Tennessee,
One of the
Southern United States, lies between the
Alleghany Mountains on the east and the
Mississippi River on the west.
It is bounded on the north by
Kentucky and
Virginia, east by
North Carolina, south by
Georgia,
Alabama, and
Mississippi, and west by
Arkansas and
Missouri.
It lies between lat. 35° and 36° 35′ N., and long.
81° 37′ and 90° 15′
W. Area, 42,050 square miles, in ninety-six counties.
Population in 1890, 1,767,518; 1900, 2,020,616.
Capital,
Nashville.
Louis Joliet and
Pere Jacques Marquette descend the
Mississippi River to lat. 33°......1673
Robert
Cavalier de La Salle builds Fort Prud'homme on the fourth Chickasaw bluff of the
Mississippi River......1682
M. Charleville, a French trader, builds a trading-house near the present site of
Nashville......1714
French erect Fort Assumption on the
Mississippi at the fourth Chickasaw bluff......1714
Bienville makes a treaty of peace with the
Chickasaw Indians at Fort Assumption......June, 1739
Party of Virginians,
Dr. Thomas Walker and others; discover the
Cumberland Mountains,
Cumberland Gap, and
Cumberland River......1748
Fort Loudon founded about 30 miles from the present
Knoxville......1856
Colonel Bird builds
Long Island Fort on the
Holston River, where the
American army winters......1758
Cherokees capture
Fort Loudon.
The garrison, after the surrender, start out for Fort Prince George; after proceeding about 15 miles they are massacred by the Indians......Aug. 7, 1760
Capt. James Smith and others explore the
Cumberland and
Tennessee rivers from above
Nashville down to the
Ohio......1766
By treaty at
Fort Stanwix the Six Nations cede the country north and east of the
Tennessee......Nov. 5, 1768
Capt. William Bean settles on
Boone Creek, near
Watauga......1769
Company formed to hunt and explore
middle Tennessee, with camp at
Price's Meadows,
Wayne county......1769
Written association formed for the government of the
Watauga settlers, and five commissioners appointed as a governing court......1772
Col. Richard Henderson,
Nathaniel Hart, and
Daniel Boone purchase from the Indians a tract of country between the
Kentucky and
Cumberland rivers, which they call
Transylvania......March 17, 1775
Watauga purchased from the Indians, and deed of conveyance to
Charles Robertson executed......March 19, 1775
Watauga settlers march against advancing Cherokees, and disperse them in a battle near
Long Island Fort......July 20, 1776
Cherokees under old Abraham attack the fort at
Watauga, but are repulsed......July 21, 1776
Forces under
Col. William Christian destroy the
Cherokee towns in
east Tennessee......1776
Washington county, including all of
Tennessee, created by law of
North Carolina......November, 1777
Richard Hogan,
Spencer,
Holliday, and others come from
Kentucky and begin a plantation near
Bledsoe's Lick......1778
Capt. James Robertson and others from
Watauga cross the
Cumberland Mountains, pitch their tents near French Lick, and plant a field of corn where
Nashville now stands......1779
Eleven
Chickamauga Indian towns destroyed by troops under
Isaac Shelby, who left
Big Creek, near the site of
Rogersville......April 10, 1779
Jonesboro laid off and established as the seat of justice for
Washington county......1779
Colony under
John Donelson in open boats, leaving Fort Patrick Henry on the
Holston, descend the
Tennessee and ascend the
Cumberland to French Lick, where they found Nashboro......April 24, 1780
Form of government for the
Cumberland settlements drawn up and articles signed at Nashboro......May 13, 1780
Battle of
Boyd's Creek, a confluent of the
French Broad.
