"Heroic Courage and Unfaltering Devotion": A Gathering of East Tennessee Veterans

During the fall of 1896 a delegation of more than 500 East Tennesseans traveled to Canton, Ohio, to pay a visit to Republican presidential hopeful Major William McKinley. McKinley took the opportunity to invoke a spirit of remembrance and pride among East Tennesseans. He delivered a rousing speech commending Tennessee for its "splendid patriots, statesmen, and upright servants." In particular McKinley pointed to the gallantry of John Sevier and the march to King's Mountain during the American Revolution. Likewise he pointed to the bravery and sacrifice of East Tennesseans with their stance for the Union during the Civil War. Another gathering took place in the fall of 1896 in upper East Tennessee. Veterans from the Thirteenth Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry (US) came together for their first reunion since the end of the war. This tradition would be continued for nearly 30 years. The reunions played an important role in the lives of the veterans. During the post-war years many believed their mark on history had been forgotten. Therefore, veterans met not only to reminisce about old times but also to be remembered as a revered part of Tennessee's history. Their determination and spirit of resistance against the Confederate government, veterans argued, equaled a great victory for the Union.