Harris-Clarke County GaArchives Biographies.....Holsey, Colonel Hopkins August 25 1779 - March 31 1859 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carla Miles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002476 May 31, 2004, 4:25 pm Author: Unknown - article taken from The Butler Herald, Nov. 11, 1890 issue The Butler Herald Tuesday, November 11, 1890 Page Two THE TUGALO TRAGEDY Col. Hopkins Holsey, Congressman and Journalist SKETCH OF THE GREAT MAN – HIS LIFE AND WORK IN WASHINGTON – FARMER, LAWYER AND EDITOR – HIS PART IN THE TUGALO TRAGEDY – A STRONG UNIONIST, WIELDING A MIGHTY INFLUENCE WITH HIS PEN – THE SOUTHERN BANNER – OTHER INTERESTING Butler, Ga., Oct. 30 – One mile north of Butler, on a hillside overshadowing a bold spring of crystal water, lies molding away the remains of Col. Hopkins Holsey, a man once remarkable in Georgia. He was laid away to rest in that now lonely spot, April 1, 1859. He was a lawyer of eminence in his day, and ranked with the foremost as democratic leader in state and national councils. He was born near Lynchburg, Va., Aug. 25, 1779. He was educated at the University of Virginia and graduated later on at the celebrated law school of Litchfield, Conn. He removed to Jones County, Georgia, in 1825, and married Miss Elizabeth Mitchell, who was regarded by many as the most beautiful woman in the state. He represented Hancock County several years in the legislature, which, in that day, was a distinguished honor. Col. Holsey was a strong man, a Jeffersonian democrat, unflinchingly opposed to federal encroachments, and strongly favored states rights. He was just such a man as will rise anywhere he is put. Every element of greatness he possessed. After serving several successive terms in the Georgia legislature, he was elected in 1834 to congress. He was then a resident of Harris County. Serving his term out he was reelected. In those days members of congress found it somewhat difficult to get to Washington. HOW THEY GOT TO CONGRESS They had to use private conveyance, and many of the greatest senators rode back from distant states across the country to the national capital. Col. Holsey made these trips through the country in a carriage, his wife accompanying him occasionally. During one of these trips his only son, Col. Julius H. H. Holsey, of Corsicana, Texas, was born near Charlotte, N.C. Col. Holsey was fast becoming one of the leaders in congress when his wife died. He received the intelligence that she was ill while in Washington, and he set out to come to home to her but he arrived several days after she had died. This precipitated a long melancholy grief, from which he did not recover in many years. He left Washington then and retired from politics. He purchased a farm near Athens, where he lived a humble life, with no companion except his infant son. While on his farm Col. Holsey began to write, and he kept it up until some years later, when he bought of Albion Chase the Southern Banner. The Banner was published in Athens, and was one of the leading democratic journals of the State. MASTERPIECES His editorial were regarded as masterpieces. He advocated the Missouri compromise, the annexation of Texas and the strict enforcement of the fugitive slave law. In 1850 South Carolina, followed her old policy of nullification, threatened secession and besought Georgia to unite with her. The question of union and disunion became the paramount issues of the day in the State. Col. Holsey bitterly opposed secession and the Banner became the leading exponent of the union cause in the Sixth congressional district, if not in the state. It was during this excitement that the celebrated “Tugalo Tragedy,” giving rise to such widespread comment, was enacted. The circumstances of the tragedy are these: About 4 o’clock one afternoon a well dressed middle woman of middle age entered the Banner office and, finding the editor’s sanctum vacant, addressed herself to some of the printers, busy at their cases. She asked to see the “head man” and Foreman Thos. Reynolds, who was sitting upon a high stool in another part of the room, was pointed out to her. She approached him and asked him several questions about the type, the press, etc. Reynolds continued to work, expecting her to make her wants known. She maintained a silence a few moments and kept her eyes fastened on the foreman. Suddenly the printers were startled to see a blinding flash and a report. “I’M SHOT,” HE CRIED. It was a pistol shot and Reynolds was wounded. He cried out, “I’m shot,” and ran by the woman on