____________
Archived 27 February 1999
Famous Members of the 7th
In the long and distinguished history of the 7th US Infantry Regiment, perhaps no one action stands out more (with the exception of the 1814 battle of New Orleans) than the regiment's defense of Fort Texas (Brown). During the last week of April and the first week of May, 1846, the 7th Infantry, along with a battery of the 2nd and 3rd Artillery, held the earthen fort as Mexican artillery from Matamoros and its forts attempted to bombard the Americans into submission. When the US colors were temporarily loosened from the flag staff outside of the fort, the 7th raised it's own national colors on a pole to insure that the flag of the United States could be seen. The 7th's commanding officer, Major Jacob Brown was mortally wounded in the cannonade, and his name was later given not only to the fort, but the community, which grew up around it.
General Taylor's victories at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma destroyed Mexican attempts to maintain the disputed territory between the Rio Grande and the Rio Nueces. Fort Texas and the 7th were relieved, Matamoros occupied and Taylor's command would move on to Monterrey.
Inside that fortification was an incredible selection of officers who fought side by side against the Mexican forces. Little did any of these captains and lieutenant's know that in less than 20 years, many would be applying the skills they learned on the battlefields of Mexico against each other. In one case, a former lieutenant of the 7th Infantry, Cadamus Wilcox, would send his divisions against his old regiment at the Wheatfield of Gettysburg.
Present for duty at the siege of Fort Texas (Brown) as officers of the 7th US Infantry: (For most, their first taste of combat against an enemy other than Seminoles)
 | Franklin Gardner (CSA General) |
| Napoleon J.T. Dana (USA General) |
| Richard Gatlin (CSA General) |
| Samuel B. Hayman (USA, CO 10th US Infantry) |
| Theophilus H. Holmes (CSA) |
| Lafayette McLaws (CSA General) |
| Dixon S. Miles (Col. 2nd US Infantry, KIA Harper's Ferry, 9/16/1862) |
| Gabriel Paul (Bvt. General USA Volunteers, wounded at Gettysburg) |
| Earl Van Dorn (CSA General) |
| Joseph Potter (USA General) |
| Gabriel J. Rains(CSA General-inventor of the land mine) |
| Daniel P. Whiting (Lt. Col. U.S.A.) |
Later to join the 7th Infantry and serve in Mexico City Campaign.
| Edmund Kirby Smith (CSA General, Commander Trans-Mississippi Dept) |
| Samuel Bell Maxey (CSA General) |
| Seneca Simmons (USA, Major 4th Infantry killed at Glendale, VA.,6/30/1862) |
| Cadmus M. Wilcox (CSA General) |
| Lewis Henry Little (Brig. Gen CSA KIA Iuka, MS 19 Sept. 1862)
|
written by Kevin R. Young
Press to go back