CSA Bio Brig. Gen. Hiram B. Granbury

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Hiram B. Granbury (b 1831, d. 1864) At the head of his Texas troops, Hiram Bronson Granbury (also listed in places as Granberry) was killed at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, Nov. 30, 1864. Granbury, shot in the head, fell near the Federal works and close to where Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne was killed during a bloody frontal assault. Although the Federals were dislodged and forced toward Nashville, the cost was staggering. The Army of Tennessee suffered 6,200 casualties. Six generals were killed, five were wounded and one was captured. Granbury initially was buried in Ashwood Cemetery in Columbia, Tennessee, but 25 years later, his remains were taken back to the town in Texas named after him, Granbury. The town, once named Stockton, had been renamed in Granbury’s honor and is the county seat of Hood County. Granbury was born in Copiah County, Mississippi, March 1, 1831. He was educated at Oakland College in Rodney, Mississippi. After graduation, he moved to Texas, opening a law office in Seguin. With the law business not generating enough revenue, he also started to build houses. After moving to Waco, he was admitted to the bar and served as McLennan County’s chief justice (leading the county board) from 1856-1858. He also helped to edit Waco’s first newspaper. When war came, Granbury organized the Waco Guards, which was assigned to the Seventh Texas Infantry and sent to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where it organized Nov. 10, 1861. Granbury was elected that regiment’s major. Sent to Fort Donelson, Granbury and his unit suffered 55 casualties in fighting Feb. 15, 1862, and were among the Confederates captured when it capitulated Feb. 16, 1862. Granbury, sent to Johnson’s Island, Ohio, prison camp, did not go alone. His wife, who had been at Fort Donelson, also went to Johnson’s Island. Mrs. Granbury became ill while there and moved to Mobile. Granbury was paroled after seven months in captivity and was able to spend time with his wife in Mobile, Alabama, before she died. For the Vicksburg Campaign, Exchanged, Granbury helped to reform the Seventh Texas Infantry in Mississippi and was named the unit’s colonel (promoted Aug. 29, 1862). By the start of the 1863 campaign season, the unit was part of Brig. Gen. John Gregg’s brigade (Gregg was the original colonel of the Seventh Texas Infantry). At Raymond, Mississippi (May 12, 1863), the Seventh Texas was hit hard by the corps of Maj. Gen. James McPherson, suffering 51 percent casualties before pulling back. Defending Jackson, Mississippi, the regiment was barely engaged. In July of 1863, Granbury was wounded and lost use of his left arm. He was back in action in the Chickamauga Campaign, leading the Seventh Texas Infantry through the Confederate victory. The regiment was heavily engaged, suffering 87 casualties among 177 present. During the Siege of Chattanooga, Granbury’s men were part of Gen. James Smith’s brigade defending Missionary Ridge, but were forced to yield under an overwhelming Federal push. During the retreat from Chattanooga, Granbury commanded a brigade and was commended by Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne for action during the retreat into North Georgia. One such action was Ringgold Gap. Granbury was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Feb. 29, 1864, during reorganization and consolidation of some units of the brigade. He led the brigade through the Atlanta Campaign. Actions of note came at Pickett’s Mill (May 27, 1864), Atlanta (July 20, 1864) and Jonesboro (Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 1864). Granbury’s brigade found success at the first two battles, but suffered dearly. The Confederates won Pickett’s Mill, delaying the Federal advance on Atlanta, but lost the latter two fights. With a change in leadership, Granbury’s men headed back to Tennessee with Gen. John B. Hood’s forces on the march to meet fate at Franklin.

[Battleline]

Here's the back of the Texas Monument at Chickamauga

[Battleline]

Also at Chickamauga, and I'm not making this up!

[Gil R.]

Funny, I was there last year but didn't notice that sign.