Thomas C. Hindman
Lawyer Major General in Confederate States Army
Died when: 40 years 243 days (487 months)Star Sign: Aquarius
Thomas Carmichael Hindman Jr. (January 28, 1828 – September 28, 1868) was a lawyer, politician, and a senior officer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, he later moved to Mississippi and became involved in politics. Having served in the Mexican–American War from 1846 to 1848, Hindman practiced law and in 1853 was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives.
After his term expired in 1854, he moved to Helena, Arkansas, where there were more opportunities for his political ambitions. Quickly becoming a political leader in Arkansas, Hindman opposed the Know-Nothing party and the ruling Conway-Johnson dynasty.
Elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1858, he supported slavery (and was a slaveholder himself) and secession. Once the American Civil War began in 1861 and Arkansas seceded, Hindman joined the Confederate States Army, first commanding the 2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, then a brigade, and then an ad-hoc division at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862; he was wounded during the battle.
Following Shiloh, Hindman was promoted to major general and sent to the Trans-Mississippi Department, to command Arkansas, Missouri, the Indian Territory, and part of Louisiana.
As commander of the region, Hindman's policies were sometimes legally questionable and were unpopular, although they were successful in building up the district from a basically indefensible state.
Public outcry led to Hindman's removal from his regional command. He was defeated at the Battle of Prairie Grove in December.
Transferred to the Army of Tennessee in 1863, he led a division at the Battle of Chickamauga in September, where he was again wounded.
After recovering, he commanded a division during the early stages of the Atlanta campaign, although he wished to be transferred elsewhere.
During the retreat after the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in the summer of 1864, Hindman suffered an eye injury. He was placed on leave and traveled to Texas with his family.
When the Confederacy collapsed in 1865, he fled to Mexico, but returned to Helena in 1867. Resuming his involvement in politics, he opposed the Reconstruction Era government of Arkansas.
Hindman was shot by an unknown assassin at his home late on September 27, 1868, and died the next morning. Before his death, Hindman suggested the shooting was politically motivated.
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