:Draft:John Hayfield

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{{Short description|John Hayfeild - a Virginia legend}}

{{Draft topics|biography|north-america|military-and-warfare}}

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John Hayfield (1840–1899)

John Hayfield was an English-born American soldier and outlaw, born on 25 April 1840. He is known for his service in the American Civil War and later infamy as a wanted outlaw in the Western frontier. His life remains the subject of historical interest due to its dramatic arc from soldier to fugitive.

Early Life

John Hayfield was born in Sussex, England, to Hector Hayfield, a wealthy businessman who profited from colonial enterprises, including the enslavement of African girls forced into domestic labor. His mother, Margaret Elwood Hayfield, belonged to a prominent English family with social and political influence.

In 1853, at the age of 13, John emigrated with his family to the United States, where they settled in Virginia. The Hayfields brought their wealth with them and lived on a large estate, continuing to employ enslaved people until the abolition of slavery.

American Civil War

When the American Civil War broke out in 1861, Hayfield enlisted in the Confederate Army, driven by loyalty to his family's Southern ties. He rose to the rank of lieutenant and fought in several key battles, including Antietam and Gettysburg. Despite being wounded twice, he survived the war and was honorably discharged in 1865.

Outlaw Life

After the war, Hayfield struggled to reintegrate into civilian life. Bitter over the South's defeat and the loss of his family's fortune, he turned to crime. During the 1870s and 1880s, Hayfield became a notorious figure in the American West. He was linked to multiple train and stagecoach robberies across Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Known for his intelligence and ruthlessness, he earned the nickname "The Gentleman Bandit."

Wanted by U.S. Marshals and pursued for years, Hayfield became a symbol of the post-war outlaw era.

Death

John Hayfield was killed on 19 May 1899 in a shootout with law enforcement near El Paso, Texas. Cornered in a saloon after being identified by a bounty hunter, he refused to surrender and died in the ensuing gunfight. He was 59 years old.

Legacy

John Hayfield's life has been romanticized in Western folklore, and he remains a figure of both infamy and fascination. Historians have debated whether he was a victim of his times or simply a man who embraced violence and rebellion. His story has inspired several fictionalized accounts in novels and film.