(Originally 2nd West Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry)
(1862-1865)
by Peggy Scott Holley
8902 Rockcrest Dr.
Austin, TX 78759-7320
E-Mail: holleypjs@gmail.com
Though surrounded by Confederate sympathizers, a small group of Unionists in the eastern part of West Tennessee refused to succumb to pressure to join the rebellion. Led by local lawyer Isaac R. Hawkins, they formed the 7th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry which became part of Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee.
Stationed not far from home throughout most of the war, the men of the 7th proved invaluable as scouts and protectors of Union supply lines. The existence of southerners fighting for the Union greatly annoyed Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. His troops captured much of the unit at Union City, Tennessee in 1864. Taken to Andersonville Prison in Georgia, the 7th Tennessee found itself in the unenviable position as southerners in a southern prison.
Peggy Scott Holley’s research of the 7th Tennessee Calvary USA is presented in this section. She retains copyright over this material. Please credit the author and give the citation if you use any of this material.
Please contact holleypjs@gmail.com with any questions or comments about the content.
7th Tennessee Calvary Index
- Hawkins’ Tories, book by Peggy Scott Holley
- Roster and Short Biographies for the 7th Tennessee
- Rosters of the Grand Army of the Republic Posts
- Unionists in Eastern West Tennessee 1861-1865
- Ninety-Three Pro-Union Refugees in Northern Illinois
- Slavery and the 30 Largest Slaveholders, Carroll Co. TN, 1860