Union general killed by Hatfields

[Aussie Billy Sherman]

I recently watched and very much enjoyed the Hatfields and McCoys miniseries. It led me to read more into the feud. One thing that emerged was the fact that the Hatfields had murdered a union general in retaliation for men of his unit killing some of their clan. It seems that a few Hatfields had set up a confederate home guard of sorts which they called the Wildcats. One of these Wildcats was killed by these northern troops and they murdered a general by the name of Bill France. I'd never heard of any of this and certainly never come across that officer's name. Having tried googling the General Bill France I've come up with nothing. Anyone know about this guy and can shed more light on it for me?

 

[Northern Light]

There is a General William French, but he died in 1881.

 

[Aussie Billy Sherman]

There is a General William French, but he died in 1881.

Thanks. That's was one of the results when I was searching the name earlier. I presumed from my reading it happened during the war. Maybe this general was a militia officer and not a federal one. could also be another complete error from Wikipedia I guess. I may have to look at the footnotes and sources on the Hatfields page there

 

[James N.]

It sounds totally bogus to me.

 

[Carronade]

Might it have been a lower ranking officer? Suppose say a captain was killed, in the retelling of the tale over the generations of Hatfields, it might get inflated to a general.

 

[texaswildcat]

That would sound like the case of inflating it. That happens a lot when it comes to these kinds of tales.

 

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

I'd never heard of any of this and certainly never come across that officer's name. Having tried googling the General Bill France I've come up with nothing.

That's cause Kevin 'Devil Anse' Costner killed him so bad, his name fell out of the history books.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

I recently watched and very much enjoyed the Hatfields and McCoys miniseries. It led me to read more into the feud. One thing that emerged was the fact that the Hatfields had murdered a union general in retaliation for men of his unit killing some of their clan. It seems that a few Hatfields had set up a confederate home guard of sorts which they called the Wildcats. One of these Wildcats was killed by these northern troops and they murdered a general by the name of Bill France. I'd never heard of any of this and certainly never come across that officer's name. Having tried googling the General Bill France I've come up with nothing. Anyone know about this guy and can shed more light on it for me?

Asa Harmon McCoy's killing was portrayed in the series. He was a Union soldier that had mustered out of the 45th KY Mounted Infantry. Uncle Vance Hatfield and three others were blamed. One was thought to be Devil Anse, but never proven. Harmon McCoy was a brother to Randell I believe.

Union Private Asa Harmon McCoy Company E 45th Ky Inf. Enlisted Oct.20th 1863 at Asland Ky. He is listed " present ' till the roll for May/June 63. He's listed as " sick in the hospital at Lexington " He has returned for the July/Aug.roll.Hs name last appears on the roll at Catlettsburg,Ky.Dec.1864. He was killed the following Jan.1865. I copied the following online : The first real violence in the feud was the murder of a returning Union soldier Asa Harmon McCoy. He was killed by a group of ex-Confederates Homeguard called the "Logan Wildcats". Devil Anse Hatfield was a suspect at first, but was later confirmed to have been sick at home at the time of the murder. It was widely believed that his uncle, Jim Vance, a member of the Wildcats, committed the murder.[3]
Asa Harmon McCoy was murdered on January 7, 1865. Jim Vance, the uncle of Devil Anse Hatfield, despised Harmon because he had joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. Harmon was discharged from the army early because of a broken leg. He returned home to a warning from Vance that Harmon could expect a visit from Devil Anse's Wildcats. Frightened by gunshots as he drew water from his well, Harmon hid in a nearby cave, supplied with food and necessities each day by his slave, Pete; but the Wildcats followed Pete's tracks in the snow, discovered Harmon and shot him fatally

 

[OVI]

Harmon McCoy was my G,G,Granddaddy.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

After-action report for the 45th KY. Two months before Harmon mustered out.

OCTOBER 29, 1864.--Attack on Vanceburg, Ky.

Report of Lieut. Col. Lewis M. Clark, Forty-fifth Kentucky Infantry.

VANCEBURG, KY., October 31, 1864.
GEN.: I have the honor to report that on the morning of the 29th
instant Col. John P. Williams, of the rebel army, with forty men,
attacked Vanceburg about 4 a. m. I collected what citizens about be
found, and met them one mile and a half from the town. We had a
considerable skirmish with them and completely routed them and drove
them twenty miles. They made better time than we, taking all the best
horses on the route. The last heard from them they were on Fox Creek,
in Fleming County, Capt. Underwood, of the Carter County home
guards, in close pursuit. These men say that they intend that this (Lewis)
country shall vote for McClellan. The citizens are much
frightened, and think they will return at or about the time of the
election. This is a loyal county--has sent over 900 men into the army
of the Union, and will give Lincoln a large majority in November. We
have neither arms nor ammunition. If it is possible for you to send me
some arms and ammunition I will place them in the hands of good men.
By so doing, I think we will be able to protect ourselves. This must be
done soon to enable us to accomplish anything. There was a large
amount of shotguns, muskets, and powder captured and turned over to
the brigade ordnance officer of the Second Brigade. Please send us the
arms or send us men to protect the polls.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

L. M. CLARK,
Lieut.-Col. Forty-fifth Kentucky and Recruiting Officer.

Maj.-Gen. BURBRIDGE,
Cmdg. District of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.


Source: Official Records
PAGE 882-77 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. LI.
[Series I. Vol. 39. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 77.]

 

[James N.]

I recently watched and very much enjoyed the Hatfields and McCoys miniseries. It led me to read more into the feud. One thing that emerged was the fact that the Hatfields had murdered a union general in retaliation for men of his unit killing some of their clan. It seems that a few Hatfields had set up a confederate home guard of sorts which they called the Wildcats. One of these Wildcats was killed by these northern troops and they murdered a general by the name of Bill France. I'd never heard of any of this and certainly never come across that officer's name. Having tried googling the General Bill France I've come up with nothing. Anyone know about this guy and can shed more light on it for me?

It now occurs to me that at least there was a Union Maj. Gen. William H. French who died in 1881, but at age 66 (so of supposedly natural causes) in Washington, D. C.