The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-02-24
From the Abbeville Medium.
PEN PICTURES OF THE PRESS.
JAMES A. HOYT.

RreSS ASSOCIATION laSt May, we conceived
the idea of presenting to the reading pub
lie a series of biographical sketches of
some of the more prominent and impor-
tant members of that dignifed and dis
body. In this way something
of the character and attainments, the
"life and times" of the South Carolina
Press may be made known, and at least
the site selected upon which to erect o
more substantial historical fabric than
can be built by the aspiring editor of a
country newspaper.
First on the list, is the name of James
A. Hoyt, the distinguished President of
the Association.
Virginia claims the honor of his birth,
as she does that of Washington, the first
President of the American Republic, he
having first seen the light at Waynesboro'
in that State on the eleventh day of Oc-
tober in the year of Grace 1887, and is
now in the thirty-ninth year of his age.
When James was quite young his father
removed to Georgia and located at Clarks-
vile, where he lived for few years, and
the early training that the subject of this
sketch there received may in some meas
ure account for his present abiding faith
in the principles of Jefferson, the father
of democracy.
After living for few years in Georgia
the elder Hoyt again removed, this time
to Laurens G. H., South Carolina, where
James grew to manhood and learned the
printing business in the Office of the Lau-
rensville. Herald. In 1856, in the nine
teenth year of his age, Mr.. Hoyt removed
to Anderson G. H., in which place he has
ever since resided. On removing to An
derson he took charge of the Anderson
Gasette as foreman, and so diligent and
devoted was he to every detail of the
business that in less than one year from
the time he took charge of the paper he
became its editor, and as editor and part
proprietor retained his connection with
it until May, 1860, when he sold his in
terest in the Gazette, and a month after
wards issued the prospectus Of the An
derson hateligencer, which made its first
issue on August IA, 1860, and with the
exception of a forced suspension during
the war, has ever since continued to make
its weekly visits to large and intelligent
mass of readers. Mr.. Royt has occupied
the chief editors chair of this paper since
its first publication, and has perhaps
achieved greater and more lasting success
than most men who have yentured upon
the treacherous sea ofjournalism.
+. Outside his legitimate work as news
paper editor, Mr.. Hoyt has been lead
Ing man in almost every important social
and political movement in his section.
He rendered valuable assistance in the
organization and equipment Of the opal
metto Rihemen" in 1860, and was one of
the most trustworthy members of that
command. On April IA, 1861, he enter
ed the service of the State in the famous
4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers,
under command of the gallant Colonel j.
B. E. Sloan, now of Charleston. In June,
1861, he was mustered into the Confede-
rate service and went Immediately there
after to Virginia where he participated in
the first battle of Manassas, and was en-
gagged with the Fourth in its memorable
and heroic defence of the old Stone
Bridge. After this baptism with fire MIR.
Hoyt participated in all the principal
battles fought by the Army of Northern
Virginia, with the exception of Chancel-
'lorsville and Gettysburg in which his
command was not engaged.
At the re-enlistment in. 1862 the COM
pany with which Hoyt went out was re-
organized and became part of the Pal
metto Sharpshooters, then commanded by
the gallant and lameuted jenkins, who
afterwards reached the position of Briga-
der General and was killed at the Viii.
derness. After jenkins promotion the
Sharpshootcrs were under the command
Of Colonel Joseph Walker, of Spartan
burg. During the same year, after this
change in the command of his company,
Mr.. Hoyt was promoted to lieutenancy
for gallant and meritorious conduct on the
field, and afterwards made Adjutant oil
the Regiment, which position he held for
a short time, then rejoined his company
He was slightly wounded at Williams.
burg and at Frazier's Farm in 1862,
which forced him to absent himself from
the army until June, 1864, when he re.
turned and was placed in command Of
the Confederate troops at Danyille, Vir-
ginia, and took up the line of march for
the Staunton River Bridge, on the Rich
mond and Danville railroad, to repel the
raid on tn: point which was imminently
threatened by General Wilson of the
Federal army. This shows the conf.
dence reposed in Colonel Hoyt by his SUI
periors in command. This was the only
remaining line of communication be-
tween General Lees army and the South.
ern States, and it was matter of life and
death that the bridge should be saved
All the supplies for Lees army-yictual-
ling, clothing and ammunition, could
only be transported over this one line Of
railroad and the destruction of the bridge
would have materially affected the safety,
diminished the success and demoralized
the army. Wilson's raiders were rapidly
marching upon the bridge which was de-
Tended by militia captain in command
of two or three hundred raw recruits.
This captains plan of defence was from
the south side but to this Colonel Hoyt
objected, as the way would be left entire
ly open on the north from which direc-
ton the enemy was advancing. Hoyts
command was mixed crowd, composed
of infantry, cavalry and artillerymen,
who, like their officer, were returning to
the army after sick and wounded fur
loughs. These nondescripts were armed
and equipped like infantry and were as
brave as the braYest-eager to meet the
enemy and willing to die in their tracks:
They numbered between seyenty-hve and
a hundred men which force was supple
mented by a company under Captain
Riddick, who served as escort to body
of Federal prisoners south, and compa..
ny of militia, mere boys, under Colonel
Coleman, of North Carolina, who was abb
sent from his regular command on a
wounded furlough-the entire Confede-
rate force numbering not more than three
hundred, all told. Coleman and Hoyt
disagreed with the militia captain as to
the best plan of defence and concluded
to make stand on the north side of the
river They threw up breastworks, re-
the country for several miles