By the time Louis E. McComas offered introductory remarks for the benefit lecture of United States Marshal Frederick Douglass at the Washington County Courthouse in downtown Hagerstown, Maryland he was widely known in the area for his advocacy of the public remembrance of the Union sacrifice at the Battle of Antietam in nearby Sharpsburg.
A complete review of available records is underway to better understand the evolution of the advocacy of McComas for the preservation of the Antietam battlefield, however a cursory analysis reveals it was both a matter of public policy and personal concern for McComas for more than thirty years that culminated in a visit by President William McKinley to the hallowed ground in 1900.
In early 1871 McComas, a young lawyer with his career in the United States Congress, United States Senate and as a federal judge still years ahead of him, was specifically recognized in a local newspaper for his remarks delivered at a Decoration Day ceremony at Antietam.
“The address of our young townsman, Mr. McComas, was an appropriate, classical and beautiful production, listened to with much attention and gratification.”
The ceremonies and orators were joined by a collection of local musical groups, including the Moxley Band of Hagerstown, that were praised for their performances.
“Much of the anticipated pleasure of the day was marred by the extreme heat and clouds of choking dust. The Brass bands, Keedysville, the Rohrersvilee, the Sharpsburg and Moxley’s of Hagerstown, discoursed entertaining music, which had the happy effect of making all forget to some extent the torment of sun and dust.”
Several years later the Moxley Band would accompany US Marshal Frederick Douglass and Louis E. McComas through the streets of Hagerstown and perform in front of the county courthouse for a gathering of local citizens and children.
A current survey is underway to more precisely determine the chronology of McComas’ preservation activism and work to preserve the Battle of Antietam, his attendance at annual Decoration Day events, as well as his legislative record as a member of Congress and Senate.
Records indicate McComas is a significant and consequential figure in the preservation history of the present-day Antietam National Battlefield (ANB). Hon. L. E. McComas is deserving of the same recognition today that he was afforded in 1871, we humbly suggest.
In recent years there has been a contemporary movement to seemingly place a ubiquitous associative reference to Douglass – and even Tubman – at every historical park and location in the state of Maryland, even places such as present-day Antietam National Battlefield, whether historically relevant or not. The curators of the new exhibit(s) at ANB do a great disservice to the public – and themselves – with a limited, selective and suggestive history that omits the contributions of Hon. L. E. McComas.
We advance that the current exhibit space at ANB should be revised to include a more complete and inclusive history of its preservation with recognition of Louis E. McComas and his work with local community members, members of Congress — and Frederick Douglass.
They already have Frederick Douglass placed in the exhibit space at ANB but not his friend and political associate Louis E. McComas.
Since you already have Mr. Douglass there – why not include reference to the relationship and friendship of Mr. Douglass with US Senator & US Congressman Louis E. McComas, one of the founding legislators of present day Antietam National Battlefield Park?
Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C.: The Lion of Anacostia 