Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-12-18


Glowing History.
Tennessee Is modestly proud OF itself
for several things, but for nothing
more than it's fighting men. Given a
cause that appeals to it's heart, and
the fighting strength rises almost 40
one man. In the time Of the Mexi-
can war the state was asked for 1900
volunteers. and promptly offered S0,-
600. 1t was the same way in the civ
II war-more than one county sent
more men to fight than 1t had to vote.
Proportionately to population, it gave
a larger contingent TO both armies
than any other state.
One Tennessee regiment-the 1st-
has been making history this hundred
years and more. 1t was organized
and commanded by John Sewer, when
the state was merely Tennessee
County" Of North Carolina. Sewer
led it over the mountains, when Rev
olutionary fortunes were at the low
est ebb. to fall upon Tarlaton at Kings
Mountain. and turn a wavering fight
into brilliant victory. Twenty years
later Andrew Jackson was its Colonel
through the bloody Indian wars that
broke the power of Choctaws, Greeks
and Chcrokees. A little later Gen.
Andrew Jackson posted his old regi-
rnent in the very fore front at the
battle Of New Orleans, where, side
by side with the hunters of Kentucky
its unerring rifles moved down the
red coats like grass.
Afterward the LIST Tennessee slept
upon its laurels until there We're grum-
blings OF war in the Southwest. Many
of its original members had gone to
Texas, but they had left kinsmen in
plenty to fill the ranks afresh. The re-
newed fst Tennessee went to the help
of "OId Rough and Ready" as Gen.
Zachary Taylor was affectionately
called, and soon showed that 1t meant
to live up to its reputation. At Monte
rcy, walled and fortified town which
Taylor was forced to carry by as
sault, II was the LIST Tennessee which
set the first American flag triumph
antly in the breach-and what is very
much more to the military purpose
kept Ii there until it was carried fur
ther forward.
All through Mexico 1t went, WIN
ming golden opinions from even the
staunch and stately regular army men.
When 1t came home. after the old
fashion, it kept up sort of skeleton
organization. A skeleton the civil war
found 1t. but a skeleton that quickly
took on life and strength. A state
Of war supervened late In April; in
May Tennessee seeded; in June the
LIST Tennessee, oddly brigaded with
the 18th and 14th Regiments, left for
Virginia, where the Tennessee brig
ade was assigned to Lees corps, then
operating in West Virginia.
The next winter Lee took command
in front Of Richmond and the Tennes-
see brigade became part Jackson's
foot cavalry" 1t stayed III him un-
til his death, bearing itself soldierly
through all HIS fighting, and more than
once winning special mention for des-
perate and distinguished daring. At
Gettysburg 1t made part of Pickett's
charging column, losing more than
half it's numbers in killed, wounded
and prisoners.
"The cankers of calm world and
long peace" even could not destroy
the fighting spirit in the famous old
LIST Regiment. When the Spanish war
came on, sons and grandsons, and
great-grandsons of LIST Regiment men
went joyously into its ranks. They al
most prayed to be sent to Cuba. The
powers that be thought fit to send
them to the Philippines instead. But
1t was October, 1885, before they en-
barked, and they grumbled nightly
that the fighting was all over.
Since events have proved their mis-
take the regiment has lived up to its
traditions. The regimental historian
has an autograph letter from Admiral
Dewey, saying:
II am too happy to have an opportu-
nifty of expressing my admiration of
this Tennessee regiment. its splendid
work in the Philippines in actual war
fare, and Of its late Colonel
Gen. Otis adds:
Nothing can be said Of 1t (the LIST
Tennessee regimenD which is not COM
mandatory of it as military organi-
alton. Next to its admirable fighting
qualities, what has impressed me most
forcibly is the universal good feeling
and close comradeship which exists
among it's members, and the regard
which the enlisted men have for their
officers, who look carefully after their
wants. AS an admirable fighting
machine, It has shown its excellence.
both here and at Iloiio."
Tia calel;a= LIN