Edward Winslow Hinks
Encyclopedia
Edward Winslow Hinks was a career United States Army
officer who served as a brigadier general
during the American Civil War
.
. He moved to Massachusetts in 1849 and served in the state legislature.
Hinks saw service at Ball's Bluff
, the Peninsula Campaign
, and at Glendale
, where he was wounded. He returned to his regiment
for the Maryland Campaign
, but was seriously wounded at Antietam
on September 17, 1862.
He received a promotion to brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from November 29, 1862, by nomination of President
Abraham Lincoln
on March 4, 1863, confirmation by the U.S. Senate on March 9, 1863 and appointment by the President on April 4, 1863. He spent the next two years on court martial and recruiting duty. In March through May 1864, he commanded the prison camp at Camp Lookout, Maryland before being assigned to command the 3rd Division of the XVIII Corps
, composed entirely of United States Colored Troops
, led by white officers. He was one of the leaders of the unsuccessful First Battle of Petersburg and served in the Siege of Petersburg
. When the division was rolled into the XXV Corps
, Hinks was sent north to perform recruitment duties and to enforce the draft. On December 3, 1867, President
Andrew Johnson
nominated Hinks for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
major general
, United States Volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on May 4, 1866. On December 3, 1867, President
Andrew Johnson
nominated Hinks for the award of the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general in the regular army, to rank from March 2, 1867, for his service at Petersburg The U.S. Senate confirmed the award on February 14, 1868.
of the 40th U.S. Infantry Regiment before retiring at the rank of colonel
in December 1870. After he retired, he served as governor of the National Military Home for Disabled Veterans in Hampton, Virginia
(1870–73) and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(1873–80).
Hinks died in Cambridge, Massachusetts
, and is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery Cambridge, Massachusetts
. His grave can be found on the Eglantine Path, Lot 1636.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer who served as a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life
Hinks was born in Bucksport, Maine. His name was originally spelled "Hincks" but deleted the "C" when he joined the U.S. Army in 1861 and resumed using the original spelling in 1871 after he retired from the service. He was a printer for the Whig and Courier newspaper in Bangor, MaineBangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
. He moved to Massachusetts in 1849 and served in the state legislature.
Civil War
In 1861, Hinks received a regular army commission as a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry, but was soon after offered a volunteer commission as commander of the 19th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.Hinks saw service at Ball's Bluff
Battle of Ball's Bluff
The Battle of Ball's Bluff, also known as the Battle of Harrison’s Island or the Battle of Leesburg, was fought on October 21, 1861, in Loudoun County, Virginia, as part of Union Maj. Gen. George B...
, the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
, and at Glendale
Battle of Glendale
The Battle of Glendale, also known as the Battle of Frayser's Farm, Frazier's Farm, Nelson's Farm, Charles City Crossroads, New Market Road, or Riddell's Shop, took place on June 30, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, on the sixth day of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War.The...
, where he was wounded. He returned to his regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
for the Maryland Campaign
Maryland Campaign
The Maryland Campaign, or the Antietam Campaign is widely considered one of the major turning points of the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North was repulsed by Maj. Gen. George B...
, but was seriously wounded at Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
on September 17, 1862.
He received a promotion to brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from November 29, 1862, by nomination of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
on March 4, 1863, confirmation by the U.S. Senate on March 9, 1863 and appointment by the President on April 4, 1863. He spent the next two years on court martial and recruiting duty. In March through May 1864, he commanded the prison camp at Camp Lookout, Maryland before being assigned to command the 3rd Division of the XVIII Corps
XVIII Corps (ACW)
XVIII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War.- Origins and makeup :The XVIII Corps was created on December 24, 1862, and initially composed of five divisions stationed in North Carolina, making it one of the largest in the Union Army , placed under the command of General...
, composed entirely of United States Colored Troops
United States Colored Troops
The United States Colored Troops were regiments of the United States Army during the American Civil War that were composed of African American soldiers. First recruited in 1863, by the end of the Civil War, the men of the 175 regiments of the USCT constituted approximately one-tenth of the Union...
, led by white officers. He was one of the leaders of the unsuccessful First Battle of Petersburg and served in the Siege of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
. When the division was rolled into the XXV Corps
XXV Corps (ACW)
XXV Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was unique in that it was made up almost entirely of African-American troops, which had previously belonged to the X and XVIII Corps....
, Hinks was sent north to perform recruitment duties and to enforce the draft. On December 3, 1867, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
nominated Hinks for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
, United States Volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on May 4, 1866. On December 3, 1867, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
nominated Hinks for the award of the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general in the regular army, to rank from March 2, 1867, for his service at Petersburg The U.S. Senate confirmed the award on February 14, 1868.
Postbellum career
After the war, he remained in the army as the lieutenant colonelLieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the 40th U.S. Infantry Regiment before retiring at the rank of colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in December 1870. After he retired, he served as governor of the National Military Home for Disabled Veterans in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
(1870–73) and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
(1873–80).
Hinks died in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, and is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. His grave can be found on the Eglantine Path, Lot 1636.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
- Massachusetts in the American Civil War