Troops under
Col. John Sevier, returning from the battle of
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King's Mountain, join in expedition against the Cherokees and disperse them on their way to massacre the
Watauga settlers......October, 1780
Indian atrocities and massacres of settlers in
middle Tennessee, throughout this and the following year, begin by an attack on the house of
Major Lucas at Freeland's Station, on the
Cumberland, near
Stone River......Jan. 15, 1781
Battle of the
Bluffs, where
Nashville now stands; an unsuccessful attack of the Cherokees on the fort......April 2, 1781
Pre-emption right allowed to settlers on the
Cumberland by legislature of North Carolina, 640 acres to each family or head of family......April, 1782
Court of oyer and terminer held at
Jonesboro for
Washington and
Sullivan counties......Aug. 15, 1782
Treaty at Nashboro, by which the Chickasaws cede to
North Carolina a tract extending nearly 40 miles south from
Cumberland River......1783
First Methodist preacher comes to
east Tennessee......1783
Commissioners lay off on
Duck River a grant of 2,500 acres of land presented by
North Carolina to
Gen. Nathanael Greene......1783
Nashville established by the legislature to succeed Nashboro......1784
General Assembly of
North Carolina cedes to the
United States territory west of the
Alleghany Mountains on condition that Congress accepts it within two years......June 2, 1784
Believing themselves no longer a part of
North Carolina, settlers in
Washington,
Sullivan, and
Greene counties meet in convention at
Jonesboro, choose
John Sevier president, and form a constitution for the
State of
Frankland......Dec. 14, 1784
Governor Caswell, of
North Carolina, pronounces the revolt of
Frankland usurpation......April 14, 1785
Constitution for
Frankland, or the
State of
Franklin, accepted by a convention of the people at
Greeneville, which chooses
John Sevier as governor......Nov. 14, 1785
Capt. James White and
James Connor settle on the site of
Knoxville......1786
At a conference upon the legality of the
State of
Frankland it is agreed that the inhabitants are “at full liberty and discretion to pay their public taxes to either the
State of North Carolina or the
State of
Frankland” ......March 20, 1787
Legislature of
Frankland meets for the last time at
Greeneville, and government reverts to
North Carolina......September, 1787
Deed conveying to the
United States territory west of the
Alleghany Mountains accepted by act of Congress, approved......April 2, 1790
William Blount appointed governor of the territory southwest of the
Ohio River......Aug. 7, 1790
First issue of the Knoxville
Gazette published at
Rogersville by
George Roulstone......Nov. 5, 1791
Knoxville, chosen as the seat of government, is laid out......February, 1792
Attack of 700 Indians on Buchanan's Station, 4 miles south of
Nashville, repulsed by a garrison of fifteen......Sept. 30, 1792
General Assembly meets at
Knoxville......Aug. 5, 1794
University of
Tennessee at
Knoxville, chartered Sept. 10, 1794, as Blount College, is opened......1795
State constitution adopted without popular vote by a convention which sits at
Knoxville......Jan. 11–Feb. 6, 1796
John Sevier inaugurated first governor of State......March 30, 1796
Tennessee admitted into the
Union by act approved......June 1, 1796
William Blount, of
Tennessee, expelled from the United States Senate on charge of instigating the
Creeks and Cherokees to assist the
British in conquering
Spanish Louisiana......July, 1797
Treaty with Cherokees extinguishing claims to land granted to individuals by
North Carolina......September, 1798
Great revival of religion, begun in
Kentucky in 1800, spreads through
Tennessee......1801
Nashville chosen as seat of government by legislature......1802
General Wilkinson builds
Fort Pickering at
Memphis......1803
Public reception given to
Aaron Burr at
Nashville......May 28, 1805
Congress grants 1,000 acres in one tract for academies in
Tennessee, one in each county; 1,000 acres more for two colleges,
Blount in the east and
Cumberland in the west......1806
Nashville Bank, the first in
Tennessee, chartered......1807
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Cumberland Presbyterian Church organized......Feb. 4, 1810
John Sevier dies near Fort Decatur, Ala......Sept. 24, 1815
Gens. Andrew Jackson and
Isaac Shelby obtain by treaty from the Chickasaws a cession of their lands north of lat. 35° and east of the
Mississippi River, known as the Jackson purchase......Oct. 19, 1818
First conveyance of town lots in
Memphis made......May, 1819
Madison county organized and
Jackson settled......1820
Capital permanently fixed at
Nashville......1826
University of Nashville, founded in 1785, incorporated as Cumberland College in 1806, reorganized in 1824, and name changed......1827
Andrew Jackson elected
President of the
United States......Nov. 11, 1828
John H. Eaton appointed
Secretary of War.......March 9, 1829
Act for a State system of internal improvements......Jan. 2, 1830
