CSA Bios: Hogg, Hodge, Hindman

[Battleline]

With all the sleet here on the frozen tundra of WashMo, had some time to bang out three more bios for your reading enjoyment!

Brig. Gen. Joseph L. Hogg (b. 1806, d. 1862) If. It’s the longest two-letter word in the English language. If asks tough questions. In this case, what would have happened if James Lewis Hogg would have survived to command troops in battle? Hogg, appointed brigadier general in Provisional Army of the Confederate States Feb. 14, 1862, was part of the buildup at Corinth of troops for the upcoming Battle of Shiloh. His command in the Army of the West consisted of the 1st Texas Battalion Dismounted Cavalry, McCray’s Arkansas Battalion, 10th and 11th Arkansas Infantry and Goode’s Battery of light artillery. Unfortunately soon after arriving at the camp of Gen. Beauregard, he fell victim to dysentery raging through camp. He died soon after, May 16, 1862, reportedly before he was ever able to put on a Confederate uniform. (Note, there is a photograph of Hogg in uniform, but it is speculated the photo is a painted composite.) Hogg was born in Morgan County, Georgia, Sept. 13, 1806. At the age of 12, the family moved to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He was a planter in Alabama until moving to Texas in 1839. In the meantime, he also studied law, served in a militia and started to get into politics. He was elected to the eighth congress of the Texas Republic. During the Mexican War, Hogg served as a private. He was elected to the Texas state senate representing Cherokee County. A practicing lawyer, Hogg advocated the building of railroads. Selected for the secession convention, Hogg voted for Texas to leave the Union. He was commissioned as a colonel of Texas troops, organizing them for the upcoming war. He soon after received a Confederate promotion and orders to proceed to Corinth, Mississippi. After his death, he was buried near Mount Holly School House, but later was moved to the Corinth Confederate Cemetery. His son, James Stephen Hogg, served as Texas governor from 1892-96.

Brig. Gen. George B. Hodge (b. 1828, d. 1892) Was he or wasn’t he? The curious case of George Baird Hodge and his final Confederate rank could spark quite a debate. Hodge twice was appointed brigadier general by President Jefferson Davis (Nov. 20, 1863 and Aug. 2, 1864). But both times, the Confederate Senate refused him. The last rejection came Feb. 8, 1865. However, when he was paroled at Meridian, Mississippi, May 10, 1865, Hodge’s rank was reported as brigadier general. Hodge took a circuitous route to becoming a Confederate general. Born in Fleming County, Kentucky, April 8, 1828, Hodge graduated from a military academy, but not the one which usually produced future generals. He graduated from the U.S Naval Academy at Annapolis with the Class of 1845. In 1850, he resigned his commission of passed midshipman (acting lieutenant) to return to Kentucky and study law. He passed the bar, practiced law and entered politics. He served in the state legislature and made an unsuccessful run for Congress in 1852. With war coming, Hodge enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private in 1861, but traded his weapon for a seat in the Provisional Congress of the Confederacy and later the First Regular Congress. He also spent time on the staff of Gen. John C. Breckinridge starting with the rank of captain. He later was promoted to major and colonel. As the war went on, Hodge spent more time on the battlefield and less listening to legislation in the capital. He commanded a cavalry brigade under Gen. Joseph Wheeler and Gen. Nathan B. Forrest in operations around Chattanooga and during Wheeler’s raid of Oct. 1-9, 1863. At the end of the war, he commanded the District of Southwest Mississippi and East Louisiana. After the war, he returned to Newport, Kentucky, and resumed his law practice. He served as a presidential elector for Greeley in 1872. He served in the Kentucky state senate from 1873-77. When his term ended, he moved to Florida. Hodge died in Longwood, Florida, Aug. 1, 1892. He was buried in Newport, Kentucky.

Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman (b. 1828, d. 1868) Thomas Carmichael Hindman died by a bullet, but not during the Civil War. A Helena, Arkansas, lawyer, Hindman was determined in his opposition to the carpetbag regime in his home area following the war. An “unknown assailant” shot and killed Hindman in his home Sept. 28, 1868. Hindman, a decorated combat veteran in both the Mexican War and the Civil War, was born Jan. 28, 1828, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The family moved to Alabama when his father was appointed U.S. Agent to the Cherokee Nation. He graduated from the Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Classical Institute in 1843. During the Mexican War, Hindman was a second lieutenant in the Mexican War, serving with the 2nd Mississippi Infantry in northern Mexico. When he came home from the war, Hindman studied law and was admitted to the bar in Mississippi. He served a term in the state legislature before moving to Arkansas in 1854. There, he was twice elected to the U.S. Congress in 1858 and 1860 from Arkansas. In 1859, his role in selecting a house speaker brought him to national prominence. He did not take his seat after the second election. Hindman was an advocate of secession and played a major role in leading Arkansas out of the Union. He entered Confederate service as colonel of the Second Arkansas Infantry. Hindman was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Sept. 28, 1861. At the Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862, he led a division under Gen. William Hardee. His men attacked the “Hornet’s Nest” where Hindman was wounded. Hindman was boosted to major general to rank from April 14, 1862. Hindman, not popular for his hard-line stance on conscription and martial law, commanded the Trans-Mississippi Department until being relieved by Gen. Theophilus Holmes. Hindman’s next combat action came at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Dec. 7, 1862. He engaged Federal Divisions of the Army of the Frontier’s I Corps. Hindman placed his men between the divisions of Gen. James Blunt and Gen. Francis Herron. Hindman’s division beat up Herron’s cavalry, but struggled against the infantry. Hindman’s men set up positions and repulsed two Federal attacks. But the Confederates were stopped in an assault of their own. Hindman continued his attack against Herron and was finding success when Blunt’s men entered the fray. The battle ended with no clear winner, but Hindman returned to Van Buren, Arkansas. Sent east at his own request, Hindman joined the Army of Tennessee, Hindman commanded a division during the Confederate victory at Chickamauga (Sept. 19-20, 1863). Hindman again was wounded (in the neck). He rejoined his division during the Atlanta Campaign, but was injured (thrown from his horse) at Kennesaw Mountain (June 27, 1864). The wound knocked him out of the war. At the end of the war, Hindman originally moved to Mexico to become a coffee planter, but returned to Arkansas in 1867.

[jkBluesman]

Enjoyed the reading, great bios.
I would like to add some information on Hindman, which I got from Craig Symonds' bio of Cleburne. Hindman campaigned for Davis when the latter ran for governor in Mississippi. When Hindman came to Helena he made friends with Cleburne who had talked him out of a duel. Hindman was known for his hot temper and sharp tongue. Cleburne and he became law partners and political allies after the dissolution of the Whig party. During the war Hindman supported Cleburne's proposal to arm Southern slaves (winter of 1864) and wrote an articel in which he argued the case (without mentioning Cleburne).
Hindman was removed from command by Bragg after Chikamauga because he had not obeyed orders prior to the battle and the chance was lost to destroy an isolated part of Rosecrans' force (THomas' corps) near McLemore's Cove on September 9-10.

[Battleline]

jkBluesman,
You make good points about Hindman. Heidler's Encyclopedia indeed discusses Hindman's support of Davis for the Mississippi gubernatorial bid in 1851. I initially left that out as it looked like the bio would be straining the 3900 character limit. The bio is a bit short of that, so there is room to add that.
Heidler's states he received a serious neck wound at Chickamauga, but never mentions being dismissed from command. None of my other primary sources mentions that, either. Both Warner (Generals in Gray) and the Historical Times Encyclopedia of the Civil War state that Hindman was wounded in the Atlanta Campaign while Heidler's states he was thrown from his horse and injured.
None of my sources has information about the article you cited supporting Cleburne's position.
Thanks,
Battleline

[jkBluesman]

The footnote in Symonds' book says that Hindman wrote an article for the Memphis "Daily Appeal" (publishing out of Atlanta after the occupation of Memphis). The source for the information was "Lion of the South" by Diane Neal and Thomas W. Kremm.
Sorry, I forgot to mention that Hindman's suspension was revoked, either by Bragg or by Johnston when he took command. Wikipedia writes about the neck wound also, another source I got (it is a book about Longstreet with a detailed account of Chickamauga, for which the most important persons are introduced with short bios) says too, that he was wounded at Chickamauga and adds that Hindman's performance was so great that Bragg forgot the personal clashes and afterwards gave Breckinridge's corps to Hindman.

[Gil R.]

Let me know when it's safe to copy these.

