As always with this blog…one subject often leads to another in surprising ways.

The mention of the “German Yagers” in the article about Lt. Chandler’s reburial also spawned some interesting additional info. The company, as the name suggests, was a militia company made up of mostly German immigrants living in Nashville (Jaeger is German for “hunter” and indicates light infantry or riflemen). Forty-seven strong originally, the unit was formed in 1858 and often appeared with the socially-prominent men of the “Rock City Guards” on public occasions – such as the time in 1859 when the two companies hosted the “Chatham Light Artillery” of Savannah who came on a visit to Nashville. The units attended balls and social functions, and even laid a wreath at Andrew Jackson’s grave at the Hermitage. And one suspects, the Chatham boys treated their hosts to their famous punch and left everyone with glorious hangovers.

The Yagers had a reputation for military smartness, and the uniform they wore was super snazzy: a dark green frock coat with light green collar and cuffs, piped on the edges in red. Trousers were light gray with a green stripe up the side seams, and (true to their name) they carried rifles with “short swords” (probably the “Mississippi” rifle and its sword-bayonet.) The headgear was described as the same as that worn by the “U.S. Riflemen” – presumably the regulation “Hardee” hat worn by the Regiment of Mounted Rifles. The sketch (right) shows their probable appearance.

The company was given an upstairs room in the Market House on Public Square as their meeting place, and were presented a flag by the German ladies of Nashville. Despite their vow to avoid “politics,” that was not to be. In 1861 they volunteered to go off to fight for the new Confederate government and expanded to a full 100-man company. Changing their name to the “Tennessee Riflemen” (probably to appeal to non-German recruits), the unit became Company E of the  1st Tennessee Infantry. Very few of them returned at the end of the war.