This is another book that I have been interested in adding to my library of books on the Cavalry operations of North Mississippi and West Tennessee. Since it is about a Union regiment, I could not force myself to spend MY money on a copy. I put it on my Christmas list and my granddaughter bought it for me.
Hurst's Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A.
by Kevin D. McCann
Paperback: 164 pages
Publisher: McCann Publications; 4th edition (September 27, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 096712512X
ISBN-13: 978-0967125121
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
I wanted to have a copy as it covers a Union regiment that was organized in a few counties over from my county. Also, C
olonel Fielding Hurst and his bad boys of the
6th Tenn Cavalry(US) played a role in General Forrest's decision to launch his 1864 Tennessee Raid. General N B Forrest informed the Union HQ that he considered Col. Hurst and the 6th Tennessee Cavalry as murders and would show them No Quarter. One of the reasons for Forrest’s raid into W Tenn in March 1864 was to apprehend Colonel Hurst. He did succeed it a skirmish with his regiment and capture of several men and his baggage.
This book has several pages of things like roster and biographies of many of the officers. It does appear to have a good history with good reference sources. However, I did find a section of a chapter that seemed to have jumped over 4 to 6 months without any details.
Just skimming over it, I have already learned something that I did NOT know.
I just discovered they may have been at the
Battle of Salem, Miss on 7 October 1863. This was one of the skirmishes during
General Chalmers’ Raid that culminated in Battle of Collierville on the 11th. This account of the battle has good info on the Union units that participated in the battle and the movement of the units. After the battle, this Union cavalry brigade returned to LaGrange, Tenn for 3 days and then returned to the pursuit of Chalmers' division on the 11th. This page describes how they passed through Salem(no long exists) and crossed the Coldwater River at Quinn's Mill and re-engaged the Confederates at the Battle of Wyatt(burned after the battle).
There are some wording that I don't like about the 3rd paragraph. The main error is the town is described as surrounded by a "deep canal". This is so wrong. Wyatt was located on a bluff that overlooked the bed of the Tallahatchie River. It describes the battle as an artillery duel---but the Confederates were only using two 1.56-inch Williams Guns as a rear guard to allow the remaining troops to cross the road and bridge and escape to Oxford.