McNairy County Historical Society Meeting

There was a great turnout last night for my presentation to the McNairy County Historical Society at the Jack McConnico Memorial Library in Selmer, TN. Despite the rainy weather, there was a packed meeting room when I arrived and more chairs were being brought in from the library. I was very honored that people came out to listen to me talk about Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee (U.S.) Cavalry. Afterward, I answered questions from members and guests, signed copies of my book Hurst's Wurst, and had the opportunity to talk with many people interested in Hurst, the Civil War, and their family histories that were tied to members of the Sixth Tennessee.

My wife Cindy and I sold 19 copies of the book--thank you very much to everyone who purchased one (or two)! If you missed the meeting but would still like a signed copy, please visit the link above or send an email request to:

A member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans in Corinth, MS who came to the meeting invited me to address one of their future meetings. I should have details in a few weeks.

Thank you, Judy Hammons and Nancy Kennedy with the Historical Society, for inviting me to speak. I enjoy coming back to Selmer and McNairy County whenever I have the chance.

Hurst's Wurst Presentation and Book Signing

I will be speaking to the McNairy County Historical Society on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Jack McConnico Memorial Library in Selmer, TN. I will discuss why I chose to research and write about Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee (U.S.) Cavalry, share a little about the man, his regiment, and other Unionists in southwest Tennessee during the Civil War, and answer questions.

I'll bring copies of my book Hurst's Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A. The cost is $20.00 each and I would be pleased to sign it.

(It's never too early to think about a Christmas gift for your favorite Civil War enthusiast!)

If you have any questions, please email me at:

Presentation and Book Signing Oct. 27th

I will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the McNairy County Historical Society Tuesday, October 27 at the Jack McConnico Memorial Library in Selmer, TN. The subject will be Colonel Fielding Hurst, the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S., and Southern Unionists in southwest Tennessee during the Civil War. Afterward, I will sign copies of my book Hurst's Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A.

Another Book Progress Report

Wow, it's been almost two months since I last posted to my blog! Not that I heard a clamor from anyone who reads it for my whereabouts, but I thought I would check back in nonetheless.

I've still working on edits and rewriting a few chapters for my book Adam Huntsman: The Peg-Legged Politician over the summer in anticipation of its release this fall. I've also commissioned a talented young artist who is working on three unique artistic additions to the book that I'm very excited about. More news on this book project in the weeks to come.

I will be giving a talk in late October on the subject of my last book Hurst's Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A. Details are still being worked out, but I should be able to make an announcement later this week. It's been a while since I returned to anything related to Hurst and I'm looking forward to revisiting his story and that of the Sixth Tennessee (Union) Cavalry.

I haven't been posting to my blog the past few months, but I have been tweeting on Twitter and built a decent 500+ tweets over the summer. There's a few updates on my projects, but mostly I share links to newspaper articles and blog posts I come across having to do with U.S. history, Tennessee history, and U.S. Presidents. I hope you'll follow me there!

On This Day in History: Fielding Hurst Escapes His Captors

On this day in history, Colonel Fielding Hurst of the Sixth Tennessee (U.S.) Cavalry was captured by Confederate soldiers near Somerville, Tennessee in 1863, but he escaped when his men came back for him.

Below is an excerpt from my book Hurst's Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A. (pages 31-32):

Hurst found himself in enemy hands when two members of Colonel Richard V. Richardson’s group captured him four miles southwest of Somerville, Tennessee on July 25. While on scout with a squad of the 1st West Tennessee, he stopped for a moment to talk with a widow named Lewis and her daughter at their front gate as he waited for some of his men to rejoin him. Two Confederate soldiers named Hugh Nelson and C.A.S. Shaw, returning home to Somerville for fresh horses and clothing, came upon Hurst on the road. They approached him from behind with guns drawn as Mrs. Lewis asked, “Col[onel] ain’t you afraid the Rebels will catch you[?]” No sooner had he replied that he wasn’t when the two soldiers took his pistols from his saddle holsters and led him away on horseback toward their encampment. Hurst knew his men would try and find him and he rode slowly between his captors to give them more time to catch up. When they objected to his pace, he told them they could shoot him if they did not like it.

Meanwhile Captain Harry Hodges of Company B and a group of eight soldiers from the regiment had pursued them for seven miles. When they were found, Lieutenant Risden D. Deford and an African-American servant belonging to Captain Robert M. Thompson of Company A ran ahead and began firing at them. In the confusion, Hurst “drew rein and turned his quick grey mare” into the woods as one of his captors shot at him with one of his own pistols. Hodges gave him a revolver and the 1st West Tennessee chased the Confederate soldiers to within a few hundred feet of Richardson’s encampment. Outnumbered, Hurst and his men turned back a short distance to the top of a hill where they were joined by the rest of the squad. They “cheered lustily, making so much noise that the Rebels thought the whole regiment was coming to avenge their Colonel’s wrongs.” Richardson’s command was tempted but grudgingly decided to give up their trophy without a fight.

Progress Report on Book Projects

It's been two months since I've written a post, so I thought I would give everyone an update on projects of interest to readers of my blog.

The closest project to completion is the revised second edition of my 1996 book The Peg-Legged Politician: The Life of Adam Huntsman. Editing and layout work is progressing nicely with a publication date of August 23 on the horizon. It will be the 160th anniversary of Huntsman's death at his home near Jackson, Tennessee in 1849. A new Huntsman website is also in the works that will be launched in the coming weeks.

Thank you so much to everyone who has written to me about a project close to my heart, a proposed biography of third baseman Ken Boyer of the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers. This one is in the research phase right now as I learn more about his fifteen-year major league career. To keep up with this project, please visit my website or my site dedicated to Mr. Boyer.

Presidential Biographies

It's been my goal for the past few years to read at least one biography of the American Presidents of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (George Washington to Theodore Roosevelt). So far I've read ones for Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Theodore Roosevelt. (I have books on Zackary Taylor and Abraham Lincoln on my to-read list.) I'm especially anxious to find the essential biographies--the must-reads on a particular President.

If I have any readers out there, I would love to know your thoughts on the essential Presidential biographies I should read. The Presidents I'm especially interested in are James Madison, Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, and Franklin Pierce. I look forward to your suggestions!