Wiley Baxter Pollard was born in Cherokee County, Alabama July 18, 1845. 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 B. Pollard, born August 28, 1770 in Virginia and Mary Pollard, born about 1777.

Wiley Baxter Pollard's father moved the family 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. The family moved on to Pickens County, Alabama during the 1850's.

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. Since they all enlisted together, one of his brothers may have released him. Wiley's father, John W Pollard enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Alabama Light Artillery as a Private at age 61 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.

According to his Confederate War Record on file in the National Archives (Confederate Archives Roll #394), W.B. Pollard was 5' 9" tall with blue eyes and dark brown hair. Wiley enlisted at Fayette Alabama on March 22, 1862 in Company B, 41st Alabama Regiment of Hanson's Brigade of the Alabama Infantry. Wiley served with three other brothers (Latimore, Luallen, and John R Pollard) in the same Alabama unit. Lattimore M Pollard enlisted the same day and they served together until Wiley was wounded at Stone's River. 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 Pollard was later detailed to Mississippi as a teamster for a supply train. Luallen G Pollard enlisted several days after Wiley, on March 30, 1862, and also served in the same unit. Records show Luallen 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.

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 River fought between December 31, 1862 and January 2, 1863.

"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."

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

"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. as a prisoner of war.

A careful review of his military 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 R 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 C Butler, 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.

Wiley's records show he was sent 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, Maryland, 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, Latimore M Pollard was also there and took his Oath the same day.

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 - he walked. It is not known how long it took for all of them to get back home.

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 so was familiar with the Tishomingo area. When the war broke out, he had another brother, Casper Parham Pollard, who took his family of six children and pregnant wife, and fled to North West Mississippi to protect his family. Wiley's 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 Appomattox, 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 Whitfield's.

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 on 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.

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. His re-application on 22 Aug 1916 contains additional information regarding his Confederate Service and war injuries. Nancy Ellen Pollard, his third wife, continued to receive his Confederate Pension after his death.

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

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.

A family 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.

Wiley, as a Justice of the Peace for Prentiss County, performed the marriage of his daughter-in-law's parents, Autie Carpenter and Nora Jones, on 4 Jan 1904. In 1904, in the Chancery Court Minutes, Wiley received $5.80 pay for his Justice of Peace duties. 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."

Wiley, left alone with many young children, marries for the third time, 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. All but one, Barbara Louvader, grow to adulthood. Barbara Louvader died turning somersaults off of a wagon as a young child.

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 beside both of his wives, Mary Ann Garrett Pollard and Nancy Ellen Burcham Pollard.

Wiley's Military Records:
U S Civil War, 41st Alabama Infantry, Co B, enlisted at age of 16. Wiley served in the Civil War as a private and was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro in Tennessee. He enlisted on March 22, 1861 in Pickens Co, Alabama at age of 17. He was captured as a Prisoner of War Jan. 5, 1863 at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was sent to the Episcopal Church hospital in Williamsburg Virginia. He was released at City Point, Virginia 13 Apr 1865. He took the Oath of Allegiance 16 Jun 1865. [Thank you to Charles R Butler for submitting this story and the Military research on Wiley Baxter Pollard.]

Wiley's other brothers and brother-in-law as well as his father enlisted and served together.
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: Latimore Pollard - served entire war and returned home with Wiley.
Brother: Luallen 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 Murfreesboro. 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.

41st Alabama Infantry Regiment:

41st Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in May 1862. Members of the unit were raised in the counties of Pickens, Blount, Tuscaloosa, Perry, Greene, Washington and Fayette.

After serving in the Department of East Tennessee, the regiment was attached to Hanson's, Helm's and J. H. Lewis' Brigade. It fought at Murfreesboro, was active in the operations around Vicksburg and Jackson, and participated in the Battle of Chickamauga. Transferred to Genera Gracie's Brigade, it saw action in the Knoxville Campaign, then during the spring of 1864 moved to Virginia. Here the unit was involved in the engagement at Drewry's Bluff, the Petersburg siege north of the James River, and the Appomattox Campaign.

The 41st was organized with 1,250 men, reported 198 casualties at Murfreesboro, and lost forty-nine percent of the 325 at Chickamauga. Many were disabled at Sayler's Creek, and it surrendered with 14 officers and 84 men. Its commanders were Colonels Martin L. Stansel and Henry Talbird; Lieutenant Colonels Porter King, James T. Murfee, and Theodore G. Trimmier; and Majors Lemuel T. Hudgins, John M. Jeffries, and Jesse G. Nash. Reference: Units of the Confederate Army, by Joseph H. Crute, Jr.