Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-10
GREGG'S TESTAMENT.
ne General nslssss . Very 1stsrsstiss
ttttls Iacidsnt Involving HE Own Cap
tsrs sad Three Thossssd Dsess&


10 W. EdiIcr ofRs DispdtoAs
General Marcus J. Wright, OF the War
Department. clipped from your paper OF
. recent date communication from J. A.
Mazshall, Of Markham. and forwarded the
same to my cousin, General J. IRWIN
Gregg, by whom 1t was forwarded TO me
- the person most interested IN the re-
oovery Of this war sosucnir.
certainly appreciate the kindly feeling
that prompts the actlon OF Messrs- BILL
man and MarshalI. and am glad to make
public acknowledgment OF my obligation
10 them.
At the time of my capture, referred to in
the communication OK MIR: Marshall.
was in command OF q detachment OF the
Thirteenth Pennsylvania cavalry OF about
125 or 100 men, doing patrol duty and fur
nishinR details to commissaries in charge
OF o large herd of cattle. with headquar-
tiers near Coggin's Point. or between that
and Sycamore church.
In the gray OF an October morning We
were called upon to settle LITTLE dispute
for the possession of these cattle. My lit
tie command disappeared before the
mighty host of General Hampton's entire
cavalry command as rapidly as did the
mists of the morning before the rising sun.
and for my temerity paid the penalty Of
several months experience La southern
prisons.
AwAR STORY.
Mr.. Editor. there Is little circumstances
connected with this incident In my mill
tary history that may be worth publish
ing. and that perhaps may be known OF by
some OF your readers.
There was an old gentleman, whose name
am unable to remember. living on asmall
farm near by my camp. to whom ! had
shown some kindness in the way OF fur
nishing him guard of safety at his house,
likewise guard and horse on several oc-
casIons togo to mill.
This old gentleman came to my head:
quarters few DAYS prior to the date OK
the Hampton raid. and calling me to one
side SAID - Major Gregg, you have shown
me much kindness aud feel as though
should warn you TO be on your guard for
your personal safety" He then proceeded
to tell me how that, the night before. three
men had come to his house. representing
| themselves in the presence OF my guard as
belonging to the First District of Column
bia cavalry, but had disclosed to him the
| fact that they were there for the purpose
of locating the camps OF the troops guard
| ing the cattle-herd, &c. Not only, was L
expected to do duty with this cattle-herd.
serters, stragglers. de-, from the front OF
the army. To this end had established
pickets and patrols on all the neighDoring
roads.
ARRESTED THREE MEN.
Now, It so happened that my picket arrest
| cd three men the same night at CROSSROADS
near the place the old gentleman referred
| 10, and under the impression that l had
| caught the parties spying out my camp, L
sent them to General Patrick, provost
marshal general of the army, not violating
the confidence of my friend further than
! to say that il they could not give salts,
| factory accounts Of themselves, had good
reason to believe that they were spies
| from the enemy, and intimatinga desire
| to make personal report. To this COM
| munication General Patrick or his adlu-
| tant failed to make any answer.
OLD AcoUArNTAScEs.
| l had been prisoner but short while
on the fateful October morning. when
dashlng and handsome trooper rode up to
me with the salutation II was over to
your camp the other night. Major Gregg.
| but failed to see YOU" and introduced
himself as Sergeant Ghee, chief of Wade
| Hampton's scouts.
| said: "Yes, Sergeant, but l had sup
posed il was my pleasure to have sent you
| on a visit to General Patrick, at headquar-
| tiers of the Army of the Potomac, and now
regret very much such is not the case. for
If you were there. as had hoped. then
would not be here"
nave always felt that had those at army
| headquarters into whose hands my CON-
| munication fell been alive to the situation
| the commissary OF the Confederate army
would not have been furnished the 5000
| head of beeves driven from the rear OF the
/ 3 Dot. huf
| daring troopers of Hampton's command,
| and that would have been saved an un-
enyiable experience at Libby and Sails
bury. ii. IL. GREGG
| CEREBRAL onEGG's ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
The following letter from General Henry
II. Gregg to J. A Marshall, ESQ.,. explains
| JOPLIN, No.. December "a, 1891.
~ A. Mdrshau, Esq. Markham. Va:
my Dear Sir,-My cousin, General j.
| Irwin Gregg, has Just forwarded me from
| Washington letter of General Marcus j.
| Wright, enclosing clipping from Tar
| RrcHNosD DISPATCH headed "A War Sou
venir Captured at Cabin Point and signed
by yourself. General Wright's letter Is as
follows
my Dear General. II am Just returned
| from Richmond, where have been Tor ten
| days past. While there / clipped the en-
closed from HE RICHMOND DISPATCH.
Whether you or the other General Gregs
| is intended you may know.
"'YouT friend.
" MARCUS j. WRIoHT."
That am the Henry Gregg referred to
| in the communication is without doubt
| Please fnd inclosed letter to MIR. Silliman
aud thanking you for your trouble and the
good motives on your part prompting the
Same, would beg to subscribe myself
| ~ -. AL.