Jack Hinson's One Man War

[nuparadigm]

"Jack Hinson's One Man War". Author: Tom C. McKenney. Pelican Publishing Co. ISBN: 978-1-58980-640-5.

Jack Hinson was focused on family life when the War Between the States started to advance on the Kentucky-Tennessee border area where he lived. He was neutral; friend to both Confederate and Union generals. In 1862, Hinson's way of life changed.

Union patrols moved in on his land and captured two of his sons, accused them of being Bushwhackers and executed them on the roadside. The soldiers then decapitated the Hinson boys and placed their heads on the gateposts of the family estate. Hinson, nearly 60 at the time and without formal military training, then became a deadly threat to the Union forces. As a self-appointed Confederate sinper, he single-handedly brought down an armed Union transport and served as a scout for Nathan Bedford Forrest. Hinson had ended the war with around one hundred kills of Union soldiers, sailors and Marines. He recorded the confirmed deaths on the barrel of his rifle.

Hinson evaded all capture.

It's a true story and a very good read.

[Paladin]

...now one my Amazon wishlist

Thanks!

[nuparadigm]

You're welcome. I teach History at LeTourneau Univ. (Houston branch) and stumbled upon this monograph while doing research on something else. It just goes to demonstrate that there are tidbits of information concerning the WBTS that are still out there - waiting to be discovered.

The book was written by a retired Marine Lt. Col. whose curiosity was piqued by a roadside sign many years ago. Subsequent to his retirement, he finally had the time to engage in proper historical research. The result of which was this book.

[big 54r]

I may try this book out, even though it is about a "rebel"...
the history and circumstances about this man's crisis and will of action seem interesting.

actually what's interesting to me is he never gets caught.

[nuparadigm]

I may try this book out, even though it is about a "rebel"...
the history and circumstances about this man's crisis and will of action seem interesting.

actually what's interesting to me is he never gets caught.

After the WBTS he "hid in plain sight" and ended up dying of, what was then, old age. He made some relatively (for the day) long distance kills of Yankees and did it all with iron sights and old eyes.

[kragluver]

I just finished this book over the weekend. I couldn't put it down. It was a great, yet tragic story. Fascinating history. Even though the author had to "interpolate" a lot of the story, the story is well referenced throughout. Highly recommended. There is not a lot of good stuff out there about the guerrilla war in the west during the Civil War. This book was a refreshing change.

[Texas10X]

Thanks for posting your review. I see the book is available for Kindles.

[OldCannon]

I just finished reading this book, and although the author's style was a bit tiresome, the story itself was extremely fascinating. An amazing story of a tough-as-nails man. A real-life, civil war version of Bob Lee Swagger.

[mrvmax]

I read that a couple years ago, it was an interesting story. He was a good marksman with that custom rifle.

[bblhd672]

I read that a couple years ago, it was an interesting story. He was a good marksman with that custom rifle.

The topic is from 2010 and bumped by a one-post-wonder with a spam link. At least they picked an interesting topic.

interesting enough that I bought the book on Kindle

[mrvmax]

I read that a couple years ago, it was an interesting story. He was a good marksman with that custom rifle.

The topic is from 2010 and bumped by a one-post-wonder with a spam link. At least they picked an interesting topic.

I surf this board exclusively from my phone and use the “new posts” link so I don’t check dates. I got scolded by a mod the last time I replied to an old thread, not sure why it matters but it’s hard enough to browse off a phone with my eyes so checking dates is out of the question,

[Maxwell]

I read that a couple years ago, it was an interesting story. He was a good marksman with that custom rifle.

The topic is from 2010 and bumped by a one-post-wonder with a spam link. At least they picked an interesting topic.

Ameer,
MVRMAX has been on the forum a lot longer than you have...

[kscaddo]

I read the book before Christmas. I agree it is a splendid read.

[The Annoyed Man]

This is the first time I’ve seen this thread. I just downloaded it as I was looking for something to read. I’m somewhat of a history buff too, so I’m looking forward to it.

[bblhd672]

Finished reading the book. At times tedious and repetitive it is a decent read. Since Mr. Hinson’s story lacks many collaborative accounts and the usual family history passed down, the author filled much of the narrative with descriptions familiar to a Marine like himself. This doesn’t distract from the story as it would had a non-rifleman written the story with obvious lack of shooting knowledge and experience.
I enjoyed reading the story of Mr. Hinson’s “war” and recommend it to anyone interested in that war/period.

And now my takeaway thoughts from the book, unrelated to the story.

I have always understood that the War Between The States was brutal with much death and destruction. I had never dug much into the depth of the evil perpetrated by the political leaders as well as the officers and enlisted men of both sides, nor of the non-military criminals who preyed upon the weakened and often unprotected citizens both south and north. That fellow countrymen were so easily persuaded by the political leaders and media of the day to go forth and slaughter one another is a warning to us all. There is nothing civil about war, never has been, never will be.

Those who strive to achieve their agenda of forced control over free people and are willing to engage in a second shooting war between Americans on this continent to gain control fail to understand the numbers of evil people (both left and right) and the levels of depravity that is unleashed by war. Or, perhaps they do and care not as long as they believe that their agenda will prevail.

I suspect 150 or so years after a second American “civil war” historians will compare the wars on American soil and determine that despite humankind’s “advances” the willingness of some to slip back into being brutal barbarians is always lurking beneath the surface.