The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-10
BAIT lie OF
FORT GREGG
Remarkable Defense Of It Made
by AIississip-
plans.
TOOK PLACE I'd or APRIL, 1865
"reminiscences Of Memorable
Struggle Just as Petersburg
Was About to be Evacuated.

j =, J"
Was About to be Evacuated.
All who are familiar with the history
Of the Army Of Northern Virginia know
that but for the stubborn defense at
Fort Gregg made by the Twelfth and
Sixteenth Mississippi Regiments on Sun
day, the I'd day Of April, 1866, checking
the advance of the Army OF the Potomac
flushed and jubilant over the defeat ana
cant,lre of the whole right wing OF OUT
army, and now pressing forward upon
Petersburg, General Lee would have been
compelled to surrender In his trenches
for it was physical impossibility 70
withdraw his army across the Appomat-
tox except under covet OF night.
General Lee. in his dispatch OF that day
to the Secretary OF War. said: IL Is alb
solutely necessary that we should aoan-
don, our position tonight. 1t VIII be
difficult operation, but 1 hope not imprac-
,icable." -
The battle OF Fort Gregg was the last
great battle between the two arin1es, and
was decidedly the boodest Of them all.
On the lst Of April, 1855, our brigade
tHarrisD 4 composed Of the Twelfth, SIX
tecnth. Nineteenth and Forty-eighth
Mississippi Regiments. was doing service
IN the trenches on the NORM sioe u
James River.
About dark we got orders to cook all
tn. ra,ions we had on hand. and to be
ready to march at moments notice.
The orders came at midnight TO leave
the p,ckets on duty and move out quietly
TO the rear. and TO leave everything put
cantsens and cartridge boxes.
We moved OH the road to Richmond,
conjecturing that we were going to in
Iercept a raidng party; but after cross
ing the James the column was headed TO-
ward Petersburg. and soon was double
quicEing!
W.. crossed the Appomatto1 on pom
toon bridge about four miles above Pc
tergburg, al a little factory village. Ma
tcacg: and when we lined up on the south
bank OF the AppomattoI he sun was usn-
ering in BEAUTIFUL and charming holy
day, and little DID We reck what would
happen to Us before II went down. All
kinds OF ruruors were hylng-sone that
our right, composed of Johnsor's. Pen
der's and;p.cket.'s Divisions, had the day
before. urged. tlc enemy's left and won
great Sic1o.y;. others that we had at first
driven the enemy, and then had beea
driven by them. sustaining great loss.
After waiting an hour or so We were
moved south about four miles to the
trenches about one mile west OF Fort
Gregg. Here we were fronted at right
angles to the line OF trenches, cur left
on the trenches and our right thrown
back toward the river. we were the only
organized forces in sight.
Then il was evident to all that a great
disaster had overtakcn General Lees
right for men came running back. singly
and In squads. most of them democrat
tied, and reported that tho enemy had
by a daylight attack, succeeded In break"
Ing through our lines, and had captured
the whole right wing OF the army. ano
that General a. p. Hi, our corps conf
1nander was among the killed. In the
course Of a few hours the enemy came IN
sight, directlypln our 'front.' their battle
Line more than a mile long; the ghn'
and glImmer Of their guns shone llhe g
wave of silver
TIE ATTACK.
When they got within the range Of
our rifles they halted and began de
Eultory hring and ten or Twelve piece!
of artillery came in gal!op 10 the lroht
Then the command was given 70 IA
back 10 the TWO forts ana Tor the I"ellti
and Sixteenth Mississippi Regiments Y
occupy Gregg and the N!Mteenth ana
I'ory-eighth 10 occupy BALDWIN.
When we reached Fort Gregg We fount
Their. TWO pieces OF Helo arlilleFy, lnaiHct
by twelve or fifteen men. and about one
hundred infantry. who had made their es
capo from the right. They begged 10 20 t
tn. rear. and we is.sitated whether to lie
then! go or make them stay and help t
defend the fort; but concluded that II
their dcrhoralized condition 1t was bette
to bst them 30. provided they left the
guns with US, which they readily con
scented 10 do.
Willie we were getting into position. "ol
the right byS file into Hne," beginning
with Company a, OF the Sixteenth, whicl
arrangement placed my company on tn
opposite side Of the driveway from Com
pany a. and its duty TO protect tile en-
trance, | was told that General Wt!co
wanted me. When got to him he h4
dismounted and was standing in .ti
eu;rancc way, He asked me If l wa
the commaydlng officer, l replied tina
Colonel Duncan was. He said, Sen
for him.
DON'T SURRENDER,
Before Duncan arrived lie got on hi
horpe so that he could be better heard
AM then. in loud. exciting voice, sale
.Men, the salvation OF Lees army Is
s0ul Keeping; you must realize the re
sporsiollty and your duty don't SUI
rolider this fort; II you can hold IL
enemy ia check for Two hours Longstrea
who Is making a forced march, Will
henc, and the danger 10 The army in Il
trenches win be ayertec;'
The artillery of the Feaerals cut sho
his speech The resp6Nse was: '',re
General Ice that Fort Gregg viii new
x be surrendered"
Ti.s cannonading lasted about thiri
minutes. Our two pieces did nat I'll
Hlis vrrre tlAn tWn ShDtS before both gul