Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-19
THE DEFENSE AND FALL OF FORT
GREGG.
A GRAPHIC SKETCH.

From an interesting account Of the last
fighting around Petersburg, written for the
Field and Eiresidc by a Confederate officer
who was engaged in il, we extract the follow
ing. After describing the breach made on
our works, after various bloody repulses, on
Gordon's lines, he continues
just in rear, some two or three hundred
yards, on many parts of our line, heavy
forts had beon erected TO guard against just
such results as had ensued In rear of the
line of works captured by the Federals were
batteries Malone and Gregg, but neither had
guns mounted nor men assigned them. Ma
hone was unfinished, and was simply an en-
brasured battery of three guns. Gregg was
a large fort, with a deep ditch in front, and
its sally-ports protected in rear, and was en-
brasured for six guns. These two forts were
all that now prevented the enemy from COM
pletely cutting the Confederate lines in two
10 the Appomattox, and dividing A. p. Hill
and Longstreets forces on the right from the
main of the army.
As soon as the line of works were captur-
ed, the men from all the brigades which had
been forced 10 retire were hurried into these
works. The guns saved from capture on the
entertainments were put in battery Malone
with few men, and three also in Fort Gregg,
with about 300 infantry, mostly Mississippi
ans. After reforming and getting in Order
the Federals moved on these works-On
Malone first-and they took it with a rush.
although the gunners stood to their guns to
the very last, and fired their last shot
while the Federal troops were mounting the
ramparts.
was standing where / could view the
whole encounter. The Confederate line to
the left Of the run was not attacked. The
creek divided us, and the struggle was going
on, on one hill, while We were OH the OPP
posite, about half mile apart, anxious
and breathless witnesses
As soon as Malone fell, the Federals, in
three lines, moved on Fort Gregg with
cheers. In the immediate vicinity all else
was silent. How confidently and in what
beautiful lines they advance As they near
the fort their line curves into a circle. They
are within fifty yards, and not the fash of
single rifle yet defes them. My God have
the boys surrendered without n struggle?
We look TO see if the sign of a white flag can
be seen. At this instant il seems TO CLEAN
in the sunlight, and sends a pang TO our
hearts. But no il is the white smoke from
their guns, which from cannoneers and in
fantry simultaneously fire on the confident
assaulters who staggered under the
death-dealing volley-and in a moment the
Federal lines are broken and they retreat in
masses under cover. A loud and wild cheer
succeeds the brcathless stiffness that pre-
vailed amongst us, and is answered eXult-
ingly by the heroic little garrison in Fort
Gregg.
But achievements have come TO the help
of the assaulters. | can see their long ser
pentine lines ms they wend their way through
the cleared fields in the distance and over
the captured works. turned and looked TO
our rear, but no reinforcements can be seen
coming 70 the succor of the garrison. Every
man is needed at his post, and no reserves
are at hand. The repulsed assailants, ami
mated by the sight of reinforcemeuts, re-
form, and as their comrades come on in bat
tie array, march forth again in unbroken
column.
As they gain the hilltop, two hundred
yards from the fort, the artillery within the
fort belches forth from the embrazures, and
the effect Of its canister can be plainly seen
in the heaps Of dead and dying that strew
theground. But the check is only momen-
tary. As the next line advances they move
forward in serried ranks, and soon the fort is
canopied in smoke. Wecan see the artillery
as il fires in rapid succession, and the small
arms pop and crack in a ceaseless rattle. The
conflict elsewhere ceases, and both sides are
silent and anxious witnesses of the struggle
at the fort. Thus the fight continues for an
half hour. The Federals have reached the
ditch. They climb upthe sides of the works,
and as the foremost reach the top, we can see
them reel and fall headlong on their comrades
below. Once, twice and thrice have they
reached the top only TO be repulsed and yet
they persevere, and the artillery in the en-
brazures continue to fire in rapid succession.
But, a last, all is hushed! The artillery
once more, and for the last time, fire part
ing shot, and we can see the Federals rs with
IMMUNITY they mount the works and begin a
rapid fire on the defenders within. Their
ammunition is exhausted, and unwilling TO
surrender, they are using their bayonets and
clubbing their guns in an unequal struggle.
At last, one loud huzza proclalms the fort
lost, and with it the Confederate army cut
into two parts.
A. L. Hill, Heth and Wilcox-all three
were in the fort, cheered the men 10 the last,
and the minute of its surrender they mounted
their steeds, dashed through the sally-port,
and retreated 10 the rear. Hill was killed
in the attempt, but the other two escaped. |
have since learned that $50 Of the garrison,
OF a little over SEQ, were killed and wounded.