FEBRUARY 12 - 16, 1862. Siege of Fort Donelson,
Tennessee.
Report of Col. John Gregg, Seventh Texas Infantry.
RICHMOND, VA., August 8,
1862.
MAJOR: In the absence of any one who was in command of the brigade
or division of which my regiment was a part at the time of the battle
of Fort Donelson, I make my report of the action of the regiment
to General S. B. Buckner. I hope this will be considered proper,
as it is the only method by which I can give to the brave men under
my command the tribute which I think due to their behavior in that
battle.
The regiment was assigned its place in the line designated as our
line of defense on Wednesday, February 12; cleared away the timber
in our front, and completed the digging of our rifle pits during
the day and night. The enemy began to cannonade our intrenchments
at 9 a.m. on Thursday and kept it up until 4 p.m., during a greater
part of the time making an enfilading fire with shells, which was
well directed, and by which Lieut. E. B. Rosson, of Company A, was
killed, and Thomas Jordan, a private in Company G, was slightly
wounded.
On Friday we were not engaged, but on Saturday morning, about half
an hour before sunrise, we set out, with other regiments, to make
the sortie upon the enemy's right wing. After filing around the
base of the hill upon which the enemy were drawn up we came to our
position, at the distance of half a mile, upon the right of our
line. I caused the regiment to front and advance up the hill-side
under a fire from the enemy's skirmishers. Just before reaching
the crest of the hill, their line, drawn up behind it, delivered
fire, and a most galling one it was. Here fell Lieut. Col. J. M.
Clough, Capt. William B. Hill, of Company H, and Lieut. J. W. Nowlin,
of Company A, neither of whom spoke after being shot; and here also
quite a number of our non.commissioned officers and privates were
killed and wounded. But our line continued to advance, pouring a
most destructive fire into the enemy's ranks.
In about half an hour their line broke, and we pursued them to
the · next ridge, upon which a fresh line was drawn up. I caused
the regiment to continue our forward movement and to keep up a continuous
fire, and in a short time the second line broke and fled, leaving
in our hands one 6-pounder, with ammunition and horses. We continued
to press them until a third force was seen drawn up in a ravine
near a clearing; and upon this we pressed and continued to fire
until it also broke and fled, and, although the slaughter of the
enemy had before been very great, their difficulty in getting through
the felled timber caused our fire to be much more destructive upon
them at this place.
For more than the distance of a mile through the woods the earth
was strewn with the killed and wounded of the enemy. George Blain,
a private in Company G, captured and brought to me Major Post, of
the Eighth Illinois Infantry, and there were other prisoners taken.
But all this was not done without severe loss to ourselves. Of the
350 or 360 officers and men whom I led into the fight, 20 were killed
on the field and 34 were disabled by wounds.
I must acknowledge the very efficient assistance of Major Granbury
in the management of the regiment throughout the entire day. When
all behaved with such coolness and courage it is hardly admissible
to name particular individuals, but the conspicuous gallantry of
Lieutenant-Colonel Clough, of Captain Hill, and of Lieutenants Rosson
and Nowlin will ever be thought of with admiration by those who
witnessed it, and cherished as a glorious memory by their friends.
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN GREGG,
Colonel Seventh Regiment Texas Infantry.
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