Person:Wiley Pollard (1)

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Wiley Pollard's Early Years

Wiley Baxter Pollard was born in Cherokee County, Alabama July 18, 1845.^S1 He was the youngest of twelve children. His parents were John W Pollard, born 1801 in Greenville County, South Carolina and Barbara Stone, born 1802 in South Carolina. Wiley was the grandson of William Pollard, born August 28, 1770 in Virginia and Mary Pollard, born about 1777.^S1

His family moved from the Reedy River area of Greenville, South Carolina to Cherokee Alabama before 1830. They are found on the 1830 U S Census in Cherokee, Alabama where Wiley was later born on July 18, 1845. The family moved on to Pickens County, Alabama during the 1850's.

Confederate Service

Wiley was only seventeen when the Civil War began and he was determined to join the fight. His father felt he was too young to join the military service. Family stories say Wiley's persistence led his father to lock him up in the corn-crib to keep him from running away and joining the Confederate service. John W Pollard brought Wiley his food each day, but Wiley finally got free and ran off and joined the Confederate Army. Wiley’s father, John W Pollard enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Alabama Light Artillery as a Private at age 60 on December 16, 1861. Records reflect that he was “absent sick”. His next record reflects that he was at company muster on June 30 as “Present”, so he must have returned to his unit after his sons left to enlist.^S10

Records show Wiley enlisted at Fayette Alabama on March 22, 1862 in Company B, 41st Alabama Regiment of Hanson’s Brigade of the Alabama Infantry.^S11 Wiley served with three other brothers in the same Alabama unit. Lattamore M Pollard enlisted the same day and they served together until Wiley was wounded at Stone’s Creek. Two brothers-in-law, Henry W. Stokes and John W Brooks, also left and enlisted on the same day, March 22, 1862, all serving in the same Company B Alabama unit. Lattimore was later detailed to Mississippi as a teamster for a supply train. Luallin G Pollard enlisted several days after Wiley, on March 30, 1862, and also served in the same unit. Records show he stayed with the 41st Alabama Infantry until he was wounded in the right hand at the Battle of Deep Creek, April 3, 1865. His third brother, John R Pollard enlisted in the same unit a year later on March 23, 1863. He was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga, on September 20, 1863.^S11

Wiley was paid $33 in Confederate money for his military service on April 18, 1862. Records of the 41st Alabama Infantry show that they were in Murfreesboro, Tennessee by June 30th, 1862 where they began preparations to go into winter quarters. He was also present at Company B muster in November-December, 1862, right before the Stones River Battle was to begin at Manchester, Tennessee. The regiment was assigned to Hanson’s Brigade as part of the Kentucky Infantry Regiments and ordered to take their place in the front lines fight at the Battle of Stone’s Creek.^S12

“On Friday evening, January 2, 1863, this Regiment, together with the 2nd, 4th and 6th Kentucky Regiments were ordered to the right of the main position and proceeded down Stone’s River to a point about one mile north of Wayne’s Hill, to make an attack upon a strong body of the enemy in force there. In this attack, from which ensued a most terrific battle, the officers and men fought gallantly, driving the enemy before them across the river, entirely from the position they held.”^S13

Wiley Pollard was one of these men who were wounded in this Battle by a terrible gunshot to his leg. Records reflect that he was sent to Murfreesboro Hospital and then later captured as a POW by the Union when they overtook the hospital where he was sent for treatment.

According to Dexter C. Butler, a son of Osie Lean Pollard Butler and Robert Bush Butler, Wylie escaped from the Yankees by the following story:^S14

“W. B. Pollard was shot in the right leg just below the kneecap at the Battle of Stones River. He was sent to a Confederate hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee which was southeast of Nashville and behind Rebel lines.

Following the Confederate retreat, the Federals moved into previously held rebel territory taking the hospital at Murfreesboro and therefore capturing W.B.

A careful review of the record shows that W.B., consistent with family legend, endured an agonizing gunshot wound to the right tibia resulting in a compound break an inch or so below his patella (kneecap); in later pictures, it was clear the break improperly healed which caused his trousers to jut to the right at an odd outward angle (about 40 degrees) just below the knee; as though he had a stick under his trouser leg.

I (Charles Butler) reviewed the type of bullets used by the Union infantry and it is clear this injury was not without significant pain. The Yankees fired mini-ball bullets which despite their name are bullet shaped, and not round. They are solid lead, slightly more than ½ inch wide, and are about as large as the last segment of a man’s thumb.

