The 1st Regiment of West Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunmen (cavalry) was one of two regiments commanded by Colonel Robert Dyer during the War of 1812. It existed from September 1814 until March 1815 and was constituted with volunteers mostly from the counties of Bedford, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, and Williamson.

As part of Brig. Gen. John Coffee's brigade at New Orleans, most of the regiment took part in the night battle of Dec 23, 1814. Most of the company muster rolls show casualties from this engagement. Portions of this regiment also participated in the capture of Pensacola from the Spanish in West Florida on Nov 7, 1814. The initial rendezvous point for this unit was Fayetteville, Tennessee. From there they passed through Fort Hampton, to Baton Rouge, and finally to New Orleans.

Excerpted and edited from Regimental Histories of Tennessee Units During the War of 1812, prepared by Tom Kanon, Tennessee State Library and Archives

Samuel Marcum