Spring City in Rhea County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
The Rhea County Spartans
Women's Cavalry
In the summer of 1862, thirty young, socially prominent women organized a nonmilitary unit called the Spartans. Mary McDonald (age 28) gave herself the rank of captain, and her sister-in-law Caroline McDonald was first lieutenant. The Spartans first met for support and friendship but became more active partisans during the periods of Federal occupation. A mounted soldiers’ aid group, they carried food and clothing to fathers, brothers, and sweethearts in the patrolling cavalry. Their bold initiative was very unconventional for that time.
Some historians believe that the Spartans carried out limited espionage for the Confederacy.
In April 1865, Rhea County native Capt. John Walker, 6th Tennessee Infantry (USA), had them arrested. To teach them a lesson, he marched them to the Tennessee River and then sent them by riverboat to Chattanooga. There, Gen. James B. Steedman ordered their immediate release if they signed oaths of loyalty to the United States and reprimanded Walker for wasting army time and resources. Federal officers escorted the Spartans back here, but left them at the landing to find their way home.
They were not prosecuted, but they suffered during Reconstruction from vengeful Union partisans. Within a few years, most of the women had left the county, five moved to Texas. Capt. Mary McDonald Sawyer, who died in 1914, is buried in Buttram Cemetery in Dayton.
(caption)
During the war, most women performed traditional homebound roles such as making clothes for soldiers (above left). Some came to the camps to cook, mend, and clean (left) or followed the troops to sell them tobacco and personal items (above). A few took to the field to ferry supplies to their soldiers (right).— Courtesy Library of Congress
Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Women. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1865.
Location. 35° 41.61′ N, 84° 51.623′ W. Marker is in Spring City, Tennessee, in Rhea County. Marker is at the intersection of Front Street and West Rhea Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Front Street. The marker is located in front of the Spring City Museum & Depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 390 Front St, Spring City TN 37381, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hargus Melvin “Pig” Robbins (within shouting distance of this marker); Grandview Normal Institute (approx. 3.6 miles away); Watts Bar (approx. 6.6 miles away); Watts Bar Turbine (approx. 6.6 miles away); In Memoriam (approx. 9.3 miles away); Washington Ferry (approx. 10.9 miles away); a different marker also named Washington Ferry (approx. 11 miles away); Town of Washington, Tennessee (approx. 11.3 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2017. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,083 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on November 18, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 4, 5. submitted on October 11, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.