The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1900-08-21
(Yorkvillo Enquirer. }

James Alfred lloyt was born DC.
tobcr 1lth, 1887, in Waynesboro,
Virginia. His fathor, j. Perkins
Hoyt, was native Of Now Hamp-
shiro and jewelor by trade, who
had como South for his health, and
Locating in Waynceboro, met and
married Miss Jane johnson, lady
of tho Virginia family of that name.
Colonel j. Z. Hoyt was q highly cul
turea man, and for time was edi
tor of the Laurensville Herald, and
of the Anderson In'ol!igencor during
the absence of his SON in the army.
From Virginia, The Hoyt family
moved to Clarksvil'c, Georgia, whero
they lived for fow years and thence
went to Laurons, S. c., where young
Hoyt grew to manhood. Tho exi-
genc'es of life compelled him to seek
support for himself, and whom only
IA years old he entered the office Of
the Laurensville Herald az IN ap-
prentice, and from that time he's
been engaged in newspaper work,
with the exception nf his army ser
vice. When he was Is years old he
went to Anderson and became fore.
man Of the Andsr@Dn Geznttc In
less than year he NNs editor of that
paper. He continued rs editor and
part proprietor IN. il August, 1860,
when he began the publication of the
Anderson Intelligehcer, Which has
ever since boen one Of the leading
weekly papers Of tho State, except
for temporary suspension while
its editors-James ~. Hoyt and W.
W. Humphreys-were in the army.
In 1860, Hoyt WAS leading
spirit in the organization Of militia
company in Anderson, known as the
"Palmetto Riflemen," and when the
company volunteecd the next year,
no was its orderly sergeant. The
Palmstto Riflemon entered the States
service April II, 1861, in the Fourth
South Carolina regiment, under Col
onel j. B. e. Sloan, and in about
six weeks was mustered into tho
Confederate service. The regiment
was at the front early and partic.
patod in the first battle at Manassas.
Hoyt was with tho regimout in it's
memorable and heroic defence of
the Stone Bridge, and subsequently
was in all tho principal battles Of The
Army of Northern Virginia, except
'Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, in
which his command was not en-
gagged.
At the reorganization in 1862, the
company became part of tho Pal
metto Sharpshooters under the gal.
liant Jenkins, an:l after General
Joseph Walker OF Spartanburg.
During the second year of this SER
vice, Hoyt WAS "promoted to leu
tenancy for gallant and meritorious
conduct on the field" and afterwards
served as adjutant of his regiment.
lie was slightly wounded at VII
Hamsburg, and more seriously at
Frazier's Farm. During this time
he also contracted severe case Of
small pox and came very near dying
In 1854, while returning from sick
furlough to the army, he was placed
in command of an extemporizod ex-
pedition of wounded and convaloscent
soldiers sent out from Danville to
check Wilson's Federal cavalry at
Staunton river bridge, which was an
important point in lees limo of COM
.munication with his bass of sup
plies at Danville. The fight was q
desperate ono IN which ElOyt shared
the responsibility of command with
Captain Riddick and Colonel Cole
man. Although Tho Federals had q
vastly superior force, tho small and
unorganized band Of Confederatos
defended the bridge until General
W. Fl. F. Lees cavalry came up.
Early in the fight, Hoyt was badly
wounded and disabled; but he re-
fused to leave the scone of action and
remained in command of his do.
tachment until tho end. His cool.
ness under fire was exhibited by the