RE: Jack Hinson. Probably way too PC a world to do a movie that showed him as the man he was. He'd probably be portrayed as a sweaty killer, or a screw-loose deranged rogue.
His rifle was custom-made for him to his specs. He went forth, and the only men he killed on land were the SGT, and Officer who ordered his boys killed. The rest were killed at ranges up to 1,000 yards, open sights, rested in the fork of a tree. They were passengers on riverboats transporting Union troops southward on the river, and were targeted when the boats slowed down. At the moment of the strike, the sound and smoke had dissipated, so no one on deck had a clue as to where the round had come from. he targeted mostly Union Officers.The rifle is now in the possession of a Judge in a neighboring county.
The story about his boy's heads being hung on the newell posts is apocryphal, and has not been documented, but that sort of inhuman cruelty was not uncommon.
As far as has ben documented Capt Jack was never formally in the Service of the Confederacy, was not a captain and not actually proven to have been. scout for Forrest. But it makes goo d legend, so I never argue against it.
There is a small private museum and if the curator iss till alive, he will talk endlessly about Hinson's activities.
Hinson was a local farmer, and was said to have hidden his treasure beneath a large oak tree with the assistance of his household servant. Never recovered.
He was not ever discovered, nor ever hunted down or captured, and took no wounds. His craftsmanship as a sniper is of the finest work ever.
I visited his grave with two other Tiger Force veterans, an FO, and a Platoon Leader, who lived nearby. The region is rife with history, battlefields, and families of Confederate warriors. The land Between The Lakes, (Formerly the Land Between The Rivers), is beautiful and the air fairly crackles with the memories of times past.
A properly done movie would be wonderful and believe it or not, since he was a small guy, perhaps a role that Cruise could actually fill.
You will absolutely be amazed reading the book.
