TENNESSEE MILITARY ELECTION RECORDS, 1796-1862 Record
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State of Tennessee Department of State Tennessee State Library and Archives 403 Seventh Avenue North Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0312 TENNESSEE MILITARY ELECTION RECORDS, 1796-1862 Record Group 131 Processed by: David R. Sowell Archives & Manuscripts Unit Technical Services Section Date completed: 10-07-91 Location: Stack 2, TSLA MICROFILMED SCOPE AND CONTENT Record Group 131, Tennessee Military Elections, span the era from our State's inception in 1796, to 1862 when Tennessee was embroiled in the turmoil of the American Civil War. These elections were not much different than those conducted for county or civil offices; the sheriff (or constable) of each county held an election for the officers of each company of the Tennessee Militia. All counties of the State comprised a different company, and several counties companies) formed a regiment. Several regiments of the militia then formed into brigades. Volunteer companies are formed in counties when a special need arises, such as an invasion, insurrection, or declared war. Article VII, Constitution of the State of Tennessee (1796) stated that "captains, subalterns and non-commissioned officers shall be elected by those citizens in their respective districts who are subject to military duty...all field officers of the militia shall be elected by the field officers of their respective brigades..brigadier generals shall be elected by the field officers of their respective brigades...major generals shall be elected by the brigadiers and field officers of their respective divisions...the governor shall appoint the adjutant general; the majors general shall appoint their aids; the brigadiers general shall appoint their brigade majors, and the commanding officers of regiments, their adjutants and quarter-masters." The Constitution of 1835 changed this article in that "all militia officers shall be elected by persons subject to military duty, within the bounds of their several companies, battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions, under such rules and regulations as the Legislature may, from time to time, direct and establish...the Governor shall appoint the Adjutant General and his other Staff Officers; the Majors General, Brigadiers General and commanding officers or regiments, shall respectively appoint their Staff Officers." After the Civil War, militia elections were held exclusively within the bounds of each military company and were removed from the responsibility of the county sheriffs or their deputies. The Constitution of 1870 states that "all militia officers shall be elected by persons subject to military duty, within the bounds of their several companies, battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions, under such rules and regulations as the Legislature may from time to time direct and establish...the Governor shall appoint the Adjutant General and his other staff officers; the Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, and commanding officers of regiments, shall respectively appoint their staff officers." It is interesting to note that the Militia Law of the State of Tennessee (1840) states those who were exempt from military duty, and those included Supreme Court Justices, Chancery and Circuit Court Judges, Clerks of Court, the Secretary of State, Comptroller of the Treasury, the State and County Treasurers, acting justices of the peace, sheriffs, ordained ministers, postmasters and carriers of the mail, public ferry keepers, jailors, keepers of grist mills and toll gates, commissioners of common schools, and all conscientious objectors. Most of the military elections in Record Group 131 are for company officers and field officers, however some counties reported elections for general officers. Some counties and dates include all three categories. General officers encompass brigadier generals and major generals. Field officers include colonels, lieutenant colonels, majors and surgeons. Company officers consist of captains, lieutenants, and ensigns. Volunteer companies contain the same structure as a regular company. Elections of particular interest in Record Group 131 include the selection of representative to the Cherokee Nation, 1797 (Box 1, folder 32). Box number 34 consists of elections for volunteer companies raised to fight in the Indian Wars of 1836. Military elections for officers involved in the Civil War are found in boxes 45 and 46. Elections for the year 1862 are found in box 46, folders 34-35. These consist of militia companies of Cannon, Carroll, Claiborne, and Fayette Counties, Tennessee and several cavalry battalions and infantry regiments. Record Group 131 provides useful research material on Tennessee's military history, county histories, and genealogical data for those with ancestors involved in the Tennessee militia. CONTAINER LIST Series Title: Military Elections, 1796-1862. Sub-Series Number: 1 Sub-Series Letter: A Box 1 1. Blount Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1796. 2. Blount Co. Election Protests; 1796. 3. Carter Co. Officers--Assistance in appointing; Field Officers, Company Officers; 1796. 4. D avidson Co. Officers--General Officers, Field Officers, Company Officers; 1796. 5. Davidson Co. Protested Military Election, 1796. 6. Grainger Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1796. 7. Hawkins Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1796. 8. Jefferson Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1796. 9. Knox Co. Officers--Notice of Need for an Election, General Officers, Field Officers, Company Officers; 1796. 10. Knox Co. Election Protest; 1796. 11. Montgomery Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1796. 12. Robertson Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1796. 13. Sevier Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1796. 14. Sumner Co. Officers--Inquiry about commissions, General Officers, Field Officers, Company Officers; 1796. 15. Sumner Co. Election Protest; 1796. 16. Washington Co. Officers--General Officers, Field Officers, Company Officers; 1796. 17. Washington Co. Election Protest; 1796. 18. Blount Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1797. 19. Davidson Co. Officers--Notice of an election, Company Officers; 1797. 20. Davidson Co. Election Protest; 1797. 21. Grainger Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1797. 22. Grainger Co. Election Protest; 1797. 23. Greene Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1797. 24. Hawkins Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1797. 25. Jefferson Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1797. 26. Knox Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1797. 27. Knox Co. Election Protest; 1797. 28. Montgomery Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1797. 29. Robertson Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1797. 30. Robertson Co. Election Protest; 1797. 31. Sevier Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1797. 32. South of Holston--Representative to the Cherokee Nation, Captain--Samuel Hanly; 1797. 33. Sumner Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1797. 34. Washington Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1797. CONTAINER LIST, continued: Box 2 1. Carter Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1798. 2. Cocke Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1798. 3. Davidson Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1798. 4. Davidson Co. Election Protest; 1798. 5. Grainger Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1798. 6. Greene Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1798. 7. Hawkins Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1798. 8. Jefferson Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1798. 9. Knox Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1798. 10. Montgomery Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1798. 11. Robertson Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1798. 12. Sumner Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1798. 13. Washington Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1798. 14. Blount Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 15. Carter Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 16. Davidson Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 17. Greene Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 18. Hawkins Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 19. Jefferson Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 20. Jefferson Co. Election Protest; 1799. 21. Knox Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1799. 22. Montgomery Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 23. Robertson Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 24. Sevier Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 25. Sullivan Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 26. Washington Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1799. 27. Blount Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1800. 28. Carter Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1800. 29. Cocke Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1800. 30. Davidson Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1800. 31. Grainger Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1800. 32. Greene Co. Officers--Col. Crow lost commission, Company Officers; 1800. 33. Hawkins Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1800. 34. Jefferson Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1800. 35. Jefferson Co. Election Protest; 1800. 36. Knox Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1800. 37. Robertson Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1800. 38. Sevier Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1800. 39. Sullivan Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1800. 40. Sumner Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1800. CONTAINER LIST, continued: Box 2, continued: 41. Washington Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1800. 42. Williamson Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1800. Box 3 1. Blount Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1801. 2. Carter Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1801. 3. Cocke Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1801 4. Davidson Co. Officers--Field Officers, Company Officers; 1801. 5. Greene Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1801. 6. Hawkins Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1801. 7. Jefferson Co. Officers--Company Officers; 1801. 8. Knox Co.