According to legend, the Yankees deliberately fired below the waist since a wounded disabled Confederate consumed more resources than a dead one (transport, food, medicine, housing, blankets, etc.)

According to Dexter, and consistent with more general stories told to me by my Grandmother Butler, after the Yankees captured the Confederate hospital they decided to amputate W.B.’s leg in order to prevent infection and probable death. Although this was the current standard of care for both sides at the time, W. B. decided to decline treatment.

As the Yankee surgeon drew near with his glistening saw, W. B. painfully motioned that he wished to whisper something in his ear. When the unsuspecting doctor leaned down, the eighteen year old Rebel rammed his fist into the stunned physician’s face sending him staggering back into a pile of bloody arms and legs. Pollard leaped up from the table, grabbed a nearby rifle and using it as a crutch, hobbled quickly to a successful escape. After several days of painful foot travel, he finally made it to safety behind Confederate lines.”^S14

Wiley’s records show he was send to the Episcopal Church Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia and then furloughed to recover at home until the end of 1863. His record is not clear when he rejoined his unit. There are records that show he was issued clothing late in 1864. Notations by Regiment officers indicate that in July and August 1864, the unit was in the trenches of Petersburg, Virginia during these two months. Another notation from Company “B” in January and February, 1865 reflect that the unit has been in the trenches near Petersburg and “their position has not changed either to the right or left.” On April 13, 1865, Wiley Pollard’s name appears on a Prisoners of War roll at Point Lookout, Md, reflecting he was captured April 3, 1865 at Amelia Courthouse. He was released July 16, 1865 after taking the Oath of Allegiance to the United States at Point Lookout, MD. Register No. 2, Page 559. Wiley’s 41st Alabama unit was organized with 1,200, reported 198 casualties at Murfreesboro (including W.B. Pollard), and lost forty-nine percent of the 325 killed at Chickamauga (including his brother). Many were disabled at Sayler’s Creek. It surrendered at Amelia Court House, VA with 14 officers and 84 men, just seven percent of its original strength. Willey B. Pollard was one of those 84 brave solders. His brother, Lattamore M Pollard was also there and took his Oath the same day.^S15

Wiley's long fight had ended at the Amelia Court House in Virginia. He now faced a long walk home on a leg that was so badly wounded from being shot through both tibia bones and an exit wound through the knee, that he could hardly walk, but walk he did. From Virginia to Pickens, Alabama, with his brother Lattamore, he walked. It is not known how long it took for all of them to get back home. Please click below to see Wiley's Oath of Allegiance that he carried on his long journey home.

For a more in depth review of Wiley's Confederate Service Record, his Company troop movements, and Oath of Allegiance please click here:

Wiley Baxter Pollard Confederate Service

Confederate Scorecard on Pollard Family

• Father: John W Pollard - returned home sick - lived to know war ended, but died on June 23, 1865, probably did not see Wiley and other sons make it home.
• Brother: Lattamore Pollard - served entire war and returned home with Wiley.
• Brother: Luallin Pollard - Serious shot through right hand between thumb and index finger, was probably partially disabled in using his hand. Returned home after war.
• Brother: John R Pollard - Killed September 22, 1863 at Chickamuaga. - Fought in Company B beside his brothers.
• Brother-in-law: Henry W Stokes: Sick and sent home from Murphreesboro. Records reflect a great deal of sickness in the Company. Whatever they had was highly contagious and debilitating. Wife's pension application says he was discharged on 19 Nov 1862 and died on 18 Jul 1866.
• Brother-in-law: John W Brooks: Left on trail sick (Nov-Dec 1863)on March between Charlestown to Knoxville. It is believed he died in the war, most likely of sickness.
• Brother: Casper Parham Pollard - Served in MS 3rd Regiment, Company K (from Northern Mississippi.

