Lt. Col. Axalla John Hoole: The noblest of soldiers

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Lt. Col. Axalla John Hoole

The Noblest of Soldiers

Axalla John Hoole was born on Oct. 12th, 1822 near the Darlington Courthouse. He was the third child of James Commander and Elizabeth Stanley Hoole. The Hoole clan was of English descent, with Axalla's grandfather settling in Georgetown, SC after the Revolutionary War. James Hoole died when Axalla was very young. His mother, very much a strong-willed Southern lady, raised all her children to be productive members of the community with impeccable characters. Zell, as Axalla was known to family and friends, grew up in a family with solid values, in which education was one of the prevailing concerns.

Zell first attended Springville Academy until adolescence, when he transferred to St. John�s Academy for further schooling. He was described as intelligent, hard-working, and well-mannered. He formed life-long friendships there with the sons and daughters of many prominent Darlington families�Dargan, Brunson, Law, McIver, Wilds�to name a few. He graduated in 1840 and immediately took a position as a teacher at St. John�s. Like many young Southern gentlemen, Hoole took an interest in a variety of activities such as farming, carpentry, politics, civic organizations, literature, and the state militia. In 1842, Hoole joined a local company called the Darlington Riflemen, the first year he was legally able to do so. Since their establishment during the Nullification crisis of the 1830s, the Riflemen had spurred Hoole�s sense of duty as they drilled on the Academy Green at his school. He was elected 1st Lt. in 1845.

As a teacher, Hoole became well-read in politics and economics. He developed into a strong supporter of state�s rights and an opponent of the Whig platform. Socially, Hoole�s contemporaries found him gentlemanly, kind, helpful to a fault, and a man of intense personal and moral convictions. Much like his students, the citizens of the district listened when Hoole spoke. In 1850, he and a number of respected local gentlemen formed the Pee Dee Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. After 12 years as an educator, Hoole settled into the life of a planter. His 200-acre farm became the focus of his attention and he quickly became knowledgeable in the science of agriculture. He was quick to share information with his farming neighbors, and became a charter member of the Darlington Agricultural Society. He also became a prolific writer: he wrote to family and friends, he wrote to the editors of the local papers when he had an opinion on something, and he wrote politicians when he disagreed with an issue or had an idea to change something. In 1855, he was elected captain of the Riflemen.

In the mid-1850s, trouble was brewing out west as Kansas was being considered for statehood. National policy dictated that the territory could enter as a �free� or �slave� state. The issue was so volatile that violence broke out there time and again between pro-slavery and abolitionist factions. Both would eventually establish territorial governments. Pro-slavery forces sought to stack the deck in their favor by calling for citizens of slave states to settle in Kansas in exchange for land and political power. This issue undoubtedly struck a nerve with Hoole. He had also wanted to build a family, so why not in Kansas?

On March 29th, 1856 Hoole married Elizabeth Green Brunson. That same day, the newlyweds left Darlington and headed west. After a 19-day journey, Zell and Betsy settled in Douglas City, Kansas. They quickly formed a host of friends there, and Hoole began planning for his new farm. In Feb. 1857, Hoole was elected probate judge of Douglas County. His first child, Ada Constantia, was born in the capitol of Lecompton. Even as things were looking up for the Hooles, both found frontier life unagreeable. Disillusionment sent in as well, as the likelihood of Kansas becoming a free state became increasingly probable.

The homesick family returned to Darlington on Dec. 5th, 1857 to a joyous community. Hoole was re-elected captain and returned to planting. In 1860, he narrowly lost a bid for sheriff of the district, and then turned down an appointment as tax collector. His second child, William Brunson, was also born that same year. Secession was the issue all over the state at that time, and Hoole supported leaving the Union like so many of his neighbors. When it did occur, he was one of the first from the Pee Dee to offer his services to the governor. In Feb. 1861, he assembled the Darlington Riflemen at his old alma mater. He convinced all but one to volunteer for state service. The following month, the Riflemen and a number of other local militia and volunteer units met in Marion. From this assembly, the 8th SC Volunteer Infantry Regiment was born. The Riflemen became Company A and elected Hoole as their captain.

