St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-09-13
DID KILL THE TORIES
Bill Arp Tells the Story of Nancy
Hart.
He knows Tom Lee, q Great-Grand-
ron of the Re v0lutiOnary Heroine
-Deplores IncOmDleteness OK
Confederate Army Records.

Copyrighted by the Atlanta Constitution
and reprinted by permissfon.l
A few months ago some doubling
correspondents limited that the story
of Nancy Hart was probably an ex-
aggerated romance or handed
down tradition or maybe myth. 1t
is fortunate that the doubt was pub
lShed, for it awakened and aroused
the good old people of Ebert and
Hart counties and brought to light
facts and records concerning the old
lady that might have passed into OBJ
livion. That the story of her hero
ism is true is now established, as
clearly as it was when Hart county
was cut off from Ebert and named
for her, the only county in Georgia
that was named for a woman. While
this newspaper controversy was 60
ing on down in Georgia there was
great strapping Virginian named
Tom Lee, Ga feet high and large in
proportion, operating the passenger
department of the Lackawanna rail-
road. He is the great-grandson OF
Nancy Hart, descended from her in
bee line through honorable Virginia
ancestors. He knew nothing of this
controversy concerning his maternal
ancestor, and said recently, when
speaking of her that it was the sor-
row of his life that he was not per-
sonally acquainted with her.
Tom Lee is great favorite among
the railroad officials. Very recently
he wished to try the work and speed
of a new monster locomotive, and in
vited the presidents and superintend-
ents of several railroads and 43 edi-
tors and newspaper men to go with
him on special to Pocona noun
tains and back again. On the north
ern roads the superintendent now
have an indicator or Dutch clock In
their private car that registers the
speed. "What do you want?"' said
Tom Lee. "Well, about 70 miles,"
said the editor. The speed was then
IS miles an hour, but quickly the
clock registered So, 81, So, 60, IS, 70,
where it remained for several min
utes while the engineer was holding
her down to an even, steady pace. A
glassful of water on the floor would
not have spilled a drop. Tom Lee
said: Il would have given you 80 ii
you had asked for it," After awhile
they stopped at the saltwater house,
where Washington and Lafayette
played croquette after the war was
lott
his summers. Tom Lee knows his
lineage and that his parents were
Virginians and nearly related to the
Harris, for whom Thomas Hart Ben
ton was named.
For the sake of many children who
have never heard the story, I will
briefly relate that during the dark
days of the revolution five tories came
to her cabin and ordered her to get
dinner for them. She did so, and
while they were eating and drinking
and their guns were set up in the
corner of the room she quietly took
them outside, and, standing at the
door, with one in her hand, she drew
aim on the leader and ordered them
to surrender or die. One man start
ed toward her and she shot him dead
and seized another gun and shot an
other who had risen from the table.
With another gun she kept the others
quiet until some neighbors came and
they were taken prisoner. No doubt
this is true story, and a man had
better not move to Ebert or Hart
county and express any doubts about
it. l have been there and know. Some
years ago lectured in Hartwell, and
from there journeyed to Elberton in
a buggy with preacher. We got q
late start and the preachers horse
wanted to slow up at every house
where there was a woman in sight,
and when we got to the river the