Fielding Hurst facts for kids

Fielding Jackson Hurst was an important figure in Tennessee history. He was born in Claiborne County, Tennessee in 1810 and passed away in McNairy County, Tennessee in 1882. Hurst was a surveyor, which means he measured land. He also owned a large farm called a plantation. During the American Civil War, he became a colonel in the Union Army. He led a group of soldiers called the 6th Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry. After the war, he served as a politician in the Tennessee Senate and later became a judge. Hurst was known as a Southern Unionist, meaning he supported the United States (the Union) even though he lived in the South. He also owned enslaved people, which makes him a complex and sometimes debated historical figure.

Early Life and Work

Fielding Jackson Hurst was born in 1810. Around 1834, he and his wife, Melocky, moved to McNairy County, Tennessee. There, he worked as a surveyor, mapping out land. He also owned a plantation, which was a large farm where crops like cotton were grown. Like many wealthy people in the South at that time, he owned several families of enslaved people who were forced to work on his land.

Supporting the Union

In 1861, the state of Tennessee decided to leave the United States. It joined other Southern states to form the Confederate States of America. However, Fielding Hurst strongly believed in staying part of the United States. He was a Unionist. Because of his strong beliefs, he was put in prison in Nashville, Tennessee, along with other Tennesseans who supported the Union. In 1862, Union troops took control of Nashville. Hurst and the other Unionists were then set free.

Civil War Service

After his release, Hurst quickly formed his own group of mounted scouts. These were soldiers on horseback. At first, they were irregulars, meaning they were not officially part of the army. They paid for their own supplies. Later, Andrew Johnson, who was the military governor of Tennessee, officially made Hurst a commander. Hurst then led the new 6th Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry.

Hurst and his soldiers became known for their tough fighting methods. This made many Confederates angry. Sometimes, even Union officials were concerned by his actions. He was even briefly put in prison again by Union leaders. His forces fought several times against Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest. In December 1864, Hurst resigned from his military role because he was not in good health.

Political Career

After the war, Hurst continued to serve his state. On March 4, 1865, he was elected to the Tennessee Senate. He represented District 21, which included Hardeman, Hardin, and McNairy counties. His very first vote in the Senate was to approve the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This important amendment officially ended slavery in the United States. Hurst resigned from the Senate on June 12, 1865. He left to become a circuit judge.

Later Life

Fielding Hurst was a local leader in the Grand Army of the Republic. This was a group for Union Army veterans. He passed away in 1882. Even after his death, some people who supported the Confederacy still disliked him.