Historical Notes:
The Rhea County Spartans was a Confederate aid society formed by young women in Rhea County, East Tennessee, in 1862. These women, who rode sidesaddle, delivered supplies like food and clothing to their relatives and boyfriends in the Confederate army. The group was named after their classical studies and was led by Captain Mary Elizabeth “Mollie” McDonald.
Purpose: The group's main purpose was to support the Confederate cause by providing aid to soldiers, but some historians suggest they may have also shared information about Union forces.
Organization: The Rhea County Spartans were the only known all-female cavalry unit during the Civil War.
Arrest: In April 1865, just before the war's end, Union Captain John Walker arrested 16 members of the group.
Legacy: The Rhea County Spartans remain a unique story of women taking on unconventional roles during the Civil War, driven by loyalty to their families and the Confederacy. All of the young women came from prominent local families. The average age was 18, although the 1860 U.S. census lists Mary McDonald and Caroline McDonald as both being 25, which would have made them about 27 when the company was formed.
Historical Notes: