that veterans of the regiment signed a petition calling for Lucy to receive the pension she deserved.
After more than one failed attempt, Lucy was finally given a pension in 1898, and up until she died in 1915 she received a monthly payment, well reserved after her work during the war. Following her death on January 29 1915, Lucy was given a full military honours funeral and she is buried in West Haven Cemetery in New Albany, Indiana. Unfortunately, the exact location of her grave is unknown.
Lucy Higgs Nichols has a legacy that has lived on for over a century. Her life was one of struggle and hardship, but her work with a regiment of soldiers created a life-long bond that helped all involved to live a happier life. In July 2019 a statute of Lucy and Mona was unveiled in New Albany, giving a permanent monument to a woman who fought racial prejudice and went on to help soldiers fighting to end slavery in America.
