DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about General John Gregg — and there's a lot packed into that stone. John Gregg was born in 1828 in Alabama, but Texas is where his story really took root. He came here in 1854, and in the years that followed he made himself a man of consequence — serving as a judge, then as a Confederate congressman.
But when the guns started talking, Gregg was done with courtrooms and legislative chambers. Now, before we get to the battles, we have to talk about a meeting — a very consequential meeting. In January of 1861, delegates gathered from across Texas for what the marker calls an extra-legal governing body.
John Gregg was a key member of that Texas Secession Convention, which ran from January through March of 1861. That body did not move slowly. It drew up a secession ordinance, and the people of Texas ratified it by a three-to-one popular vote.
The convention selected delegates to the convention of southern states down in Montgomery, Alabama. And then — and this is where things got sharp — it declared the office of Governor Sam Houston vacant. Houston was an anti-secessionist, and the convention wasn't inclined to wait on him.
Lieutenant Governor Edward Clark was put in his place. The convention also ratified the C.S.A. Constitution, raised troops to seize United States property — getting three million dollars' worth by surrender — and placed troops at outposts to protect the frontier.
All of that, in just a few months. John Gregg had been part of setting all that in motion. Then he went and put on a uniform.
In 1861, he organized the 7th Texas Infantry and took the rank of colonel. But 1862 brought a hard turn of fortune — he was captured at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. Now, Fort Donelson was not a place a man wanted to be on the losing side of.
Gregg found himself a prisoner. But he was exchanged, and after that exchange came a promotion: brigadier general. He commanded a brigade during the Vicksburg Campaign in 1863.
And then came Chickamauga, October of 1863, where he was severely wounded. Another man might have stayed put a good long while after that. Gregg came back.
Returning to action in 1864, he led Hood's Texas Brigade in heavy fighting in Virginia. That is a name — Hood's Texas Brigade — that carried weight in the Confederate Army, and Gregg carried it into some of the hardest fighting the war had left to offer. On October 7, 1864, near Richmond, John Gregg was killed in action.
He had been born in 1828. He was gone by 1864. The marker stands as a memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy, erected by the State of Texas in 1963.
And it sits in Gregg County — which carries his name to this day, though the marker doesn't explain why. It doesn't have to. The story does that well enough on its own.
What the marker says
(1828-1864) Star and Wreath Born Alabama. Came to Texas 1854. Judge, Confederate congressman. Organized 7th Texas Infantry as colonel 1861. Captured at Fort Donelson, Tenn. 1862. Promoted brigadier general after exchange. Commanded brigade Vicksburg Campaign 1863. Severely wounded Battle of Chickamauga Oct. 1863. Returning to action 1864 led Hood's Texas Brigade in heavy fighting in Virginia. Killed in action near Richmond, Oct. 7, 1864. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy; erected by the State of Texas 1963 Texas Secession Convention This meeting, which had John Gregg as a key member, was extra-legal governing body of delegates from over Texas, held January-March 1861. Drew up secession ordinance - ratified by 3 to 1 popular vote. Selected delegates to convention of southern states in Montgomery, Ala. Declared office of Anti-secessionist governor Sam Houston vacant, putting in Lt. Governor Edward Clark. Ratified C.S.A. Constitution. Raised troops to seize U. S. property, getting $3,000,000 worth by surrender. Placed troops at outposts to protect frontier.