Francis Gracey Childers

During the Spanish–American War, the 1st Tennessee Infantry was activated by the United States Volunteers, transferred to Camp Merritt, California, and deployed to the Philippines in 1898.^{[6] [7]} During the First Tennessee's five-month assignment in California, the regiment became embroiled in a "series of scandals" regarding the issue of racism.^[8] In August 1898, "nearly half the regiment" attempted to lynch a Black San Franciscan man named Daniel Thomas. The regiment was widely condemned by military leadership; General Henry C. Merriam described the events as a "deplorable occurrence" and "a thing never before known in the history of the United States Army." The San Francisco Call published a political cartoon criticizing the regiment, titled: "Fiery Southerners Bring Their Race War to the Golden Gate." Colonel William Crawford Smith issued a public apology for the "unfortunate occurrence," while Lt Colonel Childers defended the soldiers' actions, saying: "The negroes are themselves greatly to blame for the violence bestowed upon one of their number yesterday."^[8]

The 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment arrived in Manila on December 6, 1898.^[9] The unit served as part of the Eighth Army Corps.^[10] During the Philippine–American War, Childers fought in the Battle of Manila.^[6] On February 5, 1899, during the second day of the battle, Childers was promoted to Colonel of the 1st Tennessee Infantry, following the death of Colonel William Crawford Smith.^{[2] [11] [12]} He was formally promoted by Governor Benton McMillin two weeks later.^{[13] [14]} Under his command were 45 officers, 619 enlisted men, 101 prisoners of war, and 24 discharged soldiers.^[15] Childers commanded the regiment during combat engagements on the islands of Luzon, Panay, and Cebu.^[3] From September 21 to 25, 1899, Childers commanded a five-day expedition into the Cebu mountains and captured seven enemy forts.^{[2] [15]} He also led the regiment during the Battle of the Visayas, capturing Iloilo City.^{[6] [9] [16]}

Childers served as colonel of the 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment until he was discharged from active duty in San Francisco, California, on November 23, 1899.^{[2] [3]} Upon the regiment's arrival in San Francisco Bay, Childers and his men were greeted by former Governor Henry Markham and Congressman John W. Gaines.^[15] Prior to his discharge, Governor McMillin, Senator William B. Bate, Senator Thomas B. Turley, and Robert Love Taylor petitioned President William McKinley to appoint Childers as a brevet brigadier general.^[17] During the war, the 1st Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment was the only regiment from the American South to serve in the Philippines, the only regiment from Tennessee to engage in combat, and the last volunteer regiment to leave the Philippine Islands.^{[9] [7] [18] [19]} The San Francisco Chronicle and the El Paso Herald described the First Tennessee as "the most remarkable regiment of the Philippine War."^[20]

During the Tobacco Wars, Childers commanded federal troops against the Night Riders in 1908 and 1909.^{[9] [3]}

In February 1909, Colonel Tully Brown resigned as Tennessee's adjutant general following an investigation into the death of former Senator Edward W. Carmack.^[21] That same month, Childers was appointed by Governor Malcolm R. Patterson as the 48th adjutant general of Tennessee.^[5] During his tenure, he instituted military exercises to simulate battlefield conditions for infantry units. In August 1910, Childers resigned as adjutant general and was succeeded by Brigadier General Frank Maloney.^{[5] [22]}

Childers was honorably discharged from the Tennessee National Guard in 1910, attaining the rank of brigadier general.^[2] During his military service, he received the Certificate of Merit (later the Distinguished Service Cross), the Philippine Congressional Medal, the Philippine Campaign Medal, and the Spanish War Service Medal.^{[5] [23]}

In 1901, Childers and other surviving veterans of the 1st Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment were honored at the Tennessee State Capitol.^[18] The event was attended by President William McKinley, Governor Benton McMillin, and Bishop Thomas F. Gailor.^[24]

Childers first entered elected politics as an alderman of Clarksville, Tennessee. He represented the second ward from 1890 to 1896, and again from 1898 to 1900.^{[2] [3]}

In 1900, Childers was elected as the mayor of Clarksville, succeeding N. L. Carney. He served a singe two-year term before retiring to run for the State House in 1902; he was succeeded by W. B. Young.^[5]

In 1902, Childers was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives as a Democrat, taking office in 1903. During his tenure, he voted for legislation supporting racial segregation, school segregation, prohibition, and antitrust law.^[5] In April 1905, he voted to adopt the official flag of Tennessee.^[25] Childers was re-elected in 1904, but did not seek re-election in 1906.^{[5] [26]}

In 1910, Childers was a candidate for governor of Tennessee as an "independent Democrat," following Governor Patterson's refusal to accept a statewide primary election.^{[5] [25]} During the campaign, the issues of state primaries and prohibition dominated the political discourse.^[27] Childers supported both issues and his faction of the state party declined to support Patterson.^[5] After negotiations, Patterson and Childers both withdrew from the race, allowing for the nomination of a compromise candidate—Robert Love Taylor—before Election Day.^[28] In the aftermath of the highly contested Democratic primary, Republican nominee Ben W. Hooper won the general election, becoming the first Republican elected statewide since 1880.^{[29] [27]}

In 1912, Childers was elected as the 32nd sheriff of Montgomery County, Tennessee, succeeding Sheriff Robert L. Black. He took office in January 1913, and was subsequently elected to four two-year terms as sheriff. During his tenure, he arrested multiple people for bootlegging and was wounded in a shootout with bank robbers in 1916. After choosing to not seek re-election in 1920, Childers was succeeded by Oscar D. Johnson and left office in January 1921.^[5]

Prohibited from active service in World War I due to his age, Childers was appointed by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker as Chairman of the Montgomery County War Board—the countywide draft board.^{[9] [3]} In this position, he was praised by the local press for his "impartiality" in administering the draft.^[2]

In January 1921, at the annual reunion dinner of surviving First Tennessee veterans, Childers announced his intention to run for Tennessee governor in 1922; he was considered the likely frontrunner by The Tennessean, Chattanooga Times , Leaf-Chronicle , and Nashville Banner .^[5]