The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-21
HOYLE OF ALABAMA
WILL COMMAND FIELD ARTIL-
 LERY AT FIT. MEYER.
Excellent Record of Southerner who Went to West Point During
 Past War Prejudices.


 Washington. Aug. 2O-(special. .)-Major Eli D. Hoyle. of the Artillery Corps, an Alabama graduate of West Point and a native of. Georgia, has been ordered to Fort Myer, Va, to command the field artillery battalion at that post. which is across the Potomac in view of Washing ton and adjoining the old Lee estate, now Arlington National Cemetery.
 Major Hoyle entered the milatary aca- demy at West Point in 1871, when South erners, 1t being but a few years after the Civil War, were very few at the national war college. Hazing was in full sway at the academy at that time and the few Southerners had a pretty tough time of it. It took exceptional grit for a Southern youth to win his way when the war passions were still burning. Hoyle caught his share, but resented indignities so fercely that one after another a dozen of the best fighters of the corps were pitted against him. The plucky and brawny youth cleaned out every one who tackled him. Naturally he went through the academy graduting with honor, was one of the captains of the corps of cadets and by his own courage and prowess re- established at the academy the prestige of the Southern element in the corps. He had brother, George 8. Hoyle, appoint Cu 0cOEBldf WHO Hdu pretty inuCn the same experience and who is now a retired officer with the rank of major, having left the army in 1901 on aaccount of disabilities incurred in the service.
 Major Eli D. Hoyle was, at the time of the beginning of the war with Spain, stationed at Fort Schuyler, N. Y., com manding a company, of heavy artillery. He was eager to go to the front and was recommended for a more important com mand and better opportunity by Senator Morgan and others of the Alabama dele- gation in Congress. But, unfortunately for his aspirations, Hoyle was not one of the army pets who enjoyed the favor of the adjutant general, and besides he had been also warmly recommended by General Miles. It will be remembered that about that time the Mckinley admin istration was engaged in trying to make a monkey of the commanding general and would not let him go where his rank and record entitled him to go. The good words from Miles were too much for Hoyle The anti-Miles faction, which was in complete control. offered Captain Hoyle the least soldierly position com patible with his rank, that of captain and oommissary of subsistence. As Hoyle wanted to fight the enemy instead of feed ing soldiers, he declined the military
 
 to his company of heavy artillery in which his chances for promotion were at a minimum. Major Hoyle is a graduate of the artillery school and one of the most gallant and accomplished officers of the army.
 First Lieutenant Levert Coleman of the Artillery Corps, another Alabama West Pointer of the Artillery Corps. has been ordered to the Philippines. Lieutenant Coleman will sail from San Francisco for Manila September 30 He is a son of Captain Daniel Coleman of Huntsville, Ala, and recently married Miss Mamie Fletcher, daughter of Hon. A. s. Fletcher of Huntsville. He has for some months been stationed at Fort Monroe, Va, where he has been taking a course of special study in ballistics.
 Major Adam Slater, Artillery Corps, has been relieved from duty at Fort Monroe. Va, and ordered to duty at Fort Morgan, Ala.
 Major Harry R. Anderson. Artillery Corps, goes from Fort Ethan Allen. Vt, to Fort Screven, Ga, to command the artillery district of Savannah.