I am seeking information on the pre war state milita of Tennessee for use in the opening chapter of my history of the 43rd Tennessee regiment, CSA.
For some reason both Virginia and Tennessee, and perhaps others, disbanded their militias midway during the 19th century. Was this common of all the states?
I would be interested in the rational for these actions as from day one the Union had based its military readiness on well drilled state militias.
From his executive offices in Nashville, Tennessee Governor Isham G. Harris on January 7, 1861 issued a call for a special session of the General Assembly. In his address to this assemblage, he made note that " . . . with the exception of a small number of volunteer companies, we have no military organization in the State, the militia having been disorganized immediately after the repeal of the law which required drills and public parades."
Sallie Putnman in her Richmond During the War, makes note on page 34, of the status of the state in early 1861:
"For a while after the revision of the State Constitution in the winter of 1851, the military system [Militia?] was abandoned, and had only been revived for a few years, through the efforts of General Kemper when in the State Legislature."
I would assume that reinstatement of the Virginia milita prewar was a reaction to the John Brown Raid.
George Martin
Sparks, NV