Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-21
The Original Story of Nancy Hart.


Rev. George G. Smith, the Macon histo-
rian, writes TO the Macon Telegraph to
correct the impression that might have
been formed by recent article in that
paper, to the effect that Nancy Hart
might have been a creature Of romance.
Historian Smith declares, as is q well
known fact, that there was Nancy Hart,
but he thinks the story of her capturing
the tories, Of her being cross-eyed, and
her wading the Savannah river, lacks
foundation. 1t was, however. published in
part in the Georgia journal OF 1926. but
was evidently a fabrication. Historian
Smith says II was believed by George
White and printed in HIS historical collec-
lions, but has no sufficient support. Meth
er Colonel Jones nor Bishop stevens &C
cept 1t, and old Judge Underwood said he
had been raised in Elbert and never heard
It. The Harris were highly respected peo-
pie, and Thomas Hart Benton was the
grandson of Thomas Hart, brother of
Benjamin.
In explaining his statements about the
story of who struck Billy Patterson"
Mr.. Smith said:
civilian Patterson was a rich merchant
IN Baltimore. He owned much land in
Georgia. His will was placed on record
In Gainesville. A young lawyer made the
story which appears in The Telegraph.
never was in Georgia, never was struck
and never offered a reward for the man
who struck him. I had no idea Of being
quoted or I might have been more careful
in my statements and not have uninten-
tionally misled the reporter. 1855 ~
81 was not aware until last week of
when the story Of Nancy Harris prowess
was first published, when I found 1t in
an old journal in the Telegraph oft1ce.'
The story of Nancy Hart was published
In the Milledgeville Recorder Of 1926, and is
as follows: =
This old-fashioned- matron of Amazon
fan strength and habits, says The Re-
corder, occupied such a conspicuous sta
ton during the times that tried mems
souls, and women's, too, that IT is thought
expedient to take passing notice of some
of her most pnominent actions; particu-
larly as the old revolutionary stock is
nearly gone, and their deeds, Ike the
WHITE sails of vessels disappearing in the
mist of the ocean, become more indistinct
until they are lost-or will be so distorted
by tradition that credulity itself might
pause at their recital The following par
ticulars are based on incontrovertible
facts:
Nancy Hart and her husband settled be-
fore the revolutionary struggle few
miles above the Ford or Broad river,
in Ebert county, in the bend of the river
near a very extensive canebrake. An APP
pie orchard still remains to point out the
spot, and to prove the provident powers
of it's planter. In altitude Mrs. Hart was
almost Patagonian and remarkably well
limbed and muscular-in a word, she was
lofty and sour-she possessed none Of that
nobility of nerve which characterizes mod
ern times-marked by nature with prom
inent features, circumstances and accident
added perhaps not little to her peculiar
tiles She possessed none of those graces
of motion which a poetical eye might see
in the heave of the ocean wave or the
change Of the summer cloud; nor did her
cheeks q will not speak of her nose) ex-
hibit those rosy tints that dwell on the
brow of the evening or play on the gilded
bow; no one claims for her throat that 1t
was lined with fiddle strings, but this
must be acknowledged, that her step be-
spoke energy, and be IL said only for the
sake of truth that she could round off re-
CARELESS of being called a hard swearer.
The perforating punch of the gatemaker
never did closer work on the yielding tin
than did that dreadful scourge of beauty,
the smallpox when IT set its emphatic
signature on her face. She was horribly
cross-eyed, as well as cross-grained, but
nevertheless she was a sharpshooter.
Nothing was more common than to see
her in full pursuit of the stag-the huge
antlers that hung around her cabin or
upheld her trusty gun gave proof of her
skill in gunnery-and the white comb
drained of it's honey and hung up for or
nament testified her powers in bee find
ing She was remarkable for her fire.
quent robberies on these patterns of in
dustry and piqued herself on the invention
Of an infallible bait for their discovery.
Many can testify TO her magical art in the
mazes Of cookery, being able to get up a
pumpkin in as many forms as there are
days in the week; she was extensively
known and employed for her knowledge
In the management of all kind of ailments,