Hines, Thomas Henry

Confederate Army officer, lawyer, judge.

Thomas Hines, a native of Butler County, Kentucky, joined the Confederate Army in 1861, and after the battle of Shiloh became a member of General John Hunt Morgan's cavalry. He escaped with Morgan from the penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio, November 27, 1863, and has been given the credit by Basil Duke and others for engineering that spectacular episode. In 1864, Hines was commissioned by the Confederate government to plan and execute a revolt aginst the Federal government in the northwest among disaffected troops. Federal agents learned of the so-called Northwestern Conspiracy, however, and the plan fell through. After the war, Hines studied law in Canada with John Cabell Breckinridge. He remained in Canada until March, 1866, at which time he moved to Memphis to edit THE DAILY APPEAL and finish his law studies.

In 1867, Hines moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he established his law practice. He was elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1878, and presided as Chief Justice during 1884-1885. He retired in 1885. Hines married Nannie Sproule in 1864, and their daughter, Alice Thomas Hines, married Delano B. Walcutt.

From the description of Thomas Henry Hines papers, 1786-1954, 1860-1889 (bulk dates). (University of Kentucky Libraries). WorldCat record id: 13438791