HF Jack Hinson Novel

[uaskme]

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.

I would call him a Resistance Fighter. Recon how many Resistance Fighters in other wars were denoted in their Occupation Force reports and newspapers? Where were their stories told?

War took a hard turn early. If you were in the middle of it far sooner than most realized. 'More common" define. Source?

Recon what he had the Rifle built for? Farmer building a gun like he did? How "common" was that? Notches on gun used as a fighting weapon. Why did participants do that? Any other reason than Kills?

Motivated guy familiar with geography and river currents. Knew the obstructions at different water flow levels. Knew where a boat couldn't beach. Knew where the current would flow river right or left. Knew where to hide. Escape routes. During a Civil War.

Hilarious some of the "Echo Chamber" didn't even believe the gun was real. Simple Google search would confirm it. NRA, multiple gun and specific sniper sites discuss it in detail. Don't think I will wit up for you to confirm the rest of it.

 

[Belfoured]

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.

Sure. And I'm certain my own experience with family stories isn't unique either. Any assumption that errors/inaccuracies handed down orally over multiple generations are always the result of intentional fabrication is false. Sometimes that's the case but often it's what happens whenever any story gets retold numerous times. Trust but verify is a good guideline.

 

[Belfoured]

Obviously.

I'm just taken aback by the double standards. I can point to another author who spewed lots of conjecture, & opinion in his book. Y'all defend him at all costs.

Curious - who is included in "y'all" and what author are we referring to?

 

[19thGeorgia]

Curious - who is included in "y'all" and what author are we referring to?

As of late, he's being treated like a "neo-confederate." These are very unusual developments.

 

[Belfoured]

As of late, he's being treated like a "neo-confederate." These are very unusual developments.

I'm still not clear on who is being referred to .....

 

[DanSBHawk]

I would call him a Resistance Fighter. Recon how many Resistance Fighters in other wars were denoted in their Occupation Force reports and newspapers? Where were their stories told?

War took a hard turn early. If you were in the middle of it far sooner than most realized. 'More common" define. Source?

Recon what he had the Rifle built for? Farmer building a gun like he did? How "common" was that? Notches on gun used as a fighting weapon. Why did participants do that? Any other reason than Kills?

Motivated guy familiar with geography and river currents. Knew the obstructions at different water flow levels. Knew where a boat couldn't beach. Knew where the current would flow river right or left. Knew where to hide. Escape routes. During a Civil War.

Hilarious some of the "Echo Chamber" didn't even believe the gun was real. Simple Google search would confirm it. NRA, multiple gun and specific sniper sites discuss it in detail. Don't think I will wit up for you to confirm the rest of it.

It's possible that the sons were summarily shot if they were caught in the act of bushwhacking. But the only actual evidence indicates that a Hinson son was imprisoned and took an oath of allegiance. You can call them anything you want, but the fact that they avoided service in the confederate army and became bushwhackers suggest they were in it for themselves. That type of "fighter" preys on their neighbors as much as they fight the "enemy."

And their father was not exactly a pillar of the community. Accused of assault, and raping a neighbor's slave, and killing a neighbor, indicates the guy was not a very good person. The sons may have taken after dear old dad.

Is there any evidence that Hinson had an intimate knowledge of the river, or is this something that is being projected onto him by the author? Farmers don't automatically have the same knowledge as rivermen.

As far as the provenance of the gun, no one has provided any evidence of that either. Is there a photo of Hinson holding it? Is there a detailed description in a will? Just because it's discussed online doesn't prove that it belonged to Hinson.

Hinson died within a decade after the war. The stories he told to his kin were long before the OR was published, and I get the impression that the family and friends simply believed the stories without verifying anything. And if they were still sore about the results of the war, they probably embellished the stories for a gullible younger generation, and so on. If you can't provide any evidence that any of this happened, then it didn't happen. It's a fairy tale.

 

[TallTallMan]

Good thing for Hinson the Grant-Donelson story probably isn't real, because it's mighty unscrupulous to share information with both sides of a fight.

 

[19thGeorgia]

John Hinson (son, b.1844) was probably executed as stated in the narrative. Even though John was a civilian, he was taken prisoner at Fort Donelson, February 1862, and then released on parole March 19, 1862 - and that's his last appearance in the record. He's not in the 1870 census and not listed in his mother's will (dated 1871). All of the brothers of military age enlisted in the Confederate army except one - John.

Indianapolis Daily Journal, February 28, 1862

Miscellaneous File, Compiled Service Records, National Archives

 

[DanSBHawk]

John Hinson (son, b.1844) was probably executed as stated in the narrative. Even though John was a civilian, he was taken prisoner at Fort Donelson, February 1862, and then released on parole March 19, 1862 - and that's his last appearance in the record. He's not in the 1870 census and not listed in his mother's will (dated 1871). All of the brothers of military age enlisted in the Confederate army except one - John.

View attachment 537941
Indianapolis Daily Journal, February 28, 1862


View attachment 537943
Miscellaneous File, Compiled Service Records, National Archives

What is the evidence that John Hinson was executed?

"Mother's will"...Are you saying that all the other Hinson sons are listed in the 1871 will?

Earlier in the thread, you posted a source that referred to a "notorious" George Hinson who was evidently a guerrilla. Are you saying now that that George Hinson was not a Jack Hinson son, because the Hinson sons were serving in the confederate army?

 

[19thGeorgia]

What is the evidence that John Hinson was executed?

"Mother's will"...Are you saying that all the other Hinson sons are listed in the 1871 will?