Wiley's Three Families

After his release on June 16, 1865, Wiley made his long trek home to Alabama, arriving to find his father has passed away. His beloved Southern country had lost the war, his country was in ruins, a father, a brother, and brother-in-law dead, and everything about him changed. How and why he decided to pull up and go to Tishomingo County, Mississippi, we do not know for sure. One of his brothers served as a supply teamster from Mississippi to Tennessee. When the war broke out, he had another brother who took his family of six children and pregnant wife, and fled to North West Mississippi to protect his family. His father had also served in Lumsden's Battery, which was ordered to report to Corinth, Mississippi in the War before John W Pollard was discharged December 1862. One of the Whitfield brothers surrendered at Appotamattox, VA courthouse. Could they have somehow met? Wiley took his sisters; 24 year old Emily Pollard, Margaret Crofs Brooks, who was now a widow with two small girls, and Barbara M Stokes, who was married to Henry W. Stokes who was sick, and who had several small children, and they all moved to Tishomingo County, Mississippi. About a year later he married Narcissa Whitfield on December 16, 1866. A few months after that on October 3, 1867, Emily Pollard would marry Narcissa's brother, John Wesley Whitfield. On the 1870 census, Margaret is found married to Nathaniel Humphreys, and all of the family were living among the Whitfields.

Wiley and Narcissa would know brief happiness, as their first child would pass away. Henry Adolphus Pollard, b. 5 Nov 1867, would live a little more than a month. Their second child, Cora Ann Pollard, was born 6 Jan 1869. Three more children were born to them when Edgar Marvin Pollard was born 13 Nov 1878. He lived only a few months, until the 23 Jan 1879. Narcissa would pass away on 21 May 1881. It is clear that Wiley dearly loved her as he writes in his family Bible "My Dear Companion Narcissa Pollard Died May 21st 1881. She was Borned January 18 day of 1846, and Departed this life May 21st AD 1881." Two of Wiley's and Narcissa's children are buried at Holder Cemetery, and it is said that Narcissa is also buried there. Alas, her headstone must have been destroyed. There are several Whitfield graves among them.

Wiley was a member of the Burnsville No 233 Masonic lodge, of Tishomingo County.^S18

In 1870, as the area grew, Tishomingo County was split into three counties, and the Pollard's were now living in the new county of Prentiss, or on the border of all three counties. Wiley then marries Mary Ann Garrett of another old Tishomingo County family, in the new County of Prentiss, Mississippi. As the area becomes more populated, roads and governments formed, and Wiley decides to run for Justice of the Peace in 1883. Their family continues to grow with four more children born. Then he and Mary lose another child, a twin, in 1889. Three more children were born to them before Mary dies in 1902. Mary Ann Garrett Pollard is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Prentiss County, near where the Pollards lived for many years.

Wiley, left alone with many young children, marries Nancy Ellen Burcham, 11 Jan 1903. Wiley is 58 years old and Nancy Ellen is 25, but she is a good mother to Mary's children. Nancy Ellen and Wiley then have five more children of their own.^S17 All but one, Barbara Louvader, grow to adulthood. Barbara Louvader died turning somersaults off of a wagon.

Public Service

Wiley served as Justice of the Peace and Tax Assessor for many years in Prentiss County, Mississippi, first for two year terms, then when the law was changed, four year terms.

Wiley performed the marriage of his daughter-in-laws' parents, Autie Carpenter and Nora Jones on Jany 1904. In 1904, in the Chancery Court Minutes, Wiley receive $5.80 pay for his Justice of Peace duties.^I5 Many more documents have been found that he signed through 1914 as Justice of the Peace of Prentice County, Mississippi. Another anecdote about W. B. as told to Charles Butler by Uncle Dexter and his Justice of the Peace duties:

Once he was persuaded by a young couple to preside over their marriage. The prospective bride's father took exception to the upcoming union and made his feelings clearly known to Justice Pollard, who, according to Dexter, sympathized with his concerns, but since the couple were of age, could not legitimately refuse to perform the ceremony.

Afterward, the father of the bride cornered W.B. and threatened to "whip him."

W.B. responded by saying, "All right, if that's what you want, let's go outside..."

"As they stepped out the door, W.B. reached over and grabbed the man by his mustache and swung him around until he gave up -which he soon did-without ever throwing a punch. W.B. let him go, shook his head and went on about his business."^S14

In Wiley's last years, family said that he fell off a horse, became paralyzed, and spent his final years in bed. A guardian was appointed to help handle his affairs. He first applied for the benefit of Mississippi Confederate Veteran's Civil War Pension, first in 1909. This was approved by the Office of the Chancery Clerk and County Board of Inquiry of Prentiss County. Periodic re-application and reviews were required by law to continue receiving the pension, Wiley having applied four times and was approved four times. Shown here is his re-application 22 Aug 1916, due to the information it contains regarding his Confederate Service and war injuries.^{I7, I8,I9} Nancy Ellen Pollard, continued to receive his Confederate Pension after his death.

