John Gregg, born in Alabama, came to Texas in 1854 and became a judge and Confederate congressman. In 1861 he organized the 7th Texas Infantry as colonel, was captured at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, in 1862, and after exchange was promoted brigadier general. He commanded a brigade in the Vicksburg Campaign in 1863, was severely wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga in October 1863, returned to action in 1864 to lead Hood's Texas Brigade in heavy fighting in Virginia, and was killed in action near Richmond on October 7, 1864. Gregg was also a key member of the Texas Secession Convention, an extra-legal governing body of delegates from over Texas that met from January to March 1861, drew up a secession ordinance ratified by a three to one popular vote, selected delegates to the convention of southern states in Montgomery, Alabama, declared the office of anti-secessionist Governor Sam Houston vacant and installed Lieutenant Governor Edward Clark, ratified the C.S.A. Constitution, raised troops to seize U.S. property worth 3,000,000 dollars by surrender, and placed troops at outposts to protect the frontier.