Kevin D. McCann

The Kitty League Book

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:45:00 +0000

I'm pleased to announce that my latest book (co-authored with Joshua R. Maxwell) entitled The Kitty League is now available! I'll post upcoming book signings and events soon.

I have a limited stock of books available for anyone who would like a signed copy. To order, please click the Buy Now button below:

If you prefer ordering by mail, please send $21.99 + $5.00 shipping to:
Kevin D. McCann
P.O. Box 1587
Dickson, TN 37056

Copies are also available to order below:

The Jackson Generals store
Arcadia Publishing
Amazon
Books-A-Million
Barnes and Noble

Wanted: Fresh Biographies of Early Republic Tennesseans

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:02:00 +0000

Originally posted on March 16, 2011

Bloggers Mark Cheatham and Michael Lynch (whose history blogs I would definitely recommend) point out the lack of scholarly biographies for several essential figures of the Early Republic, many of whom happen to be Tennesseans. While men such as John Sevier, William Blount, and John Bell have had biographies written about them, none has recent a modern treatment in almost sixty years. Others such as Hugh Lawson White and William Carroll–both significant figures in Tennessee political history–have been neglected altogether. (The lack of a biography for Carroll, the state’s longest serving governor, really surprises me. Aside from Andrew Jackson, he was Tennessee’s most influential politician of the 1820s and 1830s. ) Hopefully these men’s lives will interest historians in the near future and help fill the biographical void.

Stand Up for the Archives!

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Originally posted on March 29, 2011

One of Tennessee’s underappreciated treasures is the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville. I’ve enjoyed spending many Saturdays looking at microfilm or pouring through books for various projects over the years. When I was a college student living in Jackson, it was a big deal for me to make a trip to the Archives. One of the reasons I love living in Middle Tennessee is being only an hour’s drive from it. (My wife kids me about spending so much time there on Saturdays!) Over the past 20 years, this repository has held the secrets of my family history and subjects of books I’ve written. I couldn’t have written them without it.

I love having access to so much of our state’s history, but if proposed 2011-2012 state budget cuts are as deep as they appear to be, public access would be greatly limited. This past weekend, Mark Cheatham raised the alarm that TSLA’s public access could be reduced from 60 hours to 37.5, eliminating seven full-time positions. Gordon Belt at The Posterity Project confirmed the building would be closed on Mondays and hours would be reduced Tuesday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. effective July 1, 2011. (The Archives is normally open until 6 p.m.)

Times are tough and money is short in state government, and I applaud Gov. Haslam’s efforts to trim excess from the budget. But as a longtime patron of TSLA, I cannot condone limiting public access to state records in order to save money. I would argue that more would be lost if historians, genealogical researchers, and graduate students were denied the time needed to investigate their particular areas of historical research.

I would urge everyone impacted by this measure to contact their legislators, Gov. Haslam, and Secretary of State Tre Hargett, and politely express your disapproval. Mark Cheatham has provided ways to make contact and make your voices heard.

New Crockett Letter Discovered

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:56:00 +0000

Originally posted on April 7, 2011

Yesterday Jim Boylston and Allen J. Wiener, authors of David Crockett in Congress: The Rise and Fall of the Poor Man’s Friend (Bright Sky Press, 2009) announced that they had uncovered a letter written by Crockett to the publishers of his best-selling autobiography. (By the way, I highly recommend their book for anyone interested in Crockett and/or Tennessee history.)

The letter was written a year before his reelection campaign against the subject of my own book Adam Huntsman: The Peg Leg Politician. As he concludes, Crockett is looking ahead to the campaign and asks his publishers for an advance of $150-$200 to help finance it. He writes:

I was beaten the election before the last and it give me a back set in money matters An election costs a man a great deal in my country and I had strength and power to contend against

The “strength and power” he has “to contend against” turns out to be Huntsman, a formidable opponent who narrowly beats him for reelection. Of course this defeat led him to go to Texas, and the rest is history.

Recent Acquisitions

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:53:00 +0000

Originally posted on April 25, 2011

From time to time, I’ll post about books I’ve added to my personal library. Recent acquisitions have been limited by the household budget, but I did manage to shelve a few more lately.

This weekend, I went to a presentation and book signing by Ross Hudgins, author of Maggie: The Civil War Journal of Margaret Nichol Vaulx (Published by Westview, 2011). It’s the journal of a 17-year-old Nashville girl as she and her family endure the “Great Panic” in Tennessee’s capital city after the fall of Fort Donelson and Federal occupation. I had heard about this book recently and look forward to reading it.

