HurstNation.com - The Hurst Nation is the online home for all things related to Col. Fielding Jackson Hurst and the Hurst Clan

The Hurst Nation - The Online Legacy of Colonel Fielding Jackson Hurst; 6th Tennessee Union Cav.

This site is dedicated to my Great, great, great Uncle Fielding Hurst. I was somewhat shocked when I first learned of this relation. I had never heard of Fielding Hurst prior to a fateful Google Search about 5 years ago. Long story, short, Col Hurst is despised to this day. This article by W. Clay Crook is the first thing that most folks read about Col. Hurst. Great article, but it does have quite a bit of propaganda, myth and legend.

I am not defending all of Col. Hurst's actions during or after the Civil War, but it is clear that the legend of Fielding Hurst took on a life of its own a long time ago. Both sides do this stuff. There are equally horrible stories on both sides. Col. Hurst's arch-enemy, Nathan Bedford Forrest, was accused to equally horrible things.

For sure, Fielding Hurst did not have control over the 6th Tennessee Union Cavalry. The thing that made his guerrilla outfit successful was the same thing that brought about it's disbandment and many of the horror stories about Fielding Hurst. Col. Hurst and his men were the extraordinary scouts. They often disbanded at night and reform the next morning at just the right place (or at least by noon-ish.) Guerrilla Warfare was the name of the game in West TN during the war, both sides played this game, and the higher up in the chain of command knew about it and/or ordered it.

Again, I cannot defend some of Col. Hurst actions. It is clear that he took advantage of his position and any loot that went his way seemed to vanish. Fielding Hurst did, however, take a stand for what he believed in when the war started and you really have to give him some credit for that stance. A wealthy slave owner who owned more land than almost anyone in the county, Hurst financial interest would have best been served by joining the rebel cause.

When the vote on cession came on June 8, 1861 and citizens were forced to vote out loud, Hurst gave a fiery speech, was dragged off, chained up, paraded/taunted, and chunked in a prison in Nashville to brood and plot, until the Union rested control from the Confederacy and set him free.

I can sort of see how that could make a man a tad bitter and vengeful. Don't send me your hate mail concerning Col. Hurst. I am actually descended from David, the one Hurst brother who sided with the Confederacy. Prior to the war, Col. Hurst was an average citizen. Did something happen revealed a dark side? Was Col. Hurst a bad guy? Yes and yes. I hope you enjoy the blog whether you consider it a blog about the Civil War or a blog about the War of Northern Aggression. Either way, feel comment or email me, and be sure to visit our Google advertisers.

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