The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-03-19
WAR STORIES.
Col. FEoyt Speaks to Veterans Sons.
Columbia State.

Hartsville, March 8.-Col. James
A. Hoyt, Of Grcenville, the distin
guished veteran, delivered an address
last night before the j. l.. Coker
Camp, Sons of Veterans. In refer
ence to the losses in the war some
striking facts were brought out, that
have never been put together before.
The information will probably be
interesting to veterans as we'll as
their sons. Col. Hoyt spoke as fol-
lows:
The Southern Confedcracy was com
posed Of eleven States, which in 1860
had military population of l ,O64, 1873
with which to confront the 4 ,559, ,872
of the same class in the other States
and Territories. During the next
four years the military population in
the South was increased over 200 900
from those reaching their 18th year,
and in other States and territories the
military population was increased
over 100000 from the same source.
These who were exempt on account Of
physical inGrmities or otherwise, con-
stitute in nearly every country one
9Th of the military population, and
official figures show that 25 per cent Of
the persons examined in 1896 by
the United States authorities were re-
jected as unfit for military duty. The
Confederate recruiting officers did not
insist upon any high standard Of ply
steal requirements, as the needs of the
army were too pressing, and they ac-
cepted all recruits and conscripts ex-
c"pt such as were manifestly incapac-
ated for military service. The ag-
gregate enrolment Of the Confederate
armies during the whole war, accord
ing to an estimate in the 'Southern
Historical Society papers, which was
approved by Adjutant General Samuel
Cooper, numbered over 600, 900 effec-
tive men, Of whom not over 400,O 900
were enrolled at any one time. The
total enlistments in the Federal armies
were equal to 1895, 1853 men recruited
for three years service.
These figures substantially maintain
the ratio Of the military population as
ascertained by the census in 1860, and
as to the Federal armies they are
based upon the statistics Of the war
department. in Washington. The Off
cial rosters Of the Confederate armies
at various dates during the war chow
the following number Of organizations
that were in almost continuous service
in the field: 529 regiments and IS
battalions Of infantry; 127 regiments
and AZ battalions Of cavalry, regi-
ments and 6 battalions Of heavy artil-
lery and 261 batteries Of light artil-
lery. The aggregate is equivalent to
764 regiments Of ten companies each.
Only few new regiments were organ
ized after 1862, and in most cases
they were consultations Of previous
organizations. The recruits and
and conscripts were assigned to the old
regiments TO keep up an effective
strength.
The total loss of the Confederate
armies in killed and mortally wounded
will never be definitely known, and can
only be stated in round numbers. A
summary Of the casualties in each
battle and minor engagement, using
official reports only, and in their ab-
sence the estimates from Confederate
sources, indicates that $4,000 men
were killed and mortally wounded
on the Confederate side during the
war.
In the report made by Gen. James
B. Fry for 1866, there is tabula-
tion Of Confederate losses as compiled
from the muster rolls on file in the
bureau of Confederate archieves at
Washington. The returns are incom-
plete, and nearly all the Alabama
rolls are missing. The figures are
worth noting however, as they show
that at least "a, ,524 were killed or died
of wounds, and that 59,2O7 died of
disease. Without meaning to make
any invidious comparison, the tabula-
tion Of General Fry's report shows that
out Of the 1924 who were killed or
died of wounds, North Carolina and
South Carolina Observation-Disclosures
59h, or more than 43 per cent of the
Total loss. The highest percentage of
loss Of killed and mortally wounded,
rated according to the military popu-
laS: On in 1860, belongs to South Caro-
lima, and is most complete vindica-
ton Of her action in leading the Sc