The second book is recommended by Mark Cheatham of the Jacksonian America blog entitled The Craft of Research (Third Edition) (University of Chicago Press, 2008). Described as a “practical guide to mastering the art of research,” I hope it hones my own research techniques and teaches me a few new things, too

Is This Book Really Necessary?

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:50:00 +0000

Originally posted on May 27, 2011

Whenever I choose the subject of a book project, I always ask myself: Is this book really necessary? Does it share new information, present corrections to works already published, or give a different opinion of the subject?

If the answer is no, I believe the project is not worth pursing.

Case in point: A new biography of David Crockett (political opponent of Adam Huntsman, whom I’ve written about) written by Michael Wallis entitled David Crockett: The Lion of the West is now available. I’ve not read it, so this isn’t a critique of the book itself. But I wonder if this one is really necessary? Will it add to our knowledge of the fabled frontiersman based on groundbreaking research or the discovery of new letters written by him? Or is it simply a retelling of what serious Crockett readers already know without adding anything new, because the author simply wanted to write a book about him?

I’m afraid the latter point will be the case with Lion of the West.

For me, the three best Crockett biographies in terms of historic value are: William C. Davis’s Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis; David Crockett in Congress: The Rise and Fall of the Poor Man’s Friend by James R. Boylston and Allen J. Wiener; and James Atkins Shackford’s groundbreaking David Crockett: The Man and the Legend.

Truth be told, unless there’s a cache of heretofore unknown Crockett letters out there or a family diary that tells us more about his personal life, I don’t see the need for yet another Crockett biography that supposedly “uncovers” the “real” man underneath the Disney legend. This “uncovering” has already been done by Davis, Boylston, Wiener, and Shackford. Maybe that’s a bit harsh, but when I buy a book, I expect to learn something that I never knew before. I expect diligent research that presents new information about the subject of that particular book. Perhaps it’s too much to ask.

I’d like to hear from anyone who has read Lion of the West to share their take on Wallis’s interpretation of David Crockett. Is it worth reading? I’m sure I’ll give it a chance and add it to my Crockett bookshelf eventually.

"The Conspirator" in Theaters April 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:13:00 +0000

"The Conspirator," a film about Mary Surratt and the Lincoln assassination directed by Robert Redford, will be in theaters in April 2011. It looks like an interesting film! It's been a long time since I've seen a historical film at a movie theater. Looking forward to it. (A tip of the cap to Bull Runnings for posting the trailer.)

Adam Huntsman: The Peg Leg Politician Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 03:23:00 +0000

I am now accepting orders for my latest book, Adam Huntsman: The Peg Leg Politician! (This is a temporary ordering page until my official site redesign is complete.)

There are three ways to order:

(1) Order online through PayPal (to receive a signed copy)

**For a personalized signed book, please indicate during checkout**

(2) Order by mail--Please send a check or money order for $29.00 ($25.00 + $4.00 shipping) to:

McCann Publishing

204 Delaney Circle

Dickson, TN 37055

(**If you would like your signed book personalized, please indicate how you would like it to read**)

(3) Order online at Amazon.com (see left column of my blog)

Adam Huntsman: The Peg Leg Politician Available Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:12:00 +0000

My latest book--Adam Huntsman: The Peg Leg Politician--will be released officially on February 11, 2011, on what would have been Huntsman's 225th birthday. But copies will be available for purchase in early January if you can't wait that long. Anyone who is interested in Tennessee history or David Crockett in particular will enjoy this 298-page biography. If you're a Crockett fan, it offers a different perspective on his political career from the viewpoint of one of his most determined opponents.

To learn more about Adam Huntsman, here's an earlier post about his life and political career and another on his trademark peg leg.

A Christmas Eve Update

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 09:26:00 +0000

I've been so consumed with finishing work on my biography of Adam Huntsman that I've neglected to make any blog posts in quite a while! My apologies. Thankfully, I can report that this project is almost completed with a publication date of February 11, 2011, which will be Huntsman's 225th birthday. The book will be a paperback with 274 pages, my largest one to date. It should be available a few weeks sooner than Feb. 11. After that, I have a baseball book project lined up for a spring or summer 2012 release.

Jackson Generals

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:34:00 +0000

I had the opportunity this past week to be given inside knowledge of the name change of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx baseball club of the Double-A Southern League. I was sworn to secrecy, and I did my best to keep it to myself.

