For many years during the early portion of Tennessee’s history, the county units of the state militia were a vital part of the peace keeping and law enforcement arm of the state, being subject to call when certain conditions existed.

Those acts once affecting Grainger County, which related to the militia and to other law enforcement agencies other than the sheriff, are mentioned below in chronological order.

1. Acts of 1803, Chapter 1, provided for the better establishment and regulation of the militia of the state. The militia of Grainger County composed the seventh regiment of the state.
2. Acts of 1815, Chapter 119, provided for the better establishment and regulation of the militia of the state. The militia of Grainger County composed the seventh regiment of the state.
3. Public Acts of 1819, Chapter 68, revised and amended the militia laws of the state. The militia of Grainger County composed the seventh regiment of the second brigade and held regimental musters on the second Saturday in the month of October.
4. Public Acts of 1826, Chapter 69, revised and amended the militia laws of the state. The militia of Grainger County composed the seventh regiment of the second brigade and held regimental musters on the second Saturday in the month of October.
5. Public Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 21, divided the militia of the state into companies, battalion, regiments, brigades and divisions. The militia of Grainger County composed the fifteenth and sixteenth regiments. In addition, the militia of Grainger County was placed in the third brigade, second division.
6. Acts of 1839-40, Chapter 56, revised the militia laws of the state. The militia of Grainger County composed the fifteenth and sixteenth regiments of the third brigade.
7. Public Acts of 1861, Chapter 1, revised the militia laws of the state. The militia of Grainger County composed the fifteenth and sixteenth regiments of the third brigade.