It was successively commanded by Colonels George E. Maney and Hume R. Field.

After sustaining heavy casualties at the battles of Shiloh and Perryville, it was amalgamated with the 27th Tennessee Infantry Regiment.

George E. Maney, who commanded the Rock City Guards (which later became companies A, B and C),[1] was elected colonel for the first 90 days.

[2] Early in the war the men of the three companies called themselves the "Orphan Boys.

[4] Private Sam Davis joined the First Tennessee as a scout, but was later executed by Union forces as a spy despite wearing a Confederate uniform when captured.