Of interest in this regard is the article appearing in the Knoxville Daily Register, January 21, 1862

Pikes for a Division

The Nashville Union of American suggests the manufacture of 10,000 pikes to arm a division of Tennesseans. The spears and hickory shafts can be easily manufactured everyware throughtout the country, and the history of the war has demonstrated that the Yankees cannot: stand a charge of cold steel or iron. Eack pikeman might be armed with a pistol and knife in addition to his pike. The suggestion is a good one, and reminds me that, in the time of the
first Revolution,Marion’s men in South Carolina, did gallant service with swords manufactured from mill-saws by country backsmiths. Decidedly ten thousand
pikemen, well drilled and flanked by riflemen or sharpshoots would be formidable in a charge upon a Hessian host.