The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-08-15
NANCE JOLLEY.
A TRUE STORY.
augusta Chronicle.

A TRUE STORY.
AUGUSTA Chronicle.
About one month ago I was on a
north bound train out from Augusta,
Ga. In consequence Of a heavy rain
fall the train was delayed for some
time on account Of washout, and
while waiting for the repairs to be
made to the track was drawn into
conversation with two excellent gen
tlemen from South Carolina. One
was DR.. W. B. Millwee, from Green
wood, the other gentleman was from
Ridge Spring, and | have forgotten
his name. It was while carrying on a
general conversation that the subject
Of this sketch, Nance Jolley, was
brought up. DR.. Millwee asked me if
T had ever heard of Nance Jolley, the
celebrated bushwhacker, Of Anderson
County. After assuring him in the
negative and expressing great desire
to hear something of his exploits, the
genial Doctor proceeded to give syn
opsis of some of the important events
in the life of Nance Jolley, and the
causes that led up to his being out.
lawed by the Federal Government and
price of ten thousand dollars set
upon his head.
When the late war broke out Nance
Jolley was one of the first to volun-
teer, and spent the four dreadful years
in fighting for the Lost Cause. He
was high-toned, educated gentleman,
was noted for his bravery and daring,
and from the fact that he and his
cream-white charger, cold Ironsides, :"
went through the fiery ordeal together
and neither received scratch or lost
one single day from any cause:
When hostilities ceased Jolley rode
his faithful old mount from Virginia
back to his farm in Anderson County,
and proceeded to make the best OF 9 9
bad bargain, and to bring order out OF
chaos, for his farm had been neglected,
and everything was in bad way.
Being an industrious and thrifty man
he soon had everything all rig ght once
more.
Now, there was regiment of negro
soldiers stationed at Anderson Court
House, and this regiment was some
what of a stickler for Jolley. He
could not reconcile himself to this,
but he attended to his business and
said nothing. /,
About the time jolly got settled
down to every day life he was sent for
by an old and intimate friend, and
told that all of his silverware and
money had been stolen by some Of the
recently freed slaves, and he requested
Jolley to help him recover his prop.
erty. Having had the ring leader OF
the robbery pointed out to him Jolley
braced him single handed, took him
into a piece Of woods, buckled him
face in to tree and with the aid Of a
rawhide he soon made the negro squeal
and tell where all the stuff could be
found. The goods were returned to
their owner, and Jolley went back to
his farm. But the negro went to the
colonel of the coon regiment and
charged Jolley with assault with in
tent to murder. The colonel sent two
mcunted sons Of Ham to the Jolley
farm with instructions to bring the
owner of said farm back to headquar-
ters to answer the preferred charge.
What became of the coons has never
been known. At any rate Jolley had
the two horses they rode hitched to a
plow next day, working right along as
if nothing had happened.
The colonel next sent four trusty
men to effect the capture of Jolley,
but Nance had friends, and the four
soldiers went the way Of the previous
two and Nance confscated their hor-
ses.
When the fate of the last four be-
came known price was set upon Jol-
ley's head, but the colonel did not
deputize any more men to 60 to Jol-
ley's home to arrest him; he chose
other tactics to get Jolley within his
clutches. Several months thereafter
an entire company rode up to little
country church where Nance was at
tending divine worship. They first
secured his horse, and then all ad-
vanced to the church door. But Jol-
ley got wind of the movement, bolted
for the pulpit and jumped from a win
dow mat as volley was fred at him
over the heads Of the worshippers.
Jolley had to go without his beloved
horse, but it is said he dropped man
or two before he got out Of rifle range.
Jolley was sore over the loss of his
horse, and forthwith made up his
mind to recover him, and this feat is
almost beyond belief, and is the most
remarkable thing in the career of this
remarkable man. Jolley went back to
his farm, mounted one Of his contra
band plugs, and rode into Anderson
next day, went right through the lines,
and dismounted in front Of the hotel
the colonel's headquarters, and asked
to be shown to the colonel $ room,
which was done. The hotel people
knew Jolley to be brave man, but
his actions now dumbfonnded them.
Jolley went right into the room, salu.
ted and said: "Col. Whitehead, ]
presume ? My name is Nance Jolley.
I was attacked while at church yester,
day by company of your men and my
horse was stolen. | want written
order from you for the return Of my
horse at once. If you do not accede
to my request I'll kill you right where
you're sitting, and good many Of
your soldiers will bite the dust before
sundown to-day
All this time Jolley was fondling 8
huge and murderous looking revolver
The Mayor of Anderson, who hap
pened to be in the room at the time,
told DR.. Millwee that Col. Whitehead
| Ill, Co., =