Tennessee in the War of 1812

 
The State Museum presents exhibit on the 200th anniversary of

Tennessee in the War of 1812 

The Tennessee State Museum (TSM) is commemorating the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 with a new exhibition, Becoming the Volunteer State: Tennessee in the War of 1812. The exhibit opens on February 16 and will be on view in the museum’s Changing Galleries. Admission is free.

The War of 1812, fought against Great Britain, culminated in the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815. While this conflict is often overlooked by the American public, it was incredibly important in establishing the American national identity. Some noted historians believe that it was the “second American Revolution,” which marked the United States true independence from Britain.

At its conclusion, the war made western lands accessible for settlement, secured the American frontier from Indian uprisings and protected the Mississippi as an avenue for trade and prosperity. The war also gave America one of its most important heroic figures, Andrew Jackson of Tennessee. Jackson eventually rode his success as a military commander all the way to the White House, where the strong presidency he created became a model for American democracy.

“Like Andrew Jackson, other Tennesseans also played an important role in the War of 1812.  They were keenly aware of the danger that Britain posed to America’s western security, particularly as the British encouraged American Indians to challenge U.S. expansion,” according to TSM exhibit curator Myers Brown. “Tennesseans were among the most ardent ‘War Hawks,’ clamoring for armed conflict to settle the continuing challenge by Great Britain once and for all,” Brown said. On June 18, 1812, after years of escalating tensions between the two countries, the United States declared war on Great Britain.

Two notable events from the War of 1812 are forever etched in the collective consciousness of America’s heritage: the British burning of Washington, D.C. when First Lady Dolly Madison saved  the portrait of George Washington before she fled the capital and  the writing of the “Star Spangled Banner” by attorney Francis Scott Key during the British attack of Ft. McHenry at Baltimore.

Tennesseans participated in the war against the British and their Indian allies in the Great Lakes area. Then, when the British threatened the Gulf Coast, they were finally defeated at New Orleans.  By the time the war was over several Tennesseans were beginning to emerge as important American figures, including Jackson, David Crockett, Sam Houston, Edmund Gaines (Act of Congress Medal winner), and Sequoyah.

The war in the south was particularly a Tennessee war, waged predominately by Tennessee militia, volunteers, or regular army units raised in the state. So many Tennesseans volunteered for service that the state soon began to be known by its now-famous nickname, the “Volunteer State.”

The victory at the Battle of New Orleans propelled Andrew Jackson to the White House and established Tennessee at the forefront of American politics.

The State Museum collaborated with six other organizations to develop and produce the exhibition, including The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson, the Tennessee Historical Society, the State Library & Archives, the East Tennessee Historical Society, Humanities Tennessee and the Tennessee War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee.  Important art, portraits, uniforms, weapons and period artifacts from the era as well as a broad variety of documentary art, maps and illustrations have been selected to recreate a flavor of the times.      

Exhibit highlights include:

  • The sword presented to Andrew Jackson by the Tennessee legislature for his victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend
  • Photograph of Edmund Gaines and the Act of Congress Medal, the highest honor awarded at the time, for the Defense of Fort Erie. Gaines is one of only two Tennesseans awarded this prestigious medal for the War of 1812, the other was Andrew Jackson
  • Portrait of Sequoyah and several other prominent Indians
  • The sword of Lemuel P. Montgomery, a former Nashville attorney, who served in the 39th U.S. infantry and was the highest-ranking American officer killed at Battle of Horseshoe Bend
  • Flag of the 39th U.S. Infantry Regiment, the regiment which was raised in Tennessee by Colonel John Williams for service in the war
  • Diary of Jacob Hartsell, a captain in the 2nd East Tennessee militia, who served in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (the only known existing diary from a Tennessee soldier to have survived the war)
  • Uniform of Major John Reid of the 44th U.S. Infantry Regiment, who was Jackson’s aide at the Battle of New Orleans
  • British saber and pistol captured at the Battle of New Orleans
  • A facsimile of the ball gown and uniform worn by Rachel and Andrew Jackson at the Victory Ball given in their honor by the city of New Orleans following  the battle
  • Uniform of Captain Samuel Price, who fought at Fort Meigs, Ohio and died of camp fever in 1814

In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum will take part in several events scheduled in commemoration of the War of 1812:

  • March 3 – Teachers workshop at the State Museum sponsored by TSM and The Hermitage
  • March 15 – Andrew Jackson’s Birthday celebration-programming throughout the day and half price on admission at The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson.  For information, visit www.thehermitage.com
  • March 16 – Teaching with Primary Source Material workshop for teachers sponsored by the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU and the Library of Congress at the Nashville Public Library
  • March 16 – Pre-symposium event and tour of the exhibition at the TSM. Evening reception for symposium registrants and TSM Foundation members
  • March 17 – War of 1812 Symposium entitled “The War of 1812, the Atlantic World, and Tennessee” sponsored by the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU, Tennessee Historical Society, Tennessee State Museum, the Special Collections at Nashville Public Library, and The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson. The symposium will take place at the Nashville’s Downtown Library. For information, visit www.mtsuhistpres.org.


Becoming a Volunteer State: Tennessee in the War of 1812 will be on view at the Tennessee State Museum until June 24, 2012. The exhibit will continue to travel across the state