The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-22
FIGHTING THEM OYER,
a War Story of Interest to tho Twelfth
West virglntu Volunteers. t'gf

! .
FIGHTING THEM OYER.
A War story of Interest to tho rwelt,
West virglnia Volunteers. .yy
Frank II. Foote, Forty.eighth Mlasi!
sippi, Harris Brigade, Port Gitsor
Miss, q Confederate soldier, writes to tn
National Tribune the following intere.,,
ing reminlscence Of the defense OF For
Gregg, Va, ir the assault OF which til,
the Twelfth West Virginia bore a CON
spicuous part: R VI. :"
There seems to be as much contro
versy among the Northern soiiiers as ia
who captured Fort Gregg rs among those
who defended 1t Gu that eveutful "a day
OF April, 1865. AS one OF the defenders
! write OF what ! saw OF the Southern de.
tcnso and glimpses OF the Federal as.
SAINT, ms they rolled on in successive
waves, only to DO driven of and badly
crippled, until men OF Southern brit,
and nativity, who believed in "the
union OF the States as one and not to BE-
dissolved" came upon tho scene, and
by desperate courage succeeded in fore.
ing the surrender. No true soldier.
either North or South, but what cher.
ishes with peculiar pleasure the DAYS
when he upheld the cause which he ca.
poused, aud now, after the lapse OF wears
since We put aside tho harness Of war
and have become peaceable and plt,d.
ding citizens Of one common country. il
becomes us TO write OF those days whicl,
tried mems souls, patriotism and man.
hood.
Fort Gregg proper was one OF a series
OF strong enclosed works that occupied
commanding situations inside of the
Notifications proper OF Petersburg, and
was built for the very purpose for which
it served, to resist an opposing army in
case tho main line OF works were car
carried. A deep moat or ditch sur.
rounded it, which crossed into the gorge
by a few feet OF earth left intact. The
gorge was enclosed by palisades placed
in Il zigzsg form, and barely admitted
the passage OF artillery. These pa|i.
sadea were OF pine tree trunks, about
eighteen or twenty inches in diameter,
and were loopholed ior musketry. In
fact, the rear OF this fort was the strong.
est part oil it, and could only have been
reduced by artillery, which was not
available, as several other Confeuerate
forts had commanding range of it. The
weakest part Of the fort was Just where
the infantry breastworks connected with
it, but were not completed. Its location
was very near the junction OF the Boyd
ton plank road aud Squirrel Level road,
on the farm OF one Mr.. Newman, whose
residence was the headquarters Of our
brigade commander, Gen. Nat. q, uar.
ris, at present Register OF Public Lands
at Aberdeen, Oak.
The reader will bear in mind that Fort
Gregg and Battery Gregg are not the
same places by any means. Their posi-
ions are often COMPOUNDED, as much 30
as Battery alexander" distant 400
yards irom Fort Gregg. Battery "Whit-
worth" and Battery Baldwin" Whit
worth is the proper designation. Fort
Baldwin" aa some OF the Federal En-
gineers have it laid down, was name
given to "Whitworth" in derision OF a
soldier Of that name belonging to our
command iu the Nineteenth Mississippi,
who, for some breach oil military duty,
was sentenced to carry "a log on his
shoulder and pace the rlmparts Of Bait
cry Whitworth for a number OF hours.
1t illustrates the vsgaries OF life, as what
was intended as reprimand and dis
grace for military dereliction, was en-
HANGED as distinction OF renown,
Whitworth was intended to be con-
nected with Gregg by an intrenched
liue, but the line was never completed.
TIE uncompleted part was midway be-
tween the two. The part that connect
cd with Gregg, unoccupied by infantry
at the time OF the assault, was the means
by which the Federals reached the
parapet and forced a surrender. Whit.
worth was an incomplete Enclosure, and
was greatly weakened by our command.
which encamped for the winter ildjacent
thereto, and converted the timber sup.
ports into tirewood, thus rendering it
easily washed by the winter rains; in
fact, it did not have the strength OF m
ordinary rille.pit. Old Town Creek
flowed in front Of Fort Gregg, and it was
conceived and executed that by means
of dam across it, n large scope Of coun-
try could be inundated aud made more
deiens;ble. ...fE
We watched the progress OF the dam
from it's inclpiency, and were surprised
to wake up one day and find it a thing
OF the past. 1t broke, carrying destruc.
ton in its path and exposing very
weak portion Of our lines, over which
the Federals soon rushed without mucl,
opposition. On the eve OF this eyentfu)
occasion Harriss Mississippi Brigade was
located near Howlet's house aud battery
on the James River, and in view OF But.
ter's Dutch Gap canal. On the night Of
april | orders came from Gen. Malone,
our division commander, to report to
Gen. job. Gordon, near Petersburg, Az
We had had hand in every fracas in
front and rear of Petersburg from Rich.
mondt 10 Meherren river, on the line OIL
North Carolina, wo set of gtumbline
and wondering "Why in - can't Ma
hone get some other troops to do some
fghting?" Nevertheless, orders had Il
he obeyed, and We went. I was detailed
from the ranks and mounted as Courier
and as such I had opportunities d
witnessing great deal OF the &C
ton that followed. About sunrise We
passed through Petersburg, and arriy
ing in front Of Gregg shortly afterwards
and formed line Of battle in hollow
facing west. We found everything il
confusion; our lines had been rupturel
everywhere, and the Union troops wer.
in possession. We found in our iron
long lines Of Federal blue--infantry, ar
)tillcry, cavalry, mounted staff, gallopin,
orderlies, in fact, '.the pomp and eli
cumstance Of war" closing in an,
around the ''last ditch" of Petersburg
1t was Gibbons corps OF four or NOR
divisions, against whom were TO be ri.
ted fragment of a brigade OF scarcel
400 men. The fact dawned upon us tina
We were there 10 stem that torrent; t
do or die; to defend to thelast gasp thi
last stronghold left General Lee. Ever
minute represented hours. md hou,