The neighbors either said they didn't know his politics, or they said he was secessionist in his politics. None of them stated that he was unionist in his politics.
He had eight sons.
Guess that depends on the family. The family stories my Grandmother told me, I've been able to confirm. I'm sure my experience is not unique in that regard.
Glad you said this. I have had similar experiences with family stories. While embellishment can exist anywhere, we should not be quick to toss these stories on the trash heap.
Is there a transcription of this?
Yes I understand he had several sons. Beheadings just seem like something that people would mention. Maybe even report to the provost marshal.
I would think that some stories would have a better chance of staying accurate as they get passed down through succeeding generations. But stories associated with a war that even still today engenders bad feelings are much more likely to have become embellished with every telling.
The sources McKenney gives for the killing of the two sons-
"Killing?" McKenney claims that these two secondary sources specifically describe it as killings or beheadings? And what is their source?
One such story, she specifically told me about her Grandfather in the Cavalry during the war. Decades later, I was able to find his service records/pension/etc.. and prove that she was right. Not only that he was cavalry, but even some battles he was in. It was pretty satisfying to find the evidence proving she was right.
I love the Jack Hinson story. Summer of 2023 I went to his neck of the woods:
Right
From Note: "original report at Fort Donelson National Battlefield"
I admit its an intriguing story, but if an author makes up stuff--and multiple parts of the story are contradicted and unsubstantiated elsewhere--don't we have a right to question it?
It's not surprising that you'd be able to confirm the regiments and battles. I've done that for my family too. It's more unreliable when it comes to claims of individual actions and tales of derring-do. People embellish that kind of thing.
Meaning what exactly? There is actual documentation somewhere?
And the Riley account has the sons shot as bushwhackers, not beheaded. It's like every account is different.
I didn't even catch that. I think they were probably bushwhackers/guerrillas. An execution would not be prompted by just a couple of guys with guns. Also consider they were arrested before.
Obviously.
They probably were bushwhackers. But even so, I doubt they were simply executed. Later in the war is when summary executions of guerrillas was more common.
Bringing the