One day Lieutenant Thomas Hinds, Tom, visited Holt; he brought bad news. The colonel had been wounded and Tom could not leave his duties long enough to visit his dad. He asked Holt if he would go see the Old Colonel. Holt immediately said, "Yes" and a pass was granted. Riding night and day, through country that was bristling with Union forces, Holt reached the home of the Old Colonel’s cousin, where Colonel Hinds was infirmed. After visiting the colonel and his family, Holt was becoming more and more concerned with the enemy troops in the area. He left on the fourth day. Again he rode through the dangerous enemy-occupied countryside to rejoin his unit.

Following the war, Holt returned to Washington County for a reunion with his former master and Tom Hinds.

In time, Holt’s reputation as a hunter became well known throughout the area. He had entered competitions and won.

At some point during the Reconstruction era, Howell Hinds encountered a drunken Union soldier, who immediately insulted the old man. Colonel Hinds knocked the younger man down with each insult. Finally, the young soldier pulled a knife and charged the Colonel! Bystanders wrestled the drunken soldier down and took away his knife. Holt would remember this!

Shortly thereafter, the young soldier was found, shot to death.

Almost immediately, Holt was accused of the crime and many believe he actually did it. Risking their reputations, Colonel Hinds, his son, Tom and several Confederate officers came to Holt's defense. He was exonerated.

Holt was gaining a reputation, especially as a bear hunter. He hunted throughout the west and Pacific Northwest, but always returned home to Greenville. It was estimated that he had killed 3,000 bears, but he later admitted that he quit counting them at 2212.

In july of 1881, Holt was preparing for a bear hunt when he was approached by a constable. The constable explained that he had spotted a man who fit the description of a man who had killed two people in Floyd, Louisiana. There were two ferries in the area that the man could use to cross the river, the constable was headed to one of the ferries and asked Holt to go to the other one at Dr. Washburn’s Store, just in case the man tried to cross there. Upon arriving, Holt saw the man fitting the description and recognized him as a man called “Stacks.” The man recognized Holt also.

Holt asked the man for his rifle, which he gave to Holt. The rifle was then propped up against the porch while Holt told him that he had a warrant for his arrest on a charge of murder. A man standing on the porch of the store quickly handed the rifle to Stacks, who immediately turned to fire at Holt. In doing so, Stacks’ rifle barrel struck the horse’s head, causing the animal to jolt. Holt fired one round, killing Stacks. Holt then proceeded into town and turned himself into authorities for what could have been construed as murder. He was released. The deceased was later proven to be the killer he was suspected of being.