by Markham B. Dossett
Holt Collier was born on the Home Hill Plantation in Jefferson County, Mississippi in 1846. He grew up training dogs and horses and hunted for the Howell Hinds family. His mother and father worked in the house at Home Hill. Holt became a master at all of his occupations and he later worked for the Hinds family on the Plum Ridge Plantation south of Greenville, Mississippi.
When war broke out in 1861, Mr. Howell Hinds and his son volunteered. Holt decided to accompany them and to serve with the Confederate Army. Mr. Hinds told him to stay on the plantation and continue his important work. When the Hinds departed, Holt secretly tailed them and stowed away on the river boat that took them to join the Regiment up the Mississippi River.
The Hinds and Holt joined Hardee’s Division, Jefferson Flying Artillery and went into combat. Major Howell Hinds was wounded. He and his son Thomas went home to recover and recruit, but Holt stayed and fought Yankees. While in Corinth, Mississippi, the members of the 9th Texas Cavalry saw Holt’s excellent horsemanship and marksmanship and drafted him into the Cavalry in Company I, known as the Titus Grays. Holt was “a dead shot, utterly fearless firing a gun from either shoulder and a pistol from either hand”. The 9th Texas was eventually commanded by General Sul Ross. Later, Holt Collier was a by-name request to serve under General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Holt continued to distinguish himself in combat during many battles.
After the War was over, Holt returned to the Hinds Plantation and continued his occupation as a horse trainer and hunter. Major Hinds recovered from his wound but was crippled for life. On a trip into town, Major Hinds was assaulted by a Yankee Captain of the Occupation Army. Mr. Hinds was severely beaten. This enraged Holt who loved Mr. Hinds. The Yankee Captain was lured into the countryside a few weeks later and mysteriously died. Holt was accused of the murder and arrested. The local jury all knew Holt and Mr. Hinds so they no-billed Holt. This was before double jeopardy laws so the Yankee officer impaneled another jury, not friendly to Holt, and wanted to arrest him again on the same murder charge. Holt’s white friends told him to leave town. Holt travelled to Texas and was able to join up with the cattle drives that rode through Waco and terminated in Kansas.
After a few years, Holt heard that the Reconstruction government had changed around Greenville, Mississippi and he was safe to return to the Hinds’ Plantation. Upon return, Holt became the best bear hunter in the Mississippi Delta where he continued to train horses and dogs and was a professional hunter.
When President Teddy Roosevelt wrote the Governor of Mississippi for a recommendation for a bear guide, Holt got the job to take President Roosevelt on a hunt in the Delta. After a series of confusing events, Teddy refused to shoot a bear that Holt had roped and tied up. The bear was released by Holt and the “Teddy Bear” was born. Holt lived out his life in Greenville, Mississippi and is buried there in a grave with a Confederate headstone installed by the SCV Camp in Greenville. He has many descendants in the Mississippi Delta.
His service in the Confederacy and on the Texas Cattle Drives is commemorated with a statue on horseback at the Waco Suspension Bridge.
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