The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-11-06
WAR STORIES.
Heroic Defense of Hort Gregg by /, Handful
Of ConfeCerateS.


scrlptlon or the heroic defense apC
fall Of Fort Gregg on the End Of April
1868.
Fort Gregg was small but strong
earthwork, about one and half miles
south Of Petersburg, Va. The
front wall was 90 feet thick and was
made by digging big ditch in front
and throwing up the dirt on the in
side.
1t was in the shape of half circle
and from the bottom of the ditch to
the top Of the wall was at least l2 feet
high: protected in the rear by large
pine logs, planted in ditch cut be-
tween the wings of the half circle,
provided with loopholes for use Of
muskets. 1t was salso provided with
two bomb proofs on the inside for
storing ammunition and for protecting
the garrison from mortar shells, when
not in action.
Such is brief description OF this
fort. Captain Chew, of the Fourth
Maryland artillery, was placed in com
mand, with about 30 men and two Ma
poleon guns from his own battery; the
balance of the garrison, consisting Of
about 100 artillery drivers from bat
tcrics around Petersburg, who had vol
unteered under call from Gen. Lee to
garrison Fort Gregg during the winter
of 1864.
1t was now about the 1st Of Decem-
Der, when the one hundred artillery
drivers were ordered to report to Cap
tain Chew at Fort Gregg. We were at
once organized into company, sup
piled with muskcts and drilled every
day. Nothing worthy of note happen
ed until about the 1st of the next
April, when tho Maryland detachment
of thirty men and guns were ordered
out on the lines below us and to our
right. In exchange for men and guns
we only got two little three-inch rifles,
and these we had to handle ourselves;
but we were at home in the use of ar
tillery.
Great activity was noticed in the
movement Of troops all along the lines
and to an old soldier this was siguifi-
cant. So, next day, Sunday, the 2ud
of April, dawned bright and clear. and
with the first light the Federal col
umns charged our entire lines. To
our right, Gen. A. p. Hills troops
were in position; his left was very
weak, and the Federals breaking
through these turned down to the
right and swept our lines for miles,
capturing many Of our toops and rout-
ing the balanos by their overwhelming
numbers. Many Of our troops passed
Fort Gregg panic stricken. In vain
we begged them to stop with
us. Failing in this, we gathered
several hundred guns that they had
thrown away aud carried them in our
fort.
They served good purpose q little
later.
just about this time our company
was ordered out under arms, to our
right to watch the enemy.
We went down about one and a half
miles, when we found company of
Yankees in large farm house. We
were ordered to charge these, which
we did in veteran style. 1t was our
first infantry fight. I recolleot that
my friend and comrade, John Combs, of
Wilkes County, in this charge had his
gun snot to pieces. Holding the
breech in one hand and barrel in an
other, he exclaimed "Now, by Ned,
amt I in fix to 6gh: Yankees!'
But he never stopped charging. We
never fred shot, however, our heller
skelter charge dismayed the enemy and
he fed for safety and VIC captured the
farm house.
From this place over on a big ball
hill we could plainly see Gibbon d.
vision massing for an advance on Pc
tersburg. 1t seemed to US to be
mighty host. Soon this victorious
host, with three lines of battle, with
faces sct toward Petersburg, took up
their line Of march. We fired few
shots as they advanced, but we re.
treated towards Fort Gregg, and
soon met the old Twelfth Mississippi
regiment of Harris brigade. It was
not larger than a company, but it
maintained it's regimental organization.
We knew them by reputation, and you
cannot imagine how glad we were to
see them, for they were the only Con-
federates we had seen for hours.
Upon their tattered Gag was printed
every important engagement Of the
Ar,,,u &c N<,~kbo.o yy:,.s~:. m. .