Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-29
Gen. Thomas c. Hindman Shot I'm
His own House at Night.

His own House at Night.
Few, if indeed any, murders of the
present age can equal the black strocious-
ness of the one just enacted at Helena,
Arkansas, on the night ofthe 9th inst. We
can look with eomposure at death on the
battlefield; we can view with resignation
the hand of the fell destroyer when our
friends are taken from us by natures
decay, but when the demon of assassina-
ton comes to claim its victim we shudder
at the thought, and our hair is made to
stand on end when we see the horrible
work.
Thomas C. Hindman has paid the last
debt that nature requires from her chill
dren. He met death at the hands of an
assassin on Sunday night last, while sit
ting around bis hearth, within the bosom
Of bis family, dreaming not of danger nor
that tonight ! must die" The facts as
received state that be was quietly smok-
ing his pipe in private room at home,
when he was shot through the window
with a musket, which had been loaded
with buck and ball cartridge. The dis
charge from the gun carried away his
left hand, aud two of the balls entered his
neck, which caused severe internal bleed
ing, and his life was terminated after
eight hours Of suffering. Heexpired with
that brave resignation which be ever dis
played in times Of danger and calamity.
Gen. Thomas c. Hindman was born in
East Tennessee, about the year 1929, and
when be had attained the age of ten
years his father and family moved to Tip
pah county, Mississippi, where ne re-
ceived the first lessons of his education
preparatory to his entrance on q collie
giate course at Princeton, New Jersey.
He was regarded as one Of the brightest
boys in his class, but did not complete
his education by graduating, for the rea-
son of the Mexican war coming on. he
thought it was his duty to obey the call OF
his State for volunteers, which be did,
and was elected Lieutenant of one of the
companies in the gallant Mississippi reg
iment commanded by Jefferson Davis.
Lieutenant Hindman was at the organize
ton of the regiment made Adjutant, and
served with distinction during the war.
After the war was over be came back to
his home in Tippah county, where be en-
gagged in the study and practice of law.
His talents attracting the people Of bis
county, be was solicited to represent
the county in the Legislature, where be
served with credit for two terms.
The subject Of our article then think
ing it his interest to cast his fortunes
with the young and rising State Of Ar
kansas, he settled in Helena, where he
was soon regarded as the first lawyer in
the State, and his talents brought him
prominently before the people as a
politician, and his successful cOmbats
showed him to be man Of the first order
of intellect BE was elected to Congress
in 1858, and was reelected at the expirs-
ton Of his first term, but the war came on
and he was prevented from taking his
seat His lot was cas-. with that Of the
South, which be had ever stood ready TO
defend in debate when her traducers
would SANDER her reputation.
His first act in the war was TO raise what
was known as Hindman's Legion, com.
posed Of the chivaIry Of the West BE
was elected colonel, aud afterwards, for
gallaniry and services, promoted to
brigadier general, and, subsequently to
that, made major general he was or.
dered TO take command Of the trans
Mississippi department, which be did.
and his talents and energy we're at once
felt in that department His administra.
ton was thought by the people at the
tine to be unnecessarily Esvers,
and be left the department
after twelve months Of hard labor, very
unpopular man Bat the rigOrs Of milf
tAry Law we're new then 70 the people, and