U.S. #941
3¢ Tennessee Statehood 150th Anniversary

Issue Date: June 1, 1946
City: Nashville, TN
Quantity: 132,274,500
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Perforations: 11 x 10 1/2
Color: Dark violet

Issued to commemorate 150 years of Tennessee statehood, U.S. #941 pictures...  more

U.S. #941
3¢ Tennessee Statehood 150th Anniversary

Issue Date: June 1, 1946
City: Nashville, TN
Quantity: 132,274,500
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Perforations: 11 x 10 1/2
Color: Dark violet

Issued to commemorate 150 years of Tennessee statehood, U.S. #941 pictures the state capitol, President Andrew Jackson, and Governor John Sevier. France ceded “The Volunteer State” to the United States in 1763. In 1796, Tennessee was admitted as the 16th state of the Union, with John Sevier as its first governor.

John Sevier (1745-1815)
American Soldier, Frontiersman, and Politician

Born in New Market, Virginia, John Sevier moved to the Holston River Valley in 1773. At the time, this area was an unsettled region of the colony of North Carolina, but is now in eastern Tennessee. In 1780, Sevier led an expedition against the British during the American Revolutionary War, defeating the British at Kings Mountain. Later, Sevier won fame as an Indian fighter.

After the Revolution, many settlers in what is now Tennessee started a movement to create a separate state. In 1784, they founded the state of Franklin. Sevier became the governor of Franklin in 1785. In 1788, troubles with Indians, land speculation plots, and political rivalries destroyed Sevier’s power and brought the end of the state of Franklin.

Later, Sevier was elected to the North Carolina Senate and then the U.S. Congress. In 1796, the area that had been “the lost state of Franklin” became part of the state of Tennessee. Sevier was elected Tennessee’s first governor and served for a total of six terms. He also served the state for one term as a senator and then returned to the Congress, where he served until his death.

Battle Of Nashville

On December 15, 1864, Union forces launched the successful Battle of Nashville.

Confederate General John Bell Hood was defeated at Franklin, and his Army of Tennessee suffered great losses.  In spite of being greatly outnumbered, he pressed on to the well-fortified stronghold of Nashville.  On December 2, 1864, the Rebels approached the city from the south. Hood knew his forces were not strong enough to attack the Union, so the Southern army put up four miles of defenses and waited for the enemy to attack.

Major General John Schofield and his victorious Army of Ohio had arrived from Franklin the day before Hood’s men.  They joined the Union forces that were already reinforcing the lines of defense around Nashville.  The works stretched for seven miles in a semicircle, protecting the city on the south and west.  The Cumberland River formed a natural defense around the rest.  The troops inside numbered about 55,000 men. Major General George Thomas was in command.

Thomas began preparing for an assault on Hood. His cavalry needed fresh horses and better arms.  The commander knew they would be facing Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest, one of the best cavalry leaders on either side of the war.

Leaders in Washington were getting impatient with the delay.  They were concerned Hood would move away from Nashville and invade Kentucky or Ohio. Commander Ulysses S. Grant ordered a replacement to go to Nashville if Thomas did not begin his attack by December 13. In fact, Grant was on his way to take over himself when he heard Thomas had finally made his move.

In the early hours of December 15, Thomas sent two brigades toward the right of the Confederate line in the hopes of drawing Southern troops away from the main attack.  These men had the least experience of any of the Union soldiers in Nashville and included three regiments of US Colored Troops, who had previously guarded the railroads.  After overtaking the skirmish line, they faced heavy fire and retreated.  The brigades reformed and held the Confederates for the rest of the day.  Though they were successful in engaging forces on the right, Hood did not send additional support as Thomas predicted.