[Battleline]

Gil,
Hogg and Hodge are good to go.
Let me tinker a little bit with Hindman. I'll post an updated Hindman and, if jkBluesman agrees, we will be able to go with it then.
Drop me an e-mail if you get a chance.
Thanks,
Battleline

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman (b. 1828, d. 1868) Thomas Carmichael Hindman died by a bullet, but not during the Civil War. A Helena, Arkansas, lawyer, Hindman was determined in his opposition to the carpetbag regime in his home area following the war. An “unknown assailant” shot and killed Hindman in his home Sept. 28, 1868. Hindman, a decorated combat veteran in both the Mexican War and the Civil War, was born Jan. 28, 1828, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The family moved to Alabama when his father was appointed U.S. Agent to the Cherokee Nation. He graduated from the Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Classical Institute in 1843. During the Mexican War, Hindman was a second lieutenant in the Mexican War, serving with the 2nd Mississippi Infantry in northern Mexico. When he came home from the war, Hindman resumed his law studies and was admitted to the bar in Mississippi. After fallout over the Compromise of 1850, Hindman became active in Democratic Party politics. He toured the state touting Jefferson Davis for governor in the 1851 election. He served a term in the state legislature before moving to Arkansas in 1854. In Helena, Arkansas, Hindman made friends with Patrick Cleburne, helping him with law studies. The Irish native reportedly talked Hindman out of a duel. Hindman became a driving force in Democratic Party politics, countering the "Know-Nothings" and becoming one of the "Southern Fire Eaters" who advocated secession if guarantees protecting slavery and its expansion were not met. He twice was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1858 and 1860 from Arkansas. In 1859, his role in selecting a house speaker brought him to national prominence. He did not take his seat after the second election. Hindman was an advocate of secession and played a major role in leading Arkansas out of the Union. He entered Confederate service as colonel of the Second Arkansas Infantry. Hindman was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Sept. 28, 1861. At the Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862, he led a division under Gen. William Hardee. His men attacked the “Hornet’s Nest” where Hindman was wounded. Hindman was boosted to major general to rank from April 14, 1862. Hindman, not popular for his hard-line stance on conscription and martial law, commanded the Trans-Mississippi Department until being relieved by Gen. Theophilus Holmes. Hindman’s next combat action came at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Dec. 7, 1862. He engaged Federal Divisions of the Army of the Frontier’s I Corps. Hindman placed his men between the divisions of Gen. James Blunt and Gen. Francis Herron. Hindman’s division beat up Herron’s cavalry, but struggled against the infantry. Hindman’s men set up positions and repulsed two Federal attacks. But the Confederates were stopped in an assault of their own. Hindman continued his attack against Herron and was finding success when Blunt’s men entered the fray. The battle ended with no clear winner, but Hindman returned to Van Buren, Arkansas. Sent east at his own request, Hindman joined the Army of Tennessee, Hindman commanded a division during the Confederate victory at Chickamauga (Sept. 19-20, 1863). Hindman again was wounded (in the neck). While recovering, he penned an article in the Mempis Daily Appeal ("Lion of the South" by Diane Neal and Thomas W. Kremm) supporting Cleburne's idea of recruiting black troops. He rejoined his division during the Atlanta Campaign, but was injured (thrown from his horse) at Kennesaw Mountain (June 27, 1864). The wound knocked him out of the war. At the end of the war, Hindman originally moved to Mexico to become a coffee planter, but returned to Arkansas in 1867.

This incorporates some of the suggestions jkBluesman made. I do not know whether or not it is over the size limit or not now.

[jkBluesman]

I think it is great. I only stumbled over the sentence with the duel. As far as I know, Cleburne talked Hindman out of one not vice versa. And when you write that he was a "Fire Eater" you do not have to mention later that he supported secession. That way you would gain some spaces.
Thanks and regards.

[Gil R.]

Battleline, please let me know if you're sticking with this one as is, or incorporating jkBluesman's most recent suggestion. Thanks!

[Battleline]

Gil,
Should be good now.
Battleline

[Gil R.]

Okay, copied.

[Battleline]

I know this bio has been closed, but I just found some additional interesting information in "Let Us Die Like Brave Men: Behind the Dying Words of Confederate Warriors" by Daniel W. Barefoot (John F. Blair, Publisher, 2005).
Barefoot states that Cleburne and Hindman were targets of assassins in 1856 and both were wounded in the streets of Helena. Cleburne killed the man who had shot him in the back.
The book also states that Cleburne and Hindman were two of three volunteers who assisted three doctors when the rest of the healthy left Helena in 1855 during an epidemic outbreak of Yellow Fever.
I don't know whether or not anything needs to be added to the bio above, but felt I needed to at least post this information.
Thanks,
Battleline
 

[Gil R.]

The assassination story would be worth including if you knew more about who/why. Even if that's not known, feel free to add it if you want.