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Untold Story of Civil War Rebels in Tennessee
Female Rebels
In 1862, a group of young women from Washington, Smith’s Crossroads, and other hamlets formed an unofficial cavalry company called the Rhea County Spartans. Mary McDonald, born in 1834, was captain; her sister-in-law, Caroline McDonald, first lieutenant. The all-female unit (the only one on either side) first met for support and friendship but later became more active partisans as Federal troops occupied the county. Almost all of the ladies had family members in the confederate army. In fact, most of the Spartans came from prominent local families. And since they couldn’t actually join the army, they did the next best thing-they created their own.
Some historians believe that the group carried out limited espionage for the Confederacy, and in April 1865, Capt. John Walker of the 6th Tennessee Infantry ordered the arrest and capture of the Spartans. It is said Walker, a native of Rhea County, wanted to teach the young women a lesson.
Most of the women were rounded up and forced to walk ten miles, while Union horse soldiers rode alongside. The remaining contingency joined up on the muddy banks of the Tennessee River. There, the ladies stood at night, with tired, sore feet, waiting for the USS Chattanooga.
Packed into this primitive boat not meant for passengers, the ladies found themselves huddled together making their way to Chattanooga. But once marched up Market Street for their final resolution, Maj. Gen. James Steedman at Chattanooga reprimanded Walker for wasting army time and resources on the Spartans. The ladies were soon escorted to the Central House Hotel where they were allowed to refresh themselves and were treated to the best meal the hotel could offer. Their immediate release was also ordered, but not before having them sign oaths of loyalty to the United States. Federal officers then escorted the Spartans back to Rhea County but left them at the river landing to find their own way home.
The end of the war also ended the military careers of the Spartans. Capt. Mary McDonald Sawyer, who died in 1914, is buried at the Buttram Cemetery in the Great Valley region of Rhea County.
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