by Lars Gjertveit7th Texas Infantry Regiment
The Seventh Texas Infantry completed its organization at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, 10 November 1861, with 9 companies raised in the counties of McLennan, Upshur, Harrison, Cherokee, Smith, Freestone, Rusk, Kaufman and Henderson. The regiment totalled 749 officers and men, but was ravaged by disease during the winter of 1861-62, losing over 25% of its original strength (164 dead and another 25 discharged for disabilities).
It moved to Fort Donelson in February and received its baptism of fire on the 15th, losing 25 k and 30 w out of 368 present. With a few exceptions, the remaining men were captured when the fort surrendered the following day.
The regiment spent the next seven months as prisoners of war. Enlisted men were confined at Camp Douglas (IL) and officers were at Johnson’s Island (OH). They were finally exchanged at Vicksburg, MS, on 16 September 1862. By then, 64 men had died in prison, and a considerable number were discharged for disabilities acquired in captivity. Too few were left to reconstitute the regiment. Instead, they were temporarily organized as Company "A" and "B" of Col. J. E. Bailey’s 49th & 55th Tennessee Infantry (8 October 1862). Bailey’s provisional regiment was soon moved to Port Hudson, Louisiana, while all surplus officers from the 7th Texas went home to recruit.
During the winter of 1862-63, over 200 new recruits were enlisted. On 10 February 1863, the 7th Texas Infantry was finally reorganized at Port Hudson. It was assigned to the brigade of Gen’l John Gregg, along with the 3rd, 10th, 30th, 41st, and 50th Tennessee Infantry, the 1st Tennessee Battalion and Bledsoe’s Missouri Battery. The regiment did garrison duty at Port Hudson until May, where sickness again caused much suffering.
Thereafter, Gregg’s brigade moved towards Jackson, MS, where Gen’l Joseph Johnston was about to assemble an army in support of the Vicksburg garrison. On 12 May, the brigade singlehandedly fought Union Gen’l James McPherson’s Corps almost to a standstill near Raymond, MS. The 7th Texas lost severely in the unequal contest – 43 k, 71 w, and 44 captured out of 306 present (or 51 %).
The regiment skirmished at Jackson two days later, and subsequently operated in central Mississippi as part of Gen’l Johnston’s relief force. Returning to Jackson in July, Gregg’s brigade manned city defenses during a week-long siege, where the 7th Texas had 5 men w. The regiment continued to move about in central Mississippi until September, when it was ordered to reinforce the Army of Tennessee in Georgia. The 7th Texas was hotly engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, losing 87 k, w, and captured among 177 present (49 %).
On 12 November 1863, Gregg’s brigade was broken up and the 7th Texas placed in Gen’l James Smith’s (later Hiram Granbury’s) Texas brigade of Gen’l Patrick Cleburne’s division, an organization which would remain intact to war’s end. It then took part in the operations around Chattanooga, fighting with distinction at Tunnell Hill (Missionary Ridge) and Ringgold Gap, at the cost of only few casualties.
The regiment wintered at Dalton, GA, where it reported a strength of 170 officers and men on 10 December. The 7th Texas next opposed Union Gen’l William Sherman in the Atlanta Campaign from May to September 1864, being active in numerous engagements -- most notably at Pickett’s Mill, Atlanta and Jonesboro. At Pickett’s Mill and Atlanta, Granbury’s brigade scored brilliant tactical successes against heavy odds, but at great cost. The 7th Texas had 5 k and 23 w at Pickett’s Mill and reported 41% casualties during the battle for Atlanta (7 k, 37 w and 1 captured among 110 present).
Beginning in October 1864, the regiment took part in the campaign for Tennessee. It was only lightly engaged at Spring Hill, but in the thickest of the fighting at Franklin. The desperate assault spearheaded by Cleburne’s division decimated the 7th Texas, which lost at least 18 k, 25 w (20 of whom were taken prisoner during the subsequent retreat) and 19 captured among approx. 95 present – a casualty rate of over 65%. It went on to fight at Nashville with only 30 men in the ranks, and retreated from Tennessee with even fewer.
The army withdrew to Corinth and Tupelo, MS, where the 7th Texas remained until 25 January 1865. Granbury’s old brigade then left for North Carolina, to once again join Gen'l Joseph Johnston in attempting to oppose Sherman. The regiment was on the field at Bentonville, but not engaged.
The few remaining men of the 7th Texas Infantry were reorganized as Co. "B" and "C" of the 1st Texas Consolidated Infantry, a regiment formed 9 April 1865 by merging all 8 Texas regiments belonging to Granbury’s late brigade. When the final surrender took place at Durham Station, NC, only 67 men remained of 1005 names on the rolls.
Field and staff officers: Cols. John Gregg (promoted, 29 Aug 62), Hiram B. Granbury (promoted, 29 Feb 64), William L. Moody (disabled, never assumed command -- resigned 19 Aug 64); Lt. Cols. Jeremiah M. Clough (KIA, Fort Donelson), William L. Moody (promoted, 29 Feb 64, while on sick leave); Majors Hiram B. Granbury (promoted, 29 Aug 62), Khleber M. Van Zandt (disabled; resigned, 11 June 64); Adjutants William D. Douglas (transferred, 62), George A. Blain (KIA, Franklin); Surgeons John L. Alston (transferred, 5 May 62), John R. Crain; Asst Surgeons Robert A. Felton (paroled from prison, 23 April 62, did not return), Davis T. Richardson; Quartermasters William D. Bradfield (discharged, 62), Quentin D. Horr; Commissary and subsistence officers S. T. Bridges (discharged, 62); William W. West; Chaplain: Stokley R. Chaddick (no record after Feb 62); Ensign Ira B. Sadler.
Captains and counties from which the companies came:
Historical Resources:
Comments and corrections, additions, etc., are welcomed. Email: Ken Jones.
There are also naval (ship) histories available.