Wiley was a proud Confederate Soldier, and a successful Community Leader! Wiley went home to be with the Lord on 22 Sep 1922. He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery^I9 beside both of his wives, Mary Ann Garrett Pollard and Nancy Ellen Burcham Pollard.

Wiley Baxter Pollard's 2nd Family

This picture was taken about 1892. All of the children are from Wiley B. Pollard's second wife with the exception of Nancy Ellen to the far left. Nancy Ellen's mother was Narcissa Whitfield. Front Row (L-R): Nancy Ellen Pollard Taylor, Bolivar Harrison Pollard, Wiley Baxter Pollard, Thomas Luallin "Lude" Pollard, Mary Garrett Pollard, and Maggie Pollard in her lap. Back Row(L-R): John Levi Pollard, and Osla Lean (Ocie) Pollard

1910 U. S. Census

Wiley's family was improperly indexed in the 1910 Census in Prentiss, Mississippi as 'Collard' rather than Pollard. Two of the children are also not indexed correctly.

W. B. Pollard and Narcissa Whitfield Marriage

Wiley Baxter Pollard Bible Transcript, p1, p2

Wiley Baxter Pollard Bible Transcript, p3, p4

W. B. Pollard, J. P. 1904, $5.80

W. B. Pollard, Pension Application P1

W. B. Pollard, Pension Application P2

W. B. Pollard, Pension Application P3

W B Pollard, July 18, 1845, Sept 22, 1922

John W Pollard Family Bible,
Wiley Pollard was born July 18th A. D. 1845

1. ↑ Pollard, in Prentiss County Historical Association. History of Prentiss County, Mississippi. (Dallas [Texas]: Curtis Media Corporation, c1984)
   F284.

   Wiley Baxter Pollard was born in Cherokee County, Alabama. He was the youngest of twelve children. His parents were John W. Pollard, born January 7, 1801 in Greenville County, South Carolina and Barbara Pollard, born December 1, 1802 in South Carolina.

2. ↑ Willoughby, Daphne. 1870 federal census of Tishomingo County, Mississippi. (Iuka)
   Roll M593_750, p 284B.

   Wiley Pollard, Township 3, Range 9, m, b. about 1845, Alabama, Farmer.
   Wiley Pollard, age 25, b. AL; Narcis Pollard, F, b. Tenn.; Cora A Pollard, age 1, F., b. Miss.

3. ↑ Prentiss, Mississippi, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Roll 663, p 260C.

   W. B. Pollard, Enumeration District 174, b. Alabama, about 1846. Works at Steam Mill.
   W. B. Pollard, M. age 34, Narsissus Pollard, F. age 40; Cora Ann Pollard, F age 11; Minnie B. Pollard F. age 9; Wiley A. Pollard M. age 7; Nancy E. Pollard F. age 4.

4. ↑ Prentiss, Mississippi, United States. 1900 U. S. Census Population Schedule
   Roll T623_826, Page 16B.

   Wiley Pollard, Lacy, Prentiss, b. July 1855, Alabama, Farmer, married 18 years
   Wiley Pollard, M. age 54; Mary Pollard, Aug 1859, age 40; John L Pollard, M b. Feb 1883, age 17; Ocy Pollard, F, b. Sept 1883, age 16 ; Thomas L Pollard, M. b. Feb 1887, age 13; Boliver H Pollard, M. b. March 1889, age 11; Maggie E Pollard, b. Nov 1891, age 8; William L Pollard, M. b Feb 1894, age 6; Baxter M Pollard; M. b Sept 1896, age 3.

5. ↑ Prentiss, Mississippi, United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   T624_757, P12A.

   Family is indexed as "Collard"
   Wiley B Pollard, Lacy, Prentiss, MS, b. about 1846, Alabama, Farmer, married 6 years
   Wiley B. Pollard, M. age 64, Nancy Pollard, F, age 32;, John L Pollard, m. age 27; Thomas L Pollard, M age 23; Maggie Pollard, F, age 18; Carter Pollard , M. age 13 (misread on index for Baxter Pollard); Marens B Pollard, age 6 (misread on index for Marcus B Pollard); Charley L Pollard, M. age 4; Barbara Pollard, age 3.

