Washington telegraph., 1849-06-06
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.
NANCY HART.

try had been organized in the State OF
Georgia, comprising large territorial ex-
tent, from Newson's ponds to the Chero-
kee corner near Athens, and from Savan-
nah river on the east to Ogechee river and
Shoulder-bone on the west. TEis district
formed one county, which received the
name of Wilkes, in honor of distinguish
ed English whig politician The MAORI
ty ofits population, when hostilities COM
menced. espoused the whig cause. The
name given by the tories to this section
of the State was 'The Hornets Nest and
the people received the name of Mo
to the kings authority. Near Dyes and
Webb's ferries on Broad river, now in
Ebert county, was stream known as
sWar-woman' creek. Its name was de-
rived from the character of an individual
who lived near the entrance of the stream
into the river. This person was Nancy
Hart woman ignorant of letters and the
civilities of life, but a lover of liberty and
the liberty boys as she called the wings.
She had a husband, whom she denomi-
mated "a poor stick. because he did not
take decided and active part with the
defenders Of his country, although she
could not conscientiously charge him with
the least partiaity toward the tories.-
This vulgar and illiterate, but hospitable
and valorous female patriot, could boast
no share of beauty-a fact she herself
would have readily acknowledged had
she ever enjoyed all opportunity of look
ing in mirror. She was cross-eyed, with
a broad angle mouth, ungainly in figure,
rude in speech, and awkward in manners,
friends, though that of a Catharlne Mon
tour for the enemies of her country. She
was we'll known to the tories, who stood
in fear of her revenge for any grievance
OF aggressive act though they let pass no
opportunity of worrying and annoying
her when they could do so with impl,nity.
On an occasion of an excursion from
the British camp at Augusta, party of
tories penetrated into the interior, and ha-
wing savagely murdered Colonel Dooly in
bed, in his own house, they proceeded up
the country for the purpose of perpetra-
ting further atrocities. On Their way,
detachment of five of the party diverged
to the east, and crossed Broad river, to
make discoveries about the neighborhood,
and pay visit to their old acquaintance,
Nancy Hart. On reaching her cabin,
they entered in unceremoniously, receiv-
ing no welcome from her but scowl;
and informed her they had come to know
hn fri1 In Of ctn onr
her, that she had secreted noble rebel
from company of kings men who were
pursuing him, and who. but for her aid,
would have caught and hung him. Nancy
undauntediy acknowledged her agency III
the fugitive's escape. She told them she
had at first heard the tramp of horse
rapidly approaching. and had then seen
horseman coming towards her cabln.' AS
he came nearer, she knew him TO he a
whig and flying from pursuit. She let
down the bars few steps from her cabin
and motioned him to enter to pass through
both doors, front and rear, of her single-
roomed house; to take the swamp, and
secure himself as well as he could. She
then put up the bars, entered her cabin,
closed the doors, and went about her bu-
siness.' Presently some tories rode up to
the bars, and called out boisterouslv to
her. She muffled her head and face, and
opening the door, inquired why they dis
turbed sick lone woman. They said
they had traced man they wanted to
catch, near her house, and asked if any
one on horseback had passed that way.
She answered no, but she saw somebody
on a sorrel horse turn Oat the path into
the woods some two or three hundred
wards back. That m ust be the fellow,
said the tories; and asking her direction
as to the way he took, they turned about
and went off, well fooled, said Nancy,
in an opposite course to that of my wing
boy; when, if they had not been so lofty
minded, but had looked on the ground ln-
side the bars, they, would have seen his
horses tracks up to that door, as PLAIN as
YOU can see the tracks on this tioor, and
out of 'tother door down the path to the
swamp. sul5s 1ol
This bold story did not much please the
tory party, but they could not wreak the
revenge upon the woman who thus un-
scrupulously avowed her aiding a rebel,
and the cheat she had put upon his pur-
suers. otherwise than by ordering her to
aid and comfort them by giving them
something to eat She replied that she
never fed the kings men if she could
help it; the villains had put it out of her
power to feed her own family and friends
by stealing and killing all her poultry and
her pigs--except that old gobler You see
in the yard 1rl.a. lo.,.,J
We'll, and that you shall cook for US,
said one, who appeared the head of the
party, and raising his musket he shot
down the turkey, which another of the
men brought into the house and handed