Earlier in the thread, you posted a source that referred to a "notorious" George Hinson who was evidently a guerrilla. Are you saying now that that George Hinson was not a Jack Hinson son, because the Hinson sons were serving in the confederate army?

"What is the evidence that John Hinson was executed?"

That information has already been posted.


"Mother's will"...Are you saying that all the other Hinson sons are listed in the 1871 will?

No. Only three are listed.


"Earlier in the thread, you posted a source that referred to a "notorious" George Hinson who was evidently a guerrilla. Are you saying now that that George Hinson was not a Jack Hinson son, because the Hinson sons were serving in the confederate army?"

They were not always with the army. I'll post about that later.

 

[19thGeorgia]

John Hinson (son, b.1844) was probably executed as stated in the narrative. Even though John was a civilian, he was taken prisoner at Fort Donelson, February 1862, and then released on parole March 19, 1862 - and that's his last appearance in the record. He's not in the 1870 census and not listed in his mother's will (dated 1871). All of the brothers of military age enlisted in the Confederate army except one - John.

Why was he not in the 1870 census? He was dead.

Why was he not in his mother's 1871 will? He was dead.

Why had he not enlisted like all of his brothers? He was killed before he had the chance.

 

[DanSBHawk]

"What is the evidence that John Hinson was executed?"
That information has already been posted.
"Mother's will"...Are you saying that all the other Hinson sons are listed in the 1871 will?
No. Only three are listed.
"Earlier in the thread, you posted a source that referred to a "notorious" George Hinson who was evidently a guerrilla. Are you saying now that that George Hinson was not a Jack Hinson son, because the Hinson sons were serving in the confederate army?"
They were not always with the army. I'll post about that later.
Isn't this fun?

- There has been zero primary source evidence posted that any of the sons was executed.
- Then the mother's will doesn't really help clear anything up.
- Okay then. Still waiting to see any actual evidence that this story is not a fairy tale. I won't hold my breath.

 

[DanSBHawk]

Why was he not in the 1870 census? He was dead.

Why was he not in his mother's 1871 will? He was dead.

Why had he not enlisted like all of his brothers? He was killed before he had the chance.

Evidence. Or else it's a fairy tale.

 

[DanSBHawk]

The 5th Iowa cavalry regiment is the unit allegedly targeted by Hinson. The regiment served from '61 to '65. Most of the three year men re-enlisted (veteranized) when their enlistments expired. They served at the battles of Fort Henry and Donelson in February '62. They participated in the siege and occupation of Corinth, MS, during April and May '62.

For most of the year of 1862 they were garrisoned at Fort Henry and Fort Heiman, and involved with repairing roads and putting up telegraph lines. They engaged in skirmishes at Agnew's Ferry, Dresden, and Lockridge's Mills.

The regiment moved to Fort Donelson in February '63. They were involved in fighting at Waverly, Stewartsborough, Lebanon, the Tullahoma Campaign, Guy's Gap, Fosterville, the Expedition to Huntsville, Wartrace, Sugar Creek and an expedition to Decatur to destroy boats on the Tennessee River. During '63, they did operate against guerrillas but it was at McMinnville and Fosterville, well over a hundred miles away from Hinson.

In '64, the regiment took part in the siege of Atlanta, and fought at Lovejoy Station, Clear Creek, and Jonesboro. They operated against Hood's army, and then took part in the Nashville campaign, and pursued Hood after his defeat.

In '65, the regiment took part in Wilson cavalry raid against Selma, Montgomery, and Macon.

In total, 65 men were killed during the war. That's over four years.

 

[19thGeorgia]

In 1862, the 5th Iowa Cavalry had 14 killed while stationed in the area. The 83rd Illinois lost 16 during 1862 and 1863.

 

[DanSBHawk]

In 1862, the 5th Iowa Cavalry had 14 killed while stationed in the area. The 83rd Illinois lost 16 during 1862 and 1863.

I would guess that the majority of the casualties suffered by both union regiments was when Wheeler and Forrest attempted to retake Fort Donelson in February 1863. A force of 600 union soldiers withstood an attack by 2500 confederates. The confederates were defeated and left hundreds of their dead lying on the field.

By some estimates, the confederates lost 10 men for every union casualty.

 

[TallTallMan]

On another note about McKenney's book, some of his descriptions are totally unbelievable, such as on pg. 23-24 he describes 57-year-old Hinson climbing from "tree to tree" with a fifteen lb. gun strapped to his back.

 

[19thGeorgia]

On another note about McKenney's book, some of his descriptions are totally unbelievable, such as on pg. 23-24 he describes 57-year-old Hinson climbing from "tree to tree" with a fifteen lb. gun strapped to his back.

Like Tarzan?

I think he means holding on to trees while climbing uphill.

"using his free hand to pull himself from tree to tree, climbed to the top of the bluff."

 

[TallTallMan]

Like Tarzan?

I think he means holding on to trees while climbing uphill.

"using his free hand to pull himself from tree to tree, climbed to the top of the bluff."

Oh, my mistake. I literally thought he had meant like Tarzan. I need some sleep

 

[Belfoured]

Oh, my mistake. I literally thought he had meant like Tarzan. I need some sleep

It's all those Sea Raven Press "books" you insist on reading from your library every night. I did find "tree to tree" a little confusing. For lots of reasons, that's probably a bit of hyperbole if he's helping himself up a slope, as seems plausible. He'd have to be built more like King Kong to use that method literally.