Memberships are open to males fourteen (14) years or older. Persons under the age of eighteen (18) years must have parents or guardians permission with a notarized signature on a release form to be a member or to participate in any activities the 7^th attends or sponsors. Applicants must be in good physical condition and health. A new member shall be a recruit for six (6) months and be required to participate in at least two (2) re-enactments. Upon completion of these requirements, the active members shall vote upon trooper status by majority vote. New members are considered recruits no matter what background or previous experience they have.

Annual dues are $35 and are payable to - Secretary/Treasurer Stan Wheeler, 1045 Hwy 45 South, Guys Tn. 38339. Dues are applied toward the newsletter and insurance.

The annual meeting is held each January at a time and place convenient to the majority of members. Upcoming events, new rules and the general direction of the unit will be discussed and voted upon. The Commander shall preside over the meeting or in his absence, the next ranking member.

Rank above private shall be held at a minimum and be determined by the unit Commander according to average field strength. The ranking member present may brevet members for an event.

Horses may be of the following breeds- Grade, Quarter horse, Saddlebred, Morgan, Thoroughbred or Arabian. Walking or Racking horses are accepted if they can perform the cavalry gaits. No paints, pintos, palominos or appaloosas shall be used. Horses manes shall be left long. Current Coggins test and vaccinations are necessary for the protection of all horses and are required by most event host. Each trooper shall submit a current Coggins to the unit Commander by March 15 of each year. The ranking member present may dismiss poorly conditioned, sick or unruly horses. This reflects on the unit's appearance as a whole!

The pre-war Hope, Jennifer, Ringgold, Grimsley, Cambell, 1859 rawhide covered Union McClellan or russet Confederate McClellan. No 1874, 1904, or 1928 riggings on McClellans. No other post-war saddles. Wooden stirrups or period iron stirrups are correct. 1859 McClellans should be used for Union impression. Halters should be period civilian, Confederate, or 1859 Union issue with iron hardware, link straps and lead straps. Headstalls and bits should be pre-1865 Confederate, civilian or Union issue. No chrome hardware. Saddle blankets shall be union issue blue, gray, brown or red wool. Spanish moss blankets have been documented for Confederate service if you can find one. Saddlebags must be Union or Confederate issue or period civilian. Valises, cruppers, martingales or pommel holsters are optional, but the latter two were seldom used by the 7^th.

The common homespun (jean-cloth) in gray or natural wool-jean. No trim. Buttons should be wood, Federal eagle, State or shell. It is advisable to buy one size larger to allow for shrinkage. Trousers should be gray or natural wool-jean, same as jacket. Black, gray or civilian in wool or cotton are accepted. No trim. Federal uniform shall consist of a 4-button sack coat and sky-blue trousers (wool). Hats should be period slouch hats in a dark color ( black, brown or grey) with silk hat band and trim. No modern western hats. Kepis and forage caps are accepted but were seldom worn by Westerners. Straw hats are accepted. Footwear shall be Brogan shoes or Dragoon or Civilian boots with square toes and heels. No motorcycle or cowboy boots. Leather equipment should be Union black or Confederate russet. No modern eyeglasses or earrings!

Longarms should be period military ( carbines, rifles or muskets). Double-barreled shotguns should not be sawed off. No Hawkins, Zouaves or Henrys. Pistols should be cap-and-ball revolvers and must be holstered. Sabers should be 1840 or 1860 U.S. cavalry sabers or Confederate models.

Each trooper is expected to have one shelter half ( Dog tent). Small A-Frame tents are acceptable in inclement weather or between the 1^st of October through the first weekend of April, but their use is discouraged as we represent a cavalry unit on campaign.

All other items must be documented and period. A haversack (tarred Union or Confederate) , knife, fork, tin plate, tin cup, canteen, gum blanket or poncho, wool blanket or period style quilt, powder flask, curry comb and brush, feedbag rations and spurs are optional but recommended.

The 7^th Tennessee Cavalry does not allow women to camp with the unit or be in the camp after dark. Boys under 14 may camp with their fathers or guardian only at designated events. Each trooper who has a horse in camp is expected to perform picket duty as assigned by the highest ranking NCO. Picket duty consist of a 1 hour shift at night where the trooper will feed hay to the horses, check lead straps and lines, and keep the campfire burning. The drinking of alcohol is forbidden while the camps are open to the public. Alcohol may be consumed after hours in a period container but drunken or disorderly behavior will not be tolerated. 2 occurrences of such behavior will result in dismissal from the unit!