Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-07-25


man, and for time was editor fthe Lau-
rensville Herald, and of the Anderson
Intelligencer during the absence Of his
son in the army.
From Virginia, the Hoyt family moved
to Clarksville, Georgia, where they lived
for few years and thence went to Lau-
rens, S. c., where young Hoyt grew to
manhood. The exigencies of life COM
PEELED him to seek support for himself,
and when only IA years old he entered the
Office of the Laurensville Herald as an
apprentice, and from that time has been
engaged in newspaper work, with the
exception of his army service. When he
was 1S years old he went to Anderson and
became foreman of the Anderson Gazette.
In less than year he was editor OF that
paper. He continued as editor and part
proprietor until August, 1850, when he
began the publication of the Anderson
Intelligencer, which has ever since been
one of the leading weekly papers of the
state, except for temporary suspension
while its editors-James A. Hoyt and w.
w. Humphreys-were in the army.
In 1860, Hoyt was leading spirit in the
organization of a militia company in An
derson, known as the palmetto Rifle
men," and when the company volun-
teered the next year, he was its orderly
sergeant. The Palmetto Riflemen entered
the states service April IA, 1851, in the
Fourth South Carolina regiment, under
Colonel j. B. E. Sloan, and in about six
weeks was mustered into tie Confederate
service. The regiment was 1T the front
early and participated in the first battle
at Manassas. Hoyt was with the regi-
ment in its memorable and heroic defense
of the Stone Bridge, and subsequently
was in all the principal battles of the
Army of Northern Virginia, except Chan
cellorsville and Gettysburg, in which his
command was not engaged.
At the reorganization in 1862, the COM
pany became part ofthe Palmetto Sharp
shooters under the gallant Jenkins, and
after General Jenkins's promotion, the
commander was Colonel Joseph Walker,
of Spartanburg. During the second year
of this service, Hoyt was "promoted to
lieutenantcy for gallant and meritorious
conduct on the field" and afterwards
served as adjutant of bis regiment. He
was slightly wounded at Williamsburg,
and more seriously at Frazier's Farm.
During this time he also contracted a
severe case of small pox and came very
near dying. In 1864, while returning from
a sick furlough to the army, he was placed
in command Of an extemporized expedi-
ton Of wounded and convalescent soldiers
sent out from Danville to check Wilson's
Federal cavalry at Staunton river bridge,
which was an important point in Lees
line of communication with his base of
supplies at Danvile. The fight was
desperate one in which Hoyt shared the
responsibility of command with Cap
tain Riddick and Colonel Coleman. AL
though the Federals had vastly superior
force, the small and unorganized band of
Confederates defended the bridge until
General w. H. f. Lees cavalry came up.
Early in the fight, Hoyt was badly
wounded and disabled but he refused to
leave the scene Of action and remained in
command of his detachment until the
the end. His GOODNESS under fire was ex-
hibited by the fact that after he was
disabled, in pain and bleeding, he calmly
smoked his pipe, which he now retains as
memento OF the day, having long since
given up the habit of smoking.
Colonel Hoyt's wound was in his left
leg, the small bone being so badly shat
tered that it was resected, three inches
being taken out. From this wound he
still suffers almost constantly, and his con-
troll of the left foot being imperfect, he
now uses crutch.
When the surrender came, Hoyt was in
Anderson recuperating, and like so many