6. ↑ Prentiss, Mississippi, United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Roll T625_891, P 1B.

   Wiley B Pollard, b. abt 1879, Enumeration District 117, Lambert, Prentiss, Mississippi
   Wiley B Pollard, age 75, M, W, b. Alabama; Ellen Pollard, F, age, 41, b. Mississippi; Marcus Pollard, M, age 16, b Mississippi; Charlie, M. age 14, b. Mississippi; Odell Pollard, M, age 9, b. Mississippi; Julius Pollard, M. age 6, b. Mississippi.

7. ↑ Cherokee, Alabama, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication M432)
   Roll M432_3, P102B.

   John Pollard, b abt 1801, South Carolina, District 27, Mechanic
   John Pollard, M. age 29, b. SC; Barbara Pollard, F., age 47, b. SC; Ludllen Pollard, M, age 26, b SC, Agr; Mary Pollard, F., age 25, b. SC; Nancy Pollard, F., age 20, b. SC; Lattimony Pollard, M. age 19, b. SC, Agr.; John Pollard, M. age 18, b. SC, Agr; Margaret Pollard, F. age 16, b. SC; Barbara Pollard, F. age 14, b. SC; Emily Pollard, F. age 9, b. AL; Wiley Pollard, M. age 5, b. AL.

8. ↑ Pickens, Alabama, United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   M653_20, P933.

   Jno W Polard, b. abt 1801, South Carolina, 1860 Pickens, Alabama, Farmer
   Jno W Polard, M., age 59, b. SC, $250, personal estate; Barbary Polard, F., age 57, b. SC; Emly Polard, F. age, 26, b. AL; Wely B Polard, age 14, b. AL.
   John W Polard on Census as Jno W Polard.

9. ↑ Wiley Baxter Pollard, in Wiley Baxter Pollard Confederate Service.

   Wiley Baxter Pollard, Confederate Service Records, National Archives

10. ↑ John W Pollard, in United States. War Department. Record and Pension Office. Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Alabama. (Washington, District of Columbia, United States)
    1861-1862.
11. ↑ Wiley B Pollard, in United States. War Department. Record and Pension Office. Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Alabama. (Washington, District of Columbia, United States)
    1861-1865.

    Wiley B Pollard, Lattamore M Pollard, Luallin G Pollard, Henry M Stokes and John W Brooks

12. ↑ Wiley B Pollard, in Wright, George B. Forty-First Alabama Regimental Infantry: Confederate States of America. (Birmingham, Alabama, 1980)
    Page 6, Troop Movements, 1862-1865.

    Roster of Company B, lists: John W Brooks, J. R. Pollard, Latimore Pollard, Luellen G Pollard, Wiley B. Pollard, and Henry W. Stokes.

13. ↑ Lowe, Jr., Hayes Alton. First Kentucky Orphan Brigade
    p1, Jan 2, 1863.
14. ↑ Wiley B. Pollard, in Butler, FACHM, Charles R. THE BUTLER FAMILY HISTORY, A narrative study of the antecedents and descendants of Robert Bush Butler and Ossie Leann Pollard Butler: Originally of Booneville, Mississippi. (Fall, 1991)
    pps. 7-8.
15. ↑ Wiley B Pollard, in Civil War Prisoner of War Records: Selected Records of the War Department Relating to Confederate Prisioners of War, . (Provo, UT: National Archives)
    M598_12.
16. ↑ ^16.0 16.1 W. B. Pollard, in Prentiss County Genealogical & Historical Society. Prentiss County Hundred Years of History 1836 - 1936. (Booneville, Mississippi, United States, 2002)
    pp 37-38.

    W. B. Pollard elected J. P. in 1883

17.   Prentiss County Historical and Genealogical Society. Prentiss County Mississippi, History and Families. (Paducah, Kentucky, United States: Turner Publishing Company, August, 1992)
    p179.

    W. B. Pollard

18.   Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society. History Book Committee (Iuka, Mississippi). Tishomingo County, Mississippi : history and families, 1836-1997. (Humboldt, Tennessee: Rose Pub., c1997)
    p. 138.

    W. B. Pollard, Burnsville, No 233 Masonic Lodge

19. ↑ ^19.0 19.1 Find A Grave.

    Pvt Wiley Baxter Pollard

20. ↑ John W Pollard Bible Transcript p1
21. ↑ John W Pollard Bible Transcript p2