The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-07-16

NANCE JoLLY.-Many Of our readers re-
member "Mauce" Jolly, who operated in
South Carolina and Georgia soon after the
war, aud was terror to those that wore
the blue. Jolly had terrible account to
settle with the Yankees, and ho paid the
debt with interest. Five of his brothers
had been killed during the war, and he
swore that he would kill five Yankees for
each one of his brothers that were slaiu.
After truce was declared between jolly
aud tho Yankees, he went to Texas and
married. His father-in.law gave him a
plantation on tho opposite side of the
river, and Jolly commenced building n
house, and would swim his horse that he
rode while on his many raids in Georgia
over to where he was building. He was
returning to his fathor-n-law's for dinner,
and while about midway the stream,
"Dlxie," the name Of Jollys horse, gave
out and they went down together, to rise
no more. Jolly has relation now livir g
in Athens, who has given us some inter-
esting accounts Of his hair breadth es
capes.
Nance Jolly was very restless fellow,
and could see Yankee mile off. His
relative says he was in church with him
once in Hart county, and all at once Jolly
became very nervous and walked out of
the church, closely followed by his relation,
who saw from Jolly's action that some
thing was wrong. Glaucing through the
woods he saw regiment of negro soldiers
coming through the woods. Jolly saw
that it was too late for him to get his
horse, as the black troops were nearly to
where the animal was hitched, and they
had begun firing at Jolly. Ho ran through
tho woods, the soldiers shooting at him all
the time. His mother was il the church
and tainted whom she heard the report of
the guns. The soldiers, aft capturing
Jolly's horse, left aud had not been gone
many minutes before Jolly had called to-
gether few of his followers, who were
desperate men, and followed after the SOL
diers. Jolly's mother and the preacher
all tried to stop him, but it was no use.
His blood was up and he intended to pay
them back for shooting at him and steal.
ing his horse. They had q skirmishs WITH
the negro soldiers and several of them bit
the dust. Next morning Jolly rode into
Anderson, S. G and informed tho CON-
manding officer that unless his horse was
sent to his house tho next day that he
would kill him and five of his men. The
officer knew tho man he had to deal with
and sent tho horse to his house. Five
thousand dollars was offered for jolly, and
squads of cavalry were continually scour-
lug the country, but they always came
back minus one or two of their men, who
were marked "killed' on the muster roll.
The horse, "Dixie," that he rode on all of
his raids, was thoroughbred racer, aud
it was foolshness for any common steed to
try and catch him. The horse was we'll
trained, and Jolly could make him come
by shrill whistle. The horse would not
allow any ono to approach him after dark
except Jolly. If stranger came near, he
would get perfectly frantic and kick and
bite as long as they were in reach. Nance
Jolly has several relatives still living in
Franklin and Elber. counties. His history
was written and published in Harper s
Magazine, and it is said to be very thrill
ling and iuteresting.-Ataens, Ga, Ban
ner.