Camp Cheatham, named for Benjamin Franklin Cheatham, was established in this area in June 1861 after he was appointed brigadier general in the Provisional Army, Independent State of Tennessee, and became its first camp commander. The training camp was used by numerous Confederate units, including the 3rd Tennessee Infantry under John C. Brown, 11th Tennessee Infantry under Rains, and 42nd Tennessee Infantry under Quarles. Other units organized elsewhere also trained here, among them Woodard's 2nd Kentucky Cavalry.