The Tennessee State Militia traces its origins to the American Revolution. During the Battle of King’s Mountain, approximately four hundred volunteers from the area known today as Tennessee crossed the mountains into North Carolina to fight against the British Army and Loyalist militias. They contributed significantly to the Patriot victory.
Tennessee militias served in battle again in the War of 1812 under Andrew Jackson. After fighting and winning the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814), they served with distinction in the Battle of New Orleans alongside other state militias, federal soldiers, local volunteers, slaves, and pirates against the British Army.
During the Mexican-American War, the nickname “The Volunteer State” became associated with Tennessee. When asked by President Polk to provide two infantry regiments and one cavalry regiment, Tennessee provided approximately ten times that number of volunteers.
During the American Civil War, the Confederacy took advantage of the many state-based militias to fight their war. Tennessee’s location on the border of Kentucky, which was a Union state, and the strategic hub of Memphis, Tennessee made the residents of Tennessee in constant need of forces to protect them from Union incursions. Tennessee volunteer militia units served in many battles of the Civil War, notably the Battle of Shiloh in which the 4th Tennessee Infantry served with distinction and lost nearly half of its members.
American Revolution – Tennessee State Militia History:
War of 1812 – Tennessee State Militia History:
- Brief History of Tennessee Militia in the War of 1812.Battalion of East Tennessee Militia.
- East Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunmen.
Mounted Volunteers of East Tennessee.
Separate Battalion of Volunteer Mounted Gunmen.
Separate Battalion of West Tennessee Militia.
Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunmen or Cavalry.
1st Regiment East Tennessee Volunteer Militia.
1st Regiment of East Tennessee Militia.
1st Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.
1st Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Infantry.
1st Regiment of West Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunmen.
1st Regiment Tennessee Volunteers.
1st Regiment West Tennessee Militia.
1st Regiment West Tennessee Mounted Volunteers.
2nd Regiment East Tennessee Volunteer Militia.
2nd Regiment of East Tennessee Militia.
2nd Regiment of Tennessee Militia.
2nd Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.
2nd Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Riflemen.
2nd Regiment of West Tennessee Militia.
2nd Regiment Tennessee Mounted Volunteers.
2nd Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.
2nd Regiment West Tennessee Militia.
2nd Regiment West Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunmen.
3rd Regiment East Tennessee Militia.
3rd Regiment of Tennessee Militia.
3rd Regiment West Tennessee Militia Infantry.
4th Regiment of East Tennessee Militia.
American Civil War – Tennessee State Militia History:
- Tennessee Confederate Militia Uniform Jackets.
10th Tennessee Infantry Regiment of Militia Volunteers (Irish).Battle of Raymond: Randal MacGavock’s Fall.
Tennessee Militia Historical Records:
- 1788 – John Blair’s Militia Company.
March 1, 1812 – Andrew Jackson’s Call for Militia Volunteers.
December 1, 1861 – Correspondence and militia notices in the Nashville Daily Gazette.
December 3, 1861 – Militia companies in Palmyra and the fight at Cousin Sally Dillard’s.
February 19, 1862 – Governor Isham G. Harris’ General Orders to the Tennessee Militia.
July 22, 1862 – On the Erstwhile Confederate Militia in Union Occupied Memphis.
February 26, 1864 – “General Orders No. 6.” Enforcement of the Enrolled Militia Program in Memphis.