the street. His clothing was on fire and the blood was streaming from his arm and side. The ball had struck the arm, penetrating it and passing into the body. The other printers hastily retreated to the street, followed by the strange woman. She held the smoking weapon in her hand, and, reaching the street, she drew another revolver and defied arrest. The supposition was that she was insane, and the adjacent street was quickly depopulated. Men peeped out from behind half closed doors at the woman. Capt. Dorsey, the marshal, soon appeared upon the scene, and daring to approach her openly, prevailed upon Mr. Sidney ---ghs, a fearless citizen of (article torn) to engage the woman (article torn) as he peeped from (article torn) ---lf- closed door. As the (article torn) her and seizing her arms, held her secure. Even then, she attempted to cut and shoot the officer. She was disarmed and taken to the town hall to be tried before Mayor Cincinnatus Peoples. On the way down crowds of curious people followed the officer to get a glimpse of the woman. WRONG MAN SHOT Col. Holsey, who was at home all the while, heard of the disturbance and he started down town. On the way he met the crowd, and upon inquiry learned that his foreman was wounded. She asked Col. Holsey what his name was, and when he told her she started back in a fright and shrieked: “I have shot the wrong man,” and seemed about to swoon. Regaining herself, she told Col. Holsey that he had slandered her in his paper, “and,” said she, “you may thank your stars you were not in your office when I called.” Col. Holsey told her he had never seen or heard of her before. The mayor committed her to jail upon a charge of assault with intent to murder. She said that her name was Jane Young, and that she lived on the Tugalo river, in South Carolina, whence came the name “Tugalo Tragedy.” The newspapers generally denounced the affair as an attempt to assassinate Col. Holsey, carrying with it a strong suspicion that the disunionists of South Carolina instigated it for political purposes. Col. Holsey could attribute it to no other cause, and so openly avowed in his paper. EDITORIAL OUT OF PLACE In a few days afterward there appeared in the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel, edited by Wm. H. Smythe, an able writer and rather noted duelist, an editorial denominating the affair the simple vagary of a crazy woman; making fun of Col. Holsey’s fears and suspicion, and saying that a farce would be inaugurated on the stage ridiculing his course and assertions. An editorial reply followed in the Banner at once denouncing the writer of the article as infamous and no better than the assassin and her coadjutors. Col. Holsey naturally expected a challenge from Col. Smythe, which he was ready to accept, but instead, Col. Smythe replied through the columns of his own paper that he was not the author of the article nor had he authorized it; but that it was written by a man named White temporarily in charge. Col. Smythe disavowed the sentiments therein expressed. Jane Young was tried and convicted of assault with intent to murder and was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary, which time she served out. THE TUGALO TICKET In 1852 Col. Holsey was induced to run for congress by the union democrats against the disunion wing and the Whigs. This ticket was called the “Tugalo ticket”, and Col. Holsey was defeated by William Morton. The following year he disposed of the Banner to J.A. Sledge with the purpose of retiring from politics, on account of a division in the party. He determined to return to the practice of law, and accordingly two years later he formed a partnership in Butler with his brother-in-law, Col. Daniel W. Miller. Here this great man spent the evening of his life. It was a giant’s intellect come here to rest from toils of a busy life. Col. Holsey’s health, which had always been good, began to decline, and dropsical symptoms developed. This disease increased until March 31, 1859, he fell asleep in death sitting in his chair. And here he quietly sleeps on the lonely hillside near the famous spring of cool water with which he has so often slaked his thirst and refreshed himself in bath. He had selected the spot himself “preferring,” he said, “to rest among the natural trees and flowers where the mocking birds should be undisturbed in their melodies over his grave than in crowded cemeteries embellished by the hands of men.” Sic transit Gloria mundi Savannah News Z.D.R. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 9.5 Kb