KINGS' MOUNTAIN 



The First Tennessee 



A Brief Sketch of This Regiment, the Most Noted of 

 Tennessee's Military Organizations. 



BY COL. W. C. TATOM. 



The history of the First Tennessee Regiment, Infantry, is a 

 part of the history of every war in which Tennesseans have en- 

 gaged since its organization nearly three-quarters of a century 

 ago. It is a proud and glorious history. It is a record of service 

 for the State and Nation and civilization that entitles it to be 

 remembered and honored so long as valor and patriotism and 

 that spirit which smiles at death when duty calls to danger are 

 esteemed manly virtues by the men and women of Tennessee. 



In 1836, at the outbreak of the Seminoles, the United States 

 on June 6th called for twenty companies from Tennessee, and 

 forty-two responded in less than thirty days. Twenty were or- 

 ganized at Fayetteville and five of these were formed into the 

 First Tennessee Regiment with 775 men. J. B. Bradford was 

 elected Colonel ; Terry H. Cahal, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Pow- 

 hattan Gordon and A. F. Goff, Majors. The regiment was in 

 the battle of Withlacooche, and in various engagements with the 

 Indians, winning a reputation for soldierly bearing, determination 

 and courage ; fighting and pushing the Indians into the very heart 

 of the everglades. Its term of service having expired, it took 

 boat at Tampa Bay, proceeded to New Orleans, and thence home 

 to Tennessee. 



61 