Captain Hoole used his teaching skills and personal character to good effect in preparing his men for war. He took keen interest in their training, while he, ever the student, became versed in the business of war. Although not a disciplinarian, Hoole led by example, sharing the hardships of military life alongside his men. Rarely was he away from camp. Soon, he had the respect of the men of the 8th SC and quickly became one of its popular officers. Company A, meanwhile, developed into one of the best in the unit. Hoole�s first test of command came on July 17th, 1861. He conducted a splendid rear-guard action near Flint Hill, VA that allowed the 8th SC to pull back behind Bull Run Creek. Three days later at 1st Manassas, Co. A was deployed forward as the regiment�s skirmish line and remained in close contact with the enemy until dark. Col. Cash praised Hoole for his actions for both engagements.

Feb. 1862 saw the regiment reorganized, as enlistments were due to run out. Hoole and most of Co. A reenlisted for three years or the duration of the war. In elections that followed, he was chosen as lieutenant colonel�a testament to his capability as a leader and his popularity among his troops. Lt. Col. Hoole led his men through some of the most vicious fighting of the war. Williamsburg. Savage�s Station. Malvern Hill. Maryland Heights. At Sharpsburg, he was in command of the regiment during the bloodiest day in American history. Despite a 50% casualty rate, the 8th SC refused to be pushed from the field. He was away on leave during the battle for Fredericksburg, but returned to take part at Chancellorsville and Zoar Church. Hoole was instrumental in holding the regiment together on the second day at Gettysburg, through the slaughter at the Peach Orchard and the furious action in the Wheatfield which saw the 8th SC suffer 215 killed and wounded. In the fall of 1863, the regiment followed Longstreet�s Corps to Georgia to assist the Army of Tennessee along a small river called Chickamauga.

On Sept. 18th, 1863, he penned a quick letter to his wife from Dalton, GA. He described some of the personal hardships he was enduring, including hunger. He also expressed optimism in the coming campaign. But it was the fact that his regiment had passed so close to home coming to GA that he lamented the most. He described not being able to see Betsy as �unbearable�, but yet he resigned himself to his duty. Sept. 20th was the second day of the Battle of Chickamauga, and the 8th SC was again proving it was one of the finest regiments the Palmetto State fielded during the war. They swept the enemy from their front time and again, across Dyer�s Farm and up to Horseshoe Ridge. In the brutal, confused fighting along this ridge and Snodgrass Hill, one of Darlington�s noblest sons lost his life.

Five days later, Zell�s last child, Axalla John, Jr. was born.

Capt. Augustus Dickert, in his history of Kershaw�s Brigade, said this of Hoole: � The Eighth Regiment met an irreparable loss in the death of Lt. Colonel Hoole. No officer in the brigade had more soldierly bearing, high attainments, and knightly qualities than Colonel Hoole, and not only the regiment, but the whole brigade felt his loss. He was one of those officers whose fine appearance caused men to stop and look at him twice before passing.�

In closing, I would like to say that we have gathered here today to honor a great man. Though he left his world over 140 years ago, his spirit speaks to us, as it should to all sons and daughters of the South, through his very character, his convictions, his bearing and his accomplishments. I submit that we are standing at the grave of the quintessential Confederate hero and a pure son of South Carolina. I ask all of you gathered, from my brothers whom I stand shoulder to shoulder with in the ranks, to my neighbors and citizens of this great state, to friends that I met just today�remember Axalla John Hoole, revere in the kind of man he was and in the virtues and beliefs he so admirably shown.

Cpl. Ken Howle

8th S.C.V.I. Reenactors

March 12, 2005

Confederate Cross of Honor dedication ceremony

Darlington, South Carolina

�2005 8th SCVI Reenactors (Ken Howle)

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