The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-07-04
g War Stony.
>S7AUNTON RIVER BRIDGE
Narrative of the Battle on the
18TH of June, 1864.
by JAMES A. HOYT, co. c., p. S. s.

y
was an impromptu battle at Stauhto
River Bridge, on the Richmond an
Dnnyille Railroad. This was the onl
line of railway then open for tn
trnnsportation of soldiers and supple
10 Lees army, which was concentrate
q. oround Richmond and Petersburg
The Federal cavalry had been radin
along the railroads between Whining
ton and Weldon: n. c., and commune
cation had been stopped bctwtc
Weldon and Petersburg, Va Th
outlook was quite serious and gloomy
as the main hone and dependence fo
the continuance of the struggle on th
part OF the Confedcratcs lay in the
pres ervation of this single line of rail
way intact. The destruction of a,
important bridge at such iunc;ure
would have seriously embarrassed the
situation Of Lee and his gallant hosts,
who Wcro confronting the enemy
around Petersburg AMI maintaining
the line of defence ut the capital of
the Confcdcracy. The demolition of
the railroad bridge over Staunton
River would mean an easy and un.
0bstructcd march, 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 Danvil!c was the cntrepot
tor nrmy supplies, and there were
immense Stores being gathered there at
this very time. a rcI,ulsc of tho
enemy at StauntCn Ri,er meant the
preservation OF Danvllle and it's
valuable interests. This would keen
Lee and his army in security and
rcpose SO far as their base Of supplies
was concerned.
General Sheridan had begun the
execution of a 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 Gordonsvillc, Charlu.tes-
vile and lSnchburg, so as to threaten
Lee from the rear. This inn. osng
piece Of strategy was fuiled by the
quick movements and vigorous action
of General Hampton, VIII, was placed
in command of the cavalry after the
death of Stuart, He had defeated
Sheridan in the brllllant engagement
ut Trrvilian's Station on the 18th OF
June, whi.h gave Il decisive check to
the Federal commander. a cavalry
expedition under Generals Wilson and
KautZ was then organized by the
Federal commander to operate against
the railroads south of the AppOmattox,
which forccSc out nn the evening of the
2lst of June. l'i,zhugh Lees division
Of cavalry went in pursuit of the
enemy and came up with Wilson near
Dinwiddie &. H., where Lee was re-
pulsed, but he struck Wilson the next
day near Nottaway &. H., and gained
such victory over him that Wilson
withdrew from his front, forming
junction with Kaltz on the Richmond
and Danvillc Railroad From this
point Of junction, the Fcdcrals fastened
towards the bridge over Staunton
River, which was guarded bya 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 IN
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 am led to undertake it now
'py a curious coincidence. A friend of
mine several months ago was rumag-
ing among some old newspapers in a
vacant warehouse in West Grccnvillc,
and he came across a file of "Thc
Daily Southern Guardian,' published
in Columbia, :. c., by the lamcDtcd
Chas p. Pelham. lie discovered the
fact that one of the copies contained
Il letter written by me from the hos
pital at Danvile, Va, on the 4th Of
July, 1864, which made brief state
mcnt of the facts connected with the
fight on the 25th Of June at Stlunt0n
River, and TO which was appended a
partial list of the men under my com
nnnd in that engagement. In justice
to the gallant soldiers who made the
fight, determined to put together the
iac,s 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 appear more or less cgotistical in
giving this account, for it was my
fortune TO 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 ON
account of general debility, being il;
exceedingly poor health. | was as
signed to the Georgia division of tho
hospital with number of other OF
. fccrs from South Carolina, rs ON
division was filed with wounded of
liccrs and men from lIagood's brigade
1t so happened that my cousin, DIR
, W. ID. lloyt, now Of Rome, Ga, wa
he surgeon in charge of the division
ami in week or ten days he directc'
me to- 20 with a sick and w"unde
8 detachment he was sending to In
hospital i'm Columbia, S. G..
| was not reluctant to obey tn
order, and on tcachng Columbia WE