39th Infantry Regiment (War of 1812) facts for kids
The 39th United States Infantry was a special group of soldiers in the U.S. Army. This regiment was officially created on January 29, 1813. It was formed in the eastern United States by Colonel Williams from Tennessee. Colonel John Williams was their leader. He had previously led a group of mounted volunteers from East Tennessee.
On December 31, 1813, Major General Thomas Pinckney ordered the 39th Regiment to join Andrew Jackson's army. This was important because Jackson's forces were very small. They only had about 75 men and were struggling to find food. The 39th Regiment brought trained soldiers and supplies. One historian, Henry Adams, believed that without this regiment, Jackson's army might not have succeeded in 1814.
Jackson was happy to see the 39th arrive. Before this, his army had faced many problems with discipline. This was especially true for the volunteer soldiers from East Tennessee.
Joining Jackson's Army
When the 39th Infantry joined General Jackson, they brought much-needed order. Jackson believed their presence would make his army stronger and help control any disagreements. However, the soldiers of the 39th Regiment soon became unhappy with Jackson. Colonel Williams, their original commander, never returned to lead the unit after this time.
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
At the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, the 39th Regiment played a very important role. General Jackson placed them in the middle of his attack. This was because they were the best-trained soldiers he had.
Because of their key position, the 39th Regiment faced heavy fighting. They had many soldiers killed and wounded. Colonel Williams reported that about half of the officers and one-sixth of the soldiers from the 39th who fought were either killed or injured. The Creek Nation also suffered many losses that day. After the battle, they had to give up a large amount of land. This land was described as the "best land for settlement" east of the Mississippi River.
After the War
In 1815, after the war ended, the 39th Regiment was combined with two other regiments. These were the 8th and 24th Regiments. Together, they formed the 7th Infantry Regiment.
The flag of the 39th Regiment was given back to Colonel Williams. Today, you can see this flag on display. It is at the East Tennessee History Center in Knoxville. Colonel Williams' sister-in-law, Mary (Polly) Lawson McClung Williams, embroidered the flag by hand.
