Hi: I ran across a mention of a Maj. Hinds in the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812 and so doing a little more digging came up with some of the entries below concerning him - Major Thomas Hinds. Regards Nan 71532.734@compuserve.com =========================================== Found at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~msswterr/bren7.htm PARTICIPATION OF MAJ.-GEN. HINDS IN THE CREEK WAR - 1814 In 1814 the most dangerous circuit was that of Peter James and Ira Byrd, with most of the people still at the forts. A much stronger military was now present. Col. Pushmatah, with about 400 friendly Choctaws, was marching upon the Creeks. General Claiborne was getting ready to leave Pine Level, near St. Stephens and move east toward the Alabama River. General Jackson with his Tennessee troops was advancing down the Coosa, and the general outlook became encouraging. When news of the downfall of Major Beasley and his troops of Jefferson County reached Major-General Thomas Hinds, the lion-hearted man reached a frenzy. He called on his fellow citizens to unite with him to avenge the blood of their slain neighbors, and was soon at the head of a mounted battalion on the way to the seat of the war. He reported to an embarrassed Gen. Claiborne at St. Stephens, who told Hinds he had no room for his command in the fort, that he was required to keep all of his supplies at the fort for his auxiliary Choctaw who were soon to join him under the order of Col. Pushmatah, and the had no authority to issue orders to Hind's troops, as they were not placed under his command. Hinds replied that he need feel no embarrassment on his account, that he had not come to Alabama to fort-up and wait for the Indians to find him; he planned to find them. He would get his horses and supplies where they were to be found, and he wanted no formality of regular orders. Hinds and his troops camped outside the fort that night, while he directed his troops to prepare several day's rations and be ready to start for the Alabama River at dawn on a regular "Indian hunt." His little battalion embraced a fair proportion of the elite and chivalry of Jefferson County, but also included some recreants who protested the Indian hunt. Major Hinds immediately gave permission for any to leave who were unwilling to follow him the next morning. They would not be punished. A number of men were missing at roll call. With the remaining force, Hinds marched in the direction of Lower Peach Tree on the Alabama River, in regular military order. Hinds learned from his scouts that a number of Creeks were on a plantation on the west bank of the river, shelling corn and conveying it in their canoes across the river. Quietly his force descended like an avalanche on the unsuspecting savages, who were terrified and made faint resistance. Most of the Indians were slain on the ground, and others shot in the river trying to escape. It looked savage for the Jefferson County troops to kill the women and children, but they thought of the butchery of helpless women and children at the Fort Mims massacre, and thought of revenge as, "paying the savages in their own currency." This little known act of the Jefferson County troops struck such terror in the hostile Creeks in the area, that few were ever seen there by the white inhabitants of the Tombigbee again. Major Hinds was known as a prudent but brave and dashing military leader. His small troop soon became the Mississippi Dragoons, then a regiment, and finally a brigade which he commanded in the vicinity of New Orleans. ============================================= Found using the Ancestry.com database search at: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/prodredir.asp?sourceid=4717&key=D7664 LOUISIANA BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL MEMOIRS (Images online) This database contains Goodspeed's "Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana." Source Information: Ancestry.com. "Louisiana Biographical and Historical Memoirs" [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Original data: "Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana." Volume I. Chicago: Goodspeed, 1892. Section: Louisiana in the War of 1812 (page 67 concerning the Battle of New Orleans) "The Mississippi Cavalry commanded by Maj. Hinds, 150 strong, were encamped in the rear on Delery's plantation." ========================================= Found using google.com (for Maj. Hinds & Louisiana) http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ms/state/warof1812.html Brought to you by the Mississippi Project- American Local History Network " The Dragoons (q.v.), under Maj. Hinds, arrived at New Orleans just in time to take part of the first battle, December 23." =================================== Found at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~msswterr/bren3.htm Early Southwest Mississippi Territory "John C. Johnson was licensed to preach in 1812. He was riding into town to preach in Fayette one Sunday, when his neighbor Major-General Thomas Hinds sent his wagoner to town for some purpose. Mr. Johnson and Major Hinds were members of the Masonic fraternity, as well as friends and neighbors. Mr. Johnson sent Major Hinds word that he "would send an officer for him early tomorrow morning to come in and account for this public violation of the laws of his country". Major Hinds was not a religious man but thought highly of Johnson. The Major was in Fayette early the next morning, and apologized to Johnson, promising not to let his team be unnecessarily employed on a Sabbath again. The friendship was not interrupted." =================================== Found at: http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~wcarr1/Lossing2/Chap42.html Jacksons call upon Coffee, Carroll, and others had been quickly responded to. Coffee came speedily over the long and tedious route from Fort Jackson, on the Alabama River, to Baton Rouge, and was now encamped, with his brigade of mounted riflemen, on Avarts plantation, five miles above New Orleans. The active young Carroll, who had left Nashville in November with Tennessee militia, arrived in flat-boats and barges at about the same time, and brought into camp a regiment of young, brave, well-armed, but inexperienced soldiers, expert in the use of the rifle, and eager for battle. They landed on the 22d of December, and were hailed by Jackson with great joy. A troop of horse, under the dashing young Hinds, raised in Louisiana, came at about the same time.