The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-30
eral Lees army, which was crossing
the James river to the south of Rich

mond.
Our advance was not opposed by
the enemy until we had reached and
occupied their second line of entrench-
ments, an old rifle pit or breastwork,
along the farther side of an open field,
about one-half mile wide.
Here our regiment was placed in
support of battery which fired over
us as we lay behind the embankment
first with shot and shell and after
wards with grape and canister, sue
cessfully holding in check the rebel adj
vances which We're reported by prison
ers to be Picketts division and the adj
vance of Lees army. Confederate re-
Inducements continually arrived in our
front until between 4 and S p. m their
extended lines turned our position and
forced us back across the field to the
edge of woods on line with Ware
Bottom church, where our division
formed a new line, which we were or
dered mot to yield without a struggle
During the retreat of our division
three companies of our regiment (B, G
and x became separated and fell back
with another regiment by another
route to safe position on our new
line. 1t was reported to our colonel,
G. S. Innis, however, that by prob
able misunderstanding of orders, the
missing companies had remained in the
abandoned breastworks, and if so were
in Imminent danger of capture by the
enemy, who were following us up and
would in very few minutes reach our
old position.
Colonel Innis was directed by Col
onel Howell, commanding the brigade,
to secure volunteer to go back across
the field to where the missing men
We're supposed to be, and endeaVor to
get them away before the enemy's ad-
vance reached them. He urged haste,
as the enemy's columns We're in plain
view, forming for another assault upon
our lines. Colonel Innis ordered me to
secure volunteer quick, and try to
rescue our missing companies from
their supposed perilous position
Il stated my wants to my old Com
pany, F, and Joseph o. Gregg offered
to go.
THE surgeon had that morning or
dered Gregg to remain in quarters be-
cause of illness, but when he heard
that we had received orders to push
out towards a possible fight, Gregg
had disregarded the surgeons orders,
and marched with his company.
"The boy looked frail and / flesitated
for an instant about accepting his SER
vices, but the Importance of quick ac-
ton decided me, and I instructed him
to hasten back to the abandoned works.
look for our men and if they had not
been captured, to order them to report
to the woods at once. I also cautioned
him to use care and not fall into the
hands of the rebels himself, which
would be the result of delay in coming
or returning.
Gregg threw aside everything which
might impede his movements, and
started directly towards the advancing
enemy, walking rapidly across the
field, and in about 10 minutes reached
the old breastworks and without hest
tation climbed upon the embankment.
"Our anxiety for the missing compa-
MES and the imminently perilous mis-
sion of Gregg caused us to watch his
every movement through our glasses.
He was in plain sight of the enemy
from the instant he left our lines, and
seemed almost in the lines of the rebels
as he stood erect upon the earthWorks
| and coolly looked around for the OBJ
ject of his search, and to us there did
not seem chance of himself escaping
capture or death.
I'VE saw him run along the crest
about 100 feet towards the left then
! suddenly turn and hastily spring from
the embankment and run toward us,
closely followed by several of the en-
envy, who were rapidly shooting at
him as he ran and until he regained
our lines in the timber.
Several balls had passed through his
hat and clothing, but his nerson was
not touched.
His escape seemed miraculous
1T was undoubtedly owing to his au-
dacious boldness and to his quick ac-
ton when surprised almost surround
ed by the enemy and ordered to sur
| render, as well as to the fact that his
pursuers got between him and their
comrades, whose aim was thus i'm
| paired, that the boys sudden dash for
| liberty was successful.
1T was simply a magnificent per-
| Torrance of a perilous duty, and the
colonel remarked as Gregg came to re-
| port, That was bravely done.
Gregg reported to Colonies Howell,
Innis and myself that when he saw the
| men lying behind the breastworks he
thought them our missing men, and,
running to them, shouted The colonel
orders you to report in those woods
| quick! We are falling back'
"a voice replied: Surrender, you
Yankee - y and the others
began to shoot
"He then discovered his mistake and
lost no time in getting back to our
lines. Gregg also reported that the en-
envy were advancing in heavy force to
| again attack u.s."
| Colonel Innis, in watching Gregg's
run across the open field, noticed that
his course was in a zigzag line. and
ascribed the irregularity to a supposed
| wound The captain explains his en-
ratio course by saying that when an
| ounce of confederate lead struck his
| clothes the force of the impact threw
| him to one side, and being hit, now on
| this and now on that side, it was but
natural that he should describe a Gu
| rious line. Fortunately none of the
| bullets penetrated his person or did
| him any further damage than tanning
him up.
In a letter written about the affair,
H. r. Westervelt. Methodist minister
of New Lexington. Ohio, and a tent
mate of Captain Gregg, confirms the
statement as to Gregg's illness on the
morning of June is, 1864, and also in
general the story of the feat. OF Gregg
and his personal appearance at the
time, he writes the following para
graph: 1--WE We're both boys, neither
being of military age, I guess. We &C.
cupied the same tent and slept under
the same blanket. I can see him yet
a slight, frail looking boy, who made