General Gregg

[WW2280]

I am a descendant of General Gregg. I have read he had a feud. I walk past this family coat of arms everyday. Thoughts and facts are welcome. Deo Vindice.

 

[Stryker65]

Which General Gregg? There were four -- John Irvin and David McMurtrie, Union from PA; Maxcy, from SC; and John, from Texas (alabama).

 

[Nathan Stuart]

It might refer to a possible feud between B-G Maxcy Gregg from SC and his commanding officer, M-G Thomas Jackson.

It seems Gregg considered Jackson to be tyrannical and unjust in his command style. Gregg's feud with Jackson may have begun during the march in the weeks prior to Antietam. During this time, Jackson placed several of Gregg's regimental commanders, whom he highly regarded, under arrest, supposedly for allowing the burning of some fence palings against orders. Around this time, Jackson also placed under arrest M-G A. P. Hill - a divisional commander (at the time) who was greatly respected and admired by Gregg. Of this period of dealings between Gregg and Jackson, Douglas Freeman in 'Lee's Lieutenants' wrote (at p. 337), ...'Something in Jackson's manner, or some words that passed between the two, created a bitterness that did not pass with the day or the campaign.'...

These events led Gregg to prefer charges against Jackson, but these charges were soon afterwards dropped, at General Robert E. Lee's urging.

(Apparently, Jackson and Gregg would reconcile their differences in a private meeting when Jackson visited a mortally wounded Gregg following his wounding at Fredericksburg).

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[WW2280]

Which General Gregg? There were four -- John Irvin and David McMurtrie, Union from PA; Maxcy, from SC; and John, from Texas (alabama).

Definitely Gregg from SC. I believe he was a division commander for Jackson. I maybe wrong tho about his rank

 

[Stryker65]

Definitely Gregg from SC. I believe he was a division commander for Jackson. I maybe wrong tho about his rank

He and his Union opponent were mortally wounded around the same place at Fredericksburg.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Definitely Gregg from SC. I believe he was a division commander for Jackson. I maybe wrong tho about his rank

B-G Maxcy Gregg was a brigade commander.

At the time he commanded a brigade, comprising several SC regiments, in M-G A. P. Hill's division.

(Hill's division formed part of M-G Thomas Jackson's II Corps, as it was then organized, in the AoNV).

 

[WW2280]

B-G Maxcy Gregg was a brigade commander.

At the time he commanded a brigade, comprising several SC regiments, in M-G A. P. Hill's division.

(Hill's division formed part of M-G Thomas Jackson's II Corps, as it was then organized, in the AoNV).

Last night I did confirm he was a brigade commander and not a divisional commander. This page is awesome. I'm finding out so much about my ancestors as of late and I'm really thankful for the direction yall are pointing me in!

 

[Northern Light]

Cross-eyed and deaf. poor fellow. Wikipedia

 

[WW2280]

View attachment 523137
Cross-eyed and deaf. poor fellow. Wikipedia

I haven't read he was cross eyed or deaf, but I have read what a respected member of society he was.

 

[Northern Light]

I haven't read he was cross eyed or deaf, but I have read what a respected member of society he was.

i think that it is obvious from his picture that his eyes were not aligned perfectly, and i remember reading somewhere that his bad hearing led to his death at Fredericksburg. but i cannot tell you where i read that, sorry.

 

[LisaJ]

In one of my family Civil War letters there is an amusing passage about "General Gregg." I believe this was Gen. Maxcy Gregg, because my people were South Carolinians. One brother, Thomas with the Hampton Legion Cavalry in Virginia, wrote the following, dated January 7th, 1862, to a teen-aged brother living in Charleston at the time:
"I hear that you have had another little brush with the Yankees, and that Gen Gregg succeeded in driving them back against heavy odds. He has proved himself an able commander, and I do hope will give the Yankees Scissors."

The "brush with the Yankees" referred to would have happened in late December 1861 or very early January 1862. The wording implies to me that the action happened in South Carolina near the coast, and I read in the online South Carolina Encyclopedia that Maxcy Gregg, who had been in Virginia, returned to South Carolina in December 1861, when he was promoted to Brigadier General, in order to organize his new brigade before returning to Virginia.