Joel Parrish, cashier of the State Bank, proves a defaulter for $200,000, and the bank wound up soon after......Jan. 3, 1830
Memphis Railroad chartered......December, 1831
Andrew Jackson re-elected
President of the
United States......Nov. 13, 1832
Conviction of
John A. Murrell, of
Madison county, the “great western land pirate” and leader of the “mystic clan,” a band of outlaws, horse thieves, and negro runners, who was brought to justice by
Virgil A. Stewart......1834
Constitution framed by a convention which meets at
Nashville, May 19, and completes its labors Aug. 30, 1834; ratified by a popular vote of 42,666 to 17,691......March 5-6, 1835
R. H. McEwen elected superintendent of public schools......1836
During this and the previous year the
State furnished 1,651 volunteers for the
Florida War......1837
Felix Grundy appointed
Attorney-General......July 5, 1838
National Whig Convention meets at
Nashville......Aug. 17, 1840
State hospital for the insane opened near
Nashville......1840
John Bell appointed
Secretary of War......March 5, 1841
Cumberland University at
Lebanon chartered and opened......1842
National Whig Convention held at
Nashville......Aug. 21, 1844
James K. Polk elected
President of the
United States......Nov. 12, 1844
Cave Johnson appointed
Postmaster-General......March 6, 1845
Act for self-taxation of districts for common schools......1845
Andrew Jackson dies at the Hermitage, aged seventy-eight......June 8, 1845
James K. Polk dies at
Nashville, aged fifty-four......June 15, 1849
Memphis incorporated as a city......December, 1849
Southern convention meets at
Nashville......June 3, 1850
Convention meets at
Nashville, Nov. 11, 1850, and adjourns after recommending a congress of slave-holding States by a vote of six States—
Alabama,
Florida,
Georgia,
Mississippi,
South Carolina, and
Virginia, opposed to
Tennessee......Nov. 19, 1850
James Campbell appointed
Postmaster-General......March 5, 1853
Southern convention meets at
Memphis......June 6, 1853
State agricultural bureau established......1854
State capitol, commenced in 1845, completed......1855
Aaron V. Brown appointed
Postmaster-General......March 6, 1857
Memphis and Charleston Railroad completed, joining the
Atlantic Ocean with the
Mississippi River......March 27, 1857
Southern commercial convention at.
Knoxville, by vote of 64 to 27, recommends abrogation of the eighth article of the
Ashburton treaty, which requires the
United States to keep a naval force on the coast of
Africa......Aug. 10, 1857
Constitutional Union Convention at
Baltimore, Md., nominates
John Bell, of
Tennessee, for
President......May 9, 1860
Call for a State convention at
Nashville, to consider secession, is defeated by a vote of the people......Feb. 9, 1861
Gov. Isham G. Harris replies to
President Lincoln's call for troops, “
Tennessee will not furnish a single man for coercion, but 50,000, if necessary, for the defence of our rights, or those of our Southern brothers” ......April 18, 1861
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Governor Harris orders the seizure of $75,000 worth of
Tennessee bonds and $5,000 in cash belonging to the United States government, in possession of the collector at
Nashville......April 29, 1861
Majority vote of the
State favors a
declaration of independence for
Tennessee and the acceptance of the provisional government of the
Confederate States......June 8, 1861
Eastern Tennessee Union convention at
Greeneville declares its opposition to the Confederate government......June 21, 1861
Governor Harris proclaims
Tennessee out of the
Union......June 24, 1861
Confederate commissary and ordnance stores at
Nashville destroyed by fire......Dec. 22, 1861
Commodore Foote defeats
Gen. Lloyd Tilghman and captures
Fort Henry......Feb. 6, 1862
Bombardment of
Fort Donelson begins Feb. 13; fort surrendered to
General Grant by
General Buckner, with 13,829 prisoners......Feb. 16, 1862
Seat of government removed to
Memphis......Feb. 20, 1862
Confederates evacuate
Nashville, and the
Federals under
Nelson enter......Feb. 23, 1862
Andrew Johnson, commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers and appointed military governor of
Tennessee, March 5, arrives at
Nashville......March 12, 1862
Governor Johnson suspends the mayor and other officials in
Nashville for refusing the oath of allegiance to the
United States......April 5, 1862
Two days
battle of Pittsburg Landing, or
Shiloh......April 6-7, 1862
Union meetings held at
Nashville, May 12, and at
Murfreesboro......May 24, 1862
Memphis surrendered to
Commodore Davis......June 6, 1862
Battle of Murfreesboro......Dec. 31, 1862–Jan. 4, 1863
Battle of Spring Hill; Confederates under
Gen. Earl Van Dorn victorious......March 5, 1863
Van Dorn repulsed by Federals under
Gen. Gordon Granger at
Franklin......April 10, 1863
Federal raid under
Col. Abel D. Streight starts from
Nashville......April 11, 1863
Kingston and
Knoxville, evacuated by Confederates under
Gen. Simon B.
