Mandana Coleman Thorp

Mandana Coleman Thorp (, Major; January 25, 1843 – July 7, 1916) was an American Civil War nurse and singer. She rallied the Union Army troops by singing battle hymns and national airs, and tended to the sick and injured. In 1865, at the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington, D.C., she rode at the head of the 1st New York Dragoons Regiment. Allegany County, New York, January 25, 1843. She was the daughter of Colonel John Major. Her mother was a descendant of Major Moses Van Campen, a Revolutionary patriot. She had at least two siblings, a sister, Mrs. Emma Crary, and a brother, Newton Major.

Career American Civil War The stirring events before and during the Civil War called out the sentiment of patriotic persons and the musical talents of Miss Major were actively enlisted from the start of the war. The national airs and the stirring battle hymns were sung by her at nearly all of the meetings held in that part of New York state. As past president of the W.R.C., she was an Oregon delegate to the 20th annual encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and the W.R.C. in June 1904. Several times, she served as state inspector for the corps;

She was also prominent in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. "Brigadier General", For the last year of her life, Mrs. Thorp lived in Portland, Oregon with her daughter, Bessie. Mandana Thorp died in Portland, July 7, 1916, of heart disease. Three children, including Simeon and Annie, preceded her in death; while two, Montgomery and Bessie, survived Mrs. Thorp.

Thorp was buried at River View Cemetery, Portland. Headstones were added to her grave and that of her husband in 2013, by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.