The team has gone back to its baseball roots and remade itself as the Jackson Generals.

I was excited when I heard about it. Eleven years ago, I published a book on the history of minor league baseball in my hometown entitled Jackson Diamonds: Professional Baseball in Jackson, Tennessee. In it, I chronicled each season, giving the reader an idea of its ebb and flow: how the team fared in the Kitty League pennant race, distinctive player performances and achievements, and lots of anecdotes. The Generals played in the Kitty League from 1935 to 1942, then came back from 1950 to 1954.

The Diamond Jaxx (now the Generals) allowed me to take part in the event and even sell a few books after the game. I had the chance to be interviewed by a local television station and radio station. And since the announcement was made, I've heard and read what local fans think of the new name. I was surprised with the loyalty some of them expressed for the Diamond Jaxx name. I never really warmed up to the nickname myself; it reminded me too much of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Some thought it had something to do with Jackson-Madison County General Hospital ( I had never thought of that one) or that it was taking the name of the local community college's baseball team.

Many fans (especially those born after the Generals folded almost 60 years ago) have no clue what the new name means, or the history behind it. I would encourage every baseball fan in Jackson and West Tennessee to purchase a copy of my book. It's really a fascinating history, if I do say so myself.

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:55:00 +0000

I'm not sure if there's anyone still following my blog--it's been a LONG time since I've posted anything--but if there is, I'm pleased to announce ... I have returned.

I've been busy for the past ten months writing and editing my upcoming book, The Peg Leg Politician: Adam Huntsman and Tennessee Frontier Politics. My deadline keeps getting pushed forward, but right now it's tentatively scheduled for release in September. Hopefully I can still take advantage of the political campaign season to help promote the book and that fact that it's the 175th anniversary of the fateful 1835 Congressional election that saw Adam Huntsman beat the celebrated David Crockett. If Huntsman had lost and Crockett won, history and legend would have been forever changed: Crockett would not have gone to Texas, and would not have died at the Alamo.

Huntsman is an interesting and colorful--though overlooked--figure in Tennessee political history. Hopefully this new biography will give him a little recognition.

McNairy County Historical Society Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:01:00 +0000

There was a great turnout last night for my presentation to the McNairy County Historical Society at the Jack McConnico Memorial Library in Selmer, TN. Despite the rainy weather, there was a packed meeting room when I arrived and more chairs were being brought in from the library. I was very honored that people came out to listen to me talk about Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee (U.S.) Cavalry. Afterward, I answered questions from members and guests, signed copies of my book Hurst's Wurst, and had the opportunity to talk with many people interested in Hurst, the Civil War, and their family histories that were tied to members of the Sixth Tennessee.

My wife Cindy and I sold 19 copies of the book--thank you very much to everyone who purchased one (or two)! If you missed the meeting but would still like a signed copy, please visit the link above or send an email request to:

A member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans in Corinth, MS who came to the meeting invited me to address one of their future meetings. I should have details in a few weeks.

Thank you, Judy Hammons and Nancy Kennedy with the Historical Society, for inviting me to speak. I enjoy coming back to Selmer and McNairy County whenever I have the chance.

Hurst's Wurst Presentation and Book Signing

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:56:00 +0000

I will be speaking to the McNairy County Historical Society on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Jack McConnico Memorial Library in Selmer, TN. I will discuss why I chose to research and write about Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee (U.S.) Cavalry, share a little about the man, his regiment, and other Unionists in southwest Tennessee during the Civil War, and answer questions.

I'll bring copies of my book Hurst's Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A. The cost is $20.00 each and I would be pleased to sign it.

(It's never too early to think about a Christmas gift for your favorite Civil War enthusiast!)

If you have any questions, please email me at:

Presentation and Book Signing Oct. 27th

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:57:00 +0000

I will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the McNairy County Historical Society Tuesday, October 27 at the Jack McConnico Memorial Library in Selmer, TN. The subject will be Colonel Fielding Hurst, the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S., and Southern Unionists in southwest Tennessee during the Civil War. Afterward, I will sign copies of my book Hurst's Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A.

Another Book Progress Report

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:41:00 +0000

Wow, it's been almost two months since I last posted to my blog! Not that I heard a clamor from anyone who reads it for my whereabouts, but I thought I would check back in nonetheless.