Buckner, occupied by Federal troops under
Gen. A. E. Burnside......Sept. 1, 1863
Chattanooga abandoned by Confederates under
Gen. Braxton Bragg, Sept. 8;
Cumberland Gap surrendered to Federals......Sept. 9, 1863
Confederates under
Gen. James Longstreet defeat Federals at
Philadelphia, east Tennessee......Oct. 20, 1863
General Grant arrives at
Nashville, Oct. 21, and at
Chattanooga......Oct. 23, 1863
Gen. W. E. Jones, Confederate, defeats
Colonel Garrard at
Rogersville......Nov. 6, 1863
Longstreet besieges
Knoxville and is repulsed......Nov. 17, 1863
Grant defeats
Bragg in
battle of Chattanooga.......Nov. 23-25, 1863
Longstreet repulses Federals under
Gen. J. M. Shackelford at
Bean's Station, east Tennessee......Dec. 14, 1863
Fort Pillow captured by Confederates under
Gen. N. B. Forrest, and garrison of colored troops annihilated......April 12, 1864
Federals under
Gen. A. C. Gillem surprise the
Confederate Gen. John H. Morgan at the house of
a Mrs. Williams in
Greeneville, east Tennessee.
In attempting to escape he is killed......Sept. 4, 1864
Federals under
Schofield repulse Confederates under
Hood at
Franklin......Nov. 30, 1864
Federals retire from
Franklin and occupy
Nashville Dec. 1;
Hood advances and partially invests
Nashville......Dec. 3-14, 1864
Thomas defeats
Hood at
Nashville......Dec. 15-16, 1864
Constitutional amendment abolishing slavery framed by a convention which sits at
Nashville, Jan. 9 to Jan. 26, 1865, ratified by a vote of the people, 21,104 to 40......Feb. 22, 1865
Legislature ratifies the Thirteenth Amendment......April 5, 1865
President Lincoln dies,
Andrew Johnson President......April 15, 1865
Law disfranchising all citizens who have voluntarily borne arms for or aided the Confederate government......1866
Law making negroes and Indians competent witnesses......1866
Race riot in
Memphis; twenty-four negroes killed......May 1-3, 1866
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Fourteenth Amendment to Constitution ratified......July 19, 1866
Tennessee readmitted into the
Union by act approved......July 24, 1866
All distinction of race or color in qualifications for electors abolished......February, 1867
Fisk University at
Nashville, opened 1866, chartered......1867
Petition for removal of disabilities, signed by nearly 4,000 citizens, including leading men of the
State, is presented to the legislature, but not granted......1868
Act to suppress the Ku-klux Klan, entitled “An act to preserve the public peace,” punishes membership by a fine of not less than $500 or imprisonment for five years......1868
University of the South at
Suwanee, chartered in 1858, opened......1868
Governor Brownlow calls out the
State militia to suppress the Ku-klux Klan, and proclaims martial law in nine counties......Feb. 20, 1869
Southern Commercial Convention held at
Memphis; 1,100 delegates from twenty-two States......May 18, 1869
Constitution, framed by a convention which sat at
Nashville, Jan. 10 to Feb. 22, ratified by a popular vote of 98,128 to 33,872......March 26, 1870
Colored Methodist Episcopal Church of America organized at
Jackson by
Bishop Paine......Dec. 16, 1870
Office of chief commissioner of immigration for the
State created by act of legislature......1871
Reunion and Reform Association meets at
Nashville......Oct. 13, 1871
Agricultural bureau organized under act of legislature......Dec. 14, 1871
Convention at
Jackson to promote the formation of a new State, out of
western Kentucky,
Tennessee, and
Mississippi......July 29, 1873
Convention of colored people in
Nashville, seeking their full rights as citizens of the
United States......April 28, 1874
Sixteen negroes, Aug. 22, charged with shooting at two white men, are taken from
Trenton jail and shot dead by disguised men......Aug. 26, 1874
Andrew Johnson,
ex-President of the
United States, dies near
Jonesboro......July 31, 1875
Vanderbilt University at
Nashville, chartered 1873, opened......1875
David McKendree Key appointed
Postmaster-General......March 12, 1877
Yellow fever in
Memphis......1878-79
Bill passed, March 28, 1879, to settle the
State debt at the rate of 50 cents on the dollar, with 4 per cent. interest, is rejected by vote of the people, 30,920 to 19,669......Aug. 7, 1879
New Rugby founded......1880
Centennial anniversary of the settlement of
Nashville celebrated, May 17-24, and equestrian statue of
General Jackson unveiled on capitol grounds......May 20, 1880
Horace Maynard appointed
Postmaster-General......June 2, 1880
Act of April 5, 1881, to settle the
State debt by issue of new compromise bonds bearing 3 per cent. interest, and coupons receivable in payment for taxes and debts due the
State, is declared unconstitutional......February, 1882
General conference of the Methodist Church, South, meets at
Nashville......May 3, 1882
Law of 1882 for settlement of State debt repealed, and a new law passed for funding at a discount of 24 per cent. on 6-per-cent.
