1. In 1862, General Nathan Bedford Forrest led Confederate troops to victory over Union forces at the Battle of Fort Pillow, just north of Memphis. The controversial battle ended with a high number of casualties and allegations of Union soldiers being massacred after surrendering.

2. On April 12, 1864, the first recorded baseball game in Tennessee took place in Nashville between the Cumberland Club and the Nashville Club. Baseball was a popular pastime in the state during the Civil War era.

3. The Tennessee State Legislature officially adopted "Rocky Top" as one of the state songs on April 12, 1982. The song, originally written as a bluegrass tune by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, has become synonymous with University of Tennessee athletics and the Smoky Mountains.

4. In 1995, a massive tornado outbreak hit the state of Tennessee, leaving 12 people dead and causing extensive damage across the region. This outbreak was part of a larger event that spawned over 200 tornadoes across the southeastern United States.

5. Country music legend Dolly Parton opened her theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge on April 12, 1986. The park, which features roller coasters, live music, and Dolly-themed attractions, has become a major tourist destination in the Great Smoky Mountains region.