I've still working on edits and rewriting a few chapters for my book Adam Huntsman: The Peg-Legged Politician over the summer in anticipation of its release this fall. I've also commissioned a talented young artist who is working on three unique artistic additions to the book that I'm very excited about. More news on this book project in the weeks to come.

I will be giving a talk in late October on the subject of my last book Hurst's Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A. Details are still being worked out, but I should be able to make an announcement later this week. It's been a while since I returned to anything related to Hurst and I'm looking forward to revisiting his story and that of the Sixth Tennessee (Union) Cavalry.

I haven't been posting to my blog the past few months, but I have been tweeting on Twitter and built a decent 500+ tweets over the summer. There's a few updates on my projects, but mostly I share links to newspaper articles and blog posts I come across having to do with U.S. history, Tennessee history, and U.S. Presidents. I hope you'll follow me there!

On This Day in History: Fielding Hurst Escapes His Captors

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:09:00 +0000

On this day in history, Colonel Fielding Hurst of the Sixth Tennessee (U.S.) Cavalry was captured by Confederate soldiers near Somerville, Tennessee in 1863, but he escaped when his men came back for him.

Below is an excerpt from my book Hurst's Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A. (pages 31-32):

Hurst found himself in enemy hands when two members of Colonel Richard V. Richardson’s group captured him four miles southwest of Somerville, Tennessee on July 25. While on scout with a squad of the 1st West Tennessee, he stopped for a moment to talk with a widow named Lewis and her daughter at their front gate as he waited for some of his men to rejoin him. Two Confederate soldiers named Hugh Nelson and C.A.S. Shaw, returning home to Somerville for fresh horses and clothing, came upon Hurst on the road. They approached him from behind with guns drawn as Mrs. Lewis asked, “Col[onel] ain’t you afraid the Rebels will catch you[?]” No sooner had he replied that he wasn’t when the two soldiers took his pistols from his saddle holsters and led him away on horseback toward their encampment.Hurst knew his men would try and find him and he rode slowly between his captors to give them more time to catch up. When they objected to his pace, he told them they could shoot him if they did not like it.

Meanwhile Captain Harry Hodges of Company B and a group of eight soldiers from the regiment had pursued them for seven miles. When they were found, Lieutenant Risden D. Deford and an African-American servant belonging to Captain Robert M. Thompson of Company A ran ahead and began firing at them. In the confusion, Hurst “drew rein and turned his quick grey mare” into the woods as one of his captors shot at him with one of his own pistols. Hodges gave him a revolver and the 1st West Tennessee chased the Confederate soldiers to within a few hundred feet of Richardson’s encampment. Outnumbered, Hurst and his men turned back a short distance to the top of a hill where they were joined by the rest of the squad. They “cheered lustily, making so much noise that the Rebels thought the whole regiment was coming to avenge their Colonel’s wrongs.” Richardson’s command was tempted but grudgingly decided to give up their trophy without a fight.

Progress Report on Book Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:42:00 +0000

It's been two months since I've written a post, so I thought I would give everyone an update on projects of interest to readers of my blog.

The closest project to completion is the revised second edition of my 1996 book The Peg-Legged Politician: The Life of Adam Huntsman. Editing and layout work is progressing nicely with a publication date of August 23 on the horizon. It will be the 160th anniversary of Huntsman's death at his home near Jackson, Tennessee in 1849. A new Huntsman website is also in the works that will be launched in the coming weeks.

Thank you so much to everyone who has written to me about a project close to my heart, a proposed biography of third baseman Ken Boyer of the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers. This one is in the research phase right now as I learn more about his fifteen-year major league career. To keep up with this project, please visit my website or my site dedicated to Mr. Boyer.

Presidential Biographies

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:12:00 +0000

It's been my goal for the past few years to read at least one biography of the American Presidents of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (George Washington to Theodore Roosevelt). So far I've read ones for Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Theodore Roosevelt. (I have books on Zackary Taylor and Abraham Lincoln on my to-read list.) I'm especially anxious to find the essential biographies--the must-reads on a particular President.

If I have any readers out there, I would love to know your thoughts on the essential Presidential biographies I should read. The Presidents I'm especially interested in are James Madison, Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, and Franklin Pierce. I look forward to your suggestions!

