The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-02
g agar Story.
SYAUNTON RIVER BRIDGE
Narrative of the Battle on the
18th of June, 1864.
BY JAMES A. Hoyr, co. G., p. S. s.

was an impromptu battle az Staunto
River Bridge, on the Richmond an
Danville Railroad. This was the onl
line of railway then open for tn
transportation of soldiers and supple
10 Lees army, which was concentrate,
around Richmond and Petersburg
The Federal cavalry had been radin!
along the railroads between Whining
ton and Weldon. n. c., and communi
cation had been stopped betw, Ell
Weldon and Petersburg, Va The
outlook was quite serious and gloomy
as the main hone and dependence fol
the continuance of the struggle on the
part Of the Confederates lay in the
pres ervation of This single line of rail
way intact. The destruction of an
important bridge at such junc,ure
would have seriously embarrassed the
situation of Lee and his gallant hosts,
who werc confronting the enemy
around Petersburg AMI maintaining
the line Of defence at the capital of
the Confederacy. The demolition of
the railroad bridge over Staunlon
River would mean an easy and un-
obstructcd marcl, of the enemy on to
Danville, where the destruction OF an
other important bridge over the Dan
River would surely follow. Besides,
The town of Danville was the entrepot
for army supplies, and there we're
immense stores being gathere,l there at
this very time. A rcuulsc of tho
enemy at StauntCu Ri, er meant the
preservation Of Danvllle and its
valuable Interests. This would keen
Lee and his army in security snd
rcpose so far as their base of supplies
was concerned.
General Sheridan had begun the
execution of grand campaign with
his strong force of 'avalry. He had
been engaged for several weeks in an
expedition which had for its object the
destruction of Gordonsville, Charlutes-
Vile and Lynchburg, so as to threaten
Lee from the rear. This inn .osing
piece of strategy was fOiled by the
quick movements and vigorous action
of General Hampton, who was placed
in command of the cavalry after the
death of Stuart. He had defeated
Sheridan in the brilliant engagement
at Trevilian's Station on the l1th Of
June, which gave II decisive check to
the Federal commander. A cavalry
expedition under Generals Wilson and
Kautz was then organized by the
Federal commander 10 operate against
the railroads south of the AppomattoX,
which force set out on the evening of the
2lst of June. Fitzhugh Lees division
enemy and came up with Wilson near
Din%iddie L. H., where Lee was re-
pulsed, but he struck Wilson the next
day near iNottaway &. H., and gained
such victory over him that Wilson
withdrew from his front, forming n
junction with Kaitz on the Richmond
and Danville Railroad. From this
point OF juncti IN, the Federals fastened
towards tho bridge over Stanton
River, which was guarded by a bat
talon of home guards under the COM
mand of Capt. b. l.. Farinholt, of the
Virginia reserve militia.
This much hy way of preface to i'm
account of the battle at Staunton
River. Let me further premise by
saying that so far as my knowledge
goes no detailed statement of this
engagement has ever been written,
and that l am led to undertake it now
by curious coincidence. A friend of
mine several months ago was rumag-
ing among some old newspapers in
vacant warehouse in West Grcenville,
and he came across file of "The
Dnily Southern Guardian" published
in Columbia, $. c., by the lameDted
Chas. u. Pelham. He discovered the
fact that one of the copies contained
a letter written by me from tho hos
pital at Danville, Va, on the 4lh of
July, 1864, which made Grief State
mcnt of The facts connected with the
fight on the 18th OF June at Staunton
River, and to which was appended n
partial list of the men under my COM
mand in that engagement. In justice
to the gallant soldiers who made the
fight, / determined to put together the
facts and incidents which illustrated
their personal daring and fidelity to
the Lost Cause under most trying
circumstances, and in the face of fear.
full odds. / have chosen The 3lst
anniversary of the fight TO jOt down
these memories, and will be compelled
to appea. more or less egotistical in
giving this account, for it was my
fortune 10 be second in command
where the fighting took place.
After The battles of the Wilderness
and Spottsylvania, / was sent to the
jackson Hospital in Richmond OIL
account of general debility, being ii
exceedingly poor health. l was as
signed to the Georgia division of th'
hospital with number of other OF
ficers from South Carolina, rs ou
division was filled with wounded OF
ficers and men from Hagood's brigade
1t 40 happened that my cousin, Dr.
w. ID. Hoyt, now of Rome, Ca, wa
the surgeon in charge of the division
and in !, week or ten days he directe
me 10 90 with a sick and wounde
detachment he was sending to tn
hospital in Columbia, S. q.
was not reluctant to obey tn
orde., and on teaching Columbia wa
not long in procuring II permit to Wis
INV fnthcr's home in Laurens, where
recruited under the tender care of m
mother for two weeks, gaining agoo
deal of strength in that time. Aft
the expiration of my hospital furlougl
ted TO the surgeon in charge
Columbia, and requested to be di
l