bonds, and others in proportion......1883
Prohibitory constitutional amendment lost by a vote of 117,504 in favor, to 145,197 against......August, 1887
General Assembly at its session adopts the Australian ballot system, creates a State board of medical examiners, and conveys to the
Ladies' Hermitage Association the homestead of
Andrew Jackson and 25 acres of land......Jan. 7–April 8, 1889
National Teachers' Association meets at
Nashville......June 15, 1889
Remains of
John Sevier removed from
Alabama and interred at
Knoxville......1889
Special session of the legislature held at
Nashville by proclamation (Feb. 11) of the governor......Feb. 24–March 18, 1890
National League of Republican clubs meets at
Nashville......March 4, 1890
First Monday in September (Labor Day) made a legal holiday by the legislature at session ending......March 30, 1891
Miners at Briceville attack the
State militia, and secure the withdrawal of convict miners from the mines of the
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Tennessee coal and
Knoxville iron companies......July 20, 1891
Miners refer the convict mining system to the legislature......July 24, 1891
Legislature meets in extra session to consider the convict-labor system......Aug. 31, 1891
Legislature resolves that it is powerless to abolish the convict-lease system, but will not renew the lease......Sept. 4-5, 1891
Miners at Briceville set free 160 convicts, and 140 more at another prison......Oct. 31, 1891
Over 200 convicts set free in
east Tennessee by miners......Nov. 2, 1891
Ex-Gov. Albert S. Marks dies suddenly at
Nashville......Nov. 4, 1891
National
Real Estate Association formally organized at
Nashville......Feb. 18, 1892
Mining troubles in Coal Creek Valley settled; convicts to be replaced by white free miners......Feb. 19, 1892
Steel cantilever bridge over the
Mississippi at
Memphis opened......May 12, 1892
Confederate soldiers' home at the Hermitage opened......May 12, 1892
Miners burn the convict stockade at
Tracy City, Aug. 13, and make an attack on the stockade at
Oliver Springs......Aug. 16, 1892
Miners capture the stockade at
Oliver Springs, and send the guards and convicts to
Knoxville......Aug. 17, 1892
Miners defeated and routed by militia under
General Carnes......Aug. 19, 1892
Convention of National Farmers' Alliance opens in
Memphis......Nov. 15, 1892
Labor troubles in
east Tennessee, 100 miners attack the convict camp at
Fort Anderson......April 19, 1893
Judge J. H. Du Boise impeached, acquitted on some of the charges, convicted on others......June 2, 1893
President Polk's remains removed to the
State capitol grounds.......Sept. 19, 1893
The United States Supreme Court decides the boundary-line dispute with
Virginia in favor of
Tennessee......1893
Serious revolt in the convict camp at
Tracy City......July 27, 1894
Contest for governorship decided in favor of
Peter Turney, who, on the face of the returns had 748 votes less than
H. Clay Evans, by the Tennessee legislature......May 3, 1895
Chickamauga National
Park dedicated......Sept. 19, 1895
General assignment law of 1895 declared unconstitutional......November, 1896
Fire at
Knoxville, loss $2,000,000......April 8, 1897
Centennial Exposition opened......May 1, 1897
Anti-cigarette law declared constitutional......1900
Fifty lives lost in the hurricane of......Nov. 21, 1900
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