Tippecanoe and Tyler Too

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:31:00 +0000

As part of my writing on the life and political career of Adam Huntsman, I'm researching the Presidential election of 1840 that saw Andrew Jackson's Democratic party suffer its first Presidential defeat to the Whig party. William Henry Harrison of Ohio and running mate John Tyler of Virginia rode the crest of an unprecedented wave of campaign enthusiasm into the President's House. Five years ago, a band called They Might Be Giants actually created their own version of a campaign song from that election. It's kind of catchy after listening to it a few times! (The lyrics "Van is a used up man" refers to the incumbent President Martin Van Buren.)

A Running Fight in Purdy, Tennessee (1859)

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:12:00 +0000

I'm taking advantage of a 30-day trial subscription to genealogybank.com and came across this newspaper article dated November 20, 1859 about a pre-Civil War fight between Fielding Hurst and M. Ledbetter on the streets of Purdy, Tennessee that involved pistols, horse shoes, and sticks! (Hurst is the subject of my book Hurst's Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A.)

"A difficulty occurred between two of our citizens on last Wednesday night. M. Ledbetter snapped a pistol at F. Hurst, Esq., at the distance of about six feet, and Hurst afterwards fired twice at Ledbetter at the distance of about twenty paces, and one of the balls entered a chair in close proximity to Ledbetter.

Brickbats, horse shoes, sticks and bottles were thrown in wild confusion during a sort of running fight, which continued for several minutes. Much excitement prevalled, and some of our citizens done splendid dodging and running; in the latter list was found leading the way, one of the editors of this paper--we mean the one who lives in town. There was an old grudge between the parties, but we forbear comment."

Plugging Away...

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:29:00 +0000

To those who check my blog from time to time, I apologize for the lack of posts. I've been hard at work on my latest book project on the life and political career of Adam Huntsman. So I've been writing, but it's work you won't see for a few more months. The ETA for this book is June or July 2009. For those of you interested in Tennessee history, antebellum politics, and David Crockett, I think you'll find it to be an interesting account of one minor but colorful politician during the Age of Jackson.

"Take Home A Package of Tennessee Pride!"

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:23:00 +0000

This has nothing to do with writing, but I suppose it has a little something to do with Tennessee history. Sort of.

I found this old commercial for Tennessee Pride Sausage I wanted to share. When I was a kid, breakfast on Saturday mornings consisted of biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, and Tennessee Pride Sausage. (If I was at Grandma's, sometimes there was chocolate gravy!) It's the only brand my mother ever used and I've carried on the tradition in my own household. Once I brought home another brand for a change of pace, but my wife and children didn't care for it. They only wanted Tennessee Pride. I'm sure it's a tradition in other Southern households too.

Adam Huntsman as a Cultural Icon

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:29:00 +0000

Everyone has seen the Obama icon image that was used throughout the late unpleasantness (i.e. the 2008 Presidential election). Now there's a website that enables anyone to create their own icon. Using this technology, I thought I would pay homage to the focus of all my writing energies of late.

Adam Huntsman Descendants Make Presentation to East Tennessee Historical Society

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin McCann) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:17:00 +0000

A 175-year-old sketch of Adam Huntsman has been donated by his descendants as a gift to the East Tennessee Historical Society.

Patricia Grames Pollock, great-great granddaughter of the one-term congressman from Tennessee, presented it on behalf of her family to Michele MacDonald, Curator of Collections for the society, on February 25. It had been passed down to her father, Charles M. Grames, by his mother Edith (Huntsman) Grames, who was Huntsman's granddaughter.

Adam Huntsman (1786-1849) was a Virginia native who came to Knox County, Tennessee in 1809, where he settled for about three years. It was here that he studied law under John Williams, one of Knoxville's most prominent attorneys in the early nineteenth century and later a United States Senator. The legal skills he learned from Williams he carried with him westward to Overton County and later Madison County, Tennessee, where he became a highly regarded criminal lawyer.

But it was politics that was Huntsman's passion: he was a leader of the Democratic Party in West Tennessee in the 1830s and 1840s and corresponded with notable politicians of his day such as Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, James Buchanan, and John C. Calhoun. He served four terms in the Tennessee state senate and defeated David Crockett for the Twelfth Congressional seat in 1835, a loss that led to Crockett's journey to Texas and his death at the Alamo.

The sketch is believed to have been done circa 1835 or 1836 while Huntsman served in Congress. Family tradition states that it was the work of an African-American woman who drew it with her foot!

Mrs. Pollock is pleased the East Tennessee Historical Society agreed to add it to their collection. “This fine old sketch deserves a permanent home where people can see it,” she said.