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Born in Tennessee. Came to Texas 1939. Was son of Republic of Texas Minister to the United States. K.M. Van Zandt was admitted to the Bar in 1858. Raised Co. D, 7th Tex. Inf., 1861. Fought in snows at Fort Donelson, Tenn., Feb. 1862. Captured in surrender there. During imprisonment at Camps Douglas, Chase, Johnson Island, Ill., 5 Co. D men died. The rest were exchanged at Vicksburg in Sept. 1862. In the campaign to prevent the split of the Confederacy along the Mississippi River, Van Zandt and Co. D Fought many Battles to the east of Vicksburg. BACK OF MARKER: Van Zandt was promoted to Major in 1863 in Granbury's Brigade. Granbury led 306 men into battle at Raymond, Miss., came out with only 148. Van Zandt led 7th Tex. after Granbury was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga. Went farthest of any Confederate unit into enemy lines. At Missionary Ridge, saved the heavy guns of his unit by pushing them by hand when horses wavered under fire. Van Zandt was in retreat to Atlanta, May 1864, and in the Nov. 1864 carnage at Franklin, Tenn. Late 1864 and 1865 he was in Trans-Mississippi department in Tax services for Gen. Kirby Smith. After the war he moved from Marshall to Fort Worth and became a Merchant. When big Eastern bankers failed to put railroad into Fort Worth, he founded a firm for railroad construction. Was president of Fort Worth National Bank for 56 years, and city benefactor to such an extent that he was called "Mr. Fort Worth." Erected by the State of Texas 1964 |