Does anyone know more details about this possible skirmish?

I like Thomas' use of slang with his brother: "give the Yankees scissors." He would have never written like that to his parents, : -)

 

[Nathan Stuart]

i remember reading somewhere that his bad hearing led to his death at Fredericksburg. but i cannot tell you where i read that, sorry.

Thought Gregg's partial deafness was not a material factor in his demise at Fredericksburg. When the enemy drove through the woods into the rear on the right of his brigade line, Gregg saw what was happening and rode to the front of his turning regiments anxious to stop any cross-fire from hitting his own men. Gregg attracted enemy fire closing in, by being mounted in full dress uniform and at the head of his regiments, resulting in him being mortally wounded in the spine. Don't think in these circumstances he was disadvantaged by his hearing impediment.

https://archive.org/details/historyofbrigade00cald/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater (See page 59)

 

[Nathan Stuart]

The "brush with the Yankees" referred to would have happened in late December 1861 or very early January 1862. The wording implies to me that the action happened in South Carolina near the coast, and I read in the online South Carolina Encyclopedia that Maxcy Gregg, who had been in Virginia, returned to South Carolina in December 1861, when he was promoted to Brigadier General, in order to organize his new brigade before returning to Virginia.

Does anyone know more details about this possible skirmish?

In Dec. '61, Gregg was appointed a B-G on Dec. 14, '61, and ordered to SC.

Believe the only regiment in his SC brigade that saw any action there in late Dec. '61 or very early Jan., '62, was the 14th SC. On the 1 Jan., '62, it was the only regiment of Gregg's brigade in SC that came under fire from Federal gunboats, near Pocotaligo, SC. This regiment successfully repelled any attempted Federal landing under the cover of gunboats. One fired gunboat shell reportedly exploded in the ranks of the 14th SC, killing 9 and wounding 15.

https://archive.org/details/historyofbrigade00cald/page/10/mode/1up?view=theater see pp. 10-11

 

[LisaJ]

Thank you, Nathan! That must be the action referred to in the letter. And thanks for the great link in the internet archives.

 

[Northern Light]

Thought Gregg's partial deafness was not a material factor in his demise at Fredericksburg. When the enemy drove through the woods into the rear on the right of his brigade line, Gregg saw what was happening and rode to the front of his turning regiments anxious to stop any cross-fire from hitting his own men. Gregg attracted enemy fire closing in, by being mounted in full dress uniform and at the head of his regiments, resulting in him being mortally wounded in the spine. Don't think in these circumstances he was disadvantaged by his hearing impediment.

https://archive.org/details/historyofbrigade00cald/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater (See page 59)

Thanks for the correction. I will have to go back to my library for more information.
There is another thread about Gregg under "Biographic Profiles".

 

[WW2280]

In Dec. '61, Gregg was appointed a B-G on Dec. 14, '61, and ordered to SC.

Believe the only regiment in his SC brigade that saw any action there in late Dec. '61 or very early Jan., '62, was the 14th SC. On the 1 Jan., '62, it was the only regiment of Gregg's brigade in SC that came under fire from Federal gunboats, near Pocotaligo, SC. This regiment successfully repelled any attempted Federal landing under the cover of gunboats. One fired gunboat shell reportedly exploded in the ranks of the 14th SC, killing 9 and wounding 15.

https://archive.org/details/historyofbrigade00cald/page/10/mode/1up?view=theater see pp. 10-11

This is incredible and if someone had a copy or knew of one for sale then I would know a buyer lol

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Thank you, Nathan! That must be the action referred to in the letter. And thanks for the great link in the internet archives.

You are most welcome, LisaJ. Glad the information found is useful.

 

[JackADriscoll]

This is incredible and if someone had a copy or knew of one for sale then I would know a buyer lol

theres one on ebay right now for 49.95 free shipping. just type in the title

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Don't know if it's the same work or not. There is a 'Like New' hardcopy of the work (326 pages) currently listed for sale on ebay for $25 plus $27.27 shipping.