The Volunteer State reputation was anchored further during the Mexican-American War of 1848, when President James K. Polk of Tennessee called for 2,600 volunteers and 30,000 Tennesseans answered ...

When Tennessee was called upon for 2,800 soldiers in the next major U.S. confrontation with Mexico in 1848, an overwhelming 30,000 came forward, and hence forth, Tennessee has been known as the ...