Description
When the Civil War broke out, Gregg was still stationed at Fort Tejon in California and returned to Washington in order to be of service to the Union war effort. He was assigned to a number of different cavalry units in the early days of the war, and in January 1862 was made colonel of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, which he led with distinction during the Peninsula Campaign. In the fall, Gregg was promoted to brigadier general. He commanded a division under Stoneman during the Chancellorsville campaign. At Gettysburg, Gregg shielded the extreme right of the Union line and repulsed Stuart’s efforts on the third day of the battle, winning “one of the most conspicuous cavalry victories of the war.”. During the Overland campaign in 1864, Gregg again performed admirably in command of a division of cavalry. During the early stages of the Siege of Petersburg, Gregg’s cavalry remained near the city while Sheridan cleared the Shenandoah Valley of all remaining Confederate presence. His division was actively involved in probing for weaknesses in the entrenched Confederate lines and fighting around the outskirts of the city. He also received another brevet promotion to major general. In January, 1865, Gregg abruptly and mysteriously resigned his commission. He missed the Appomattox campaign and the end of the war, settling in his wife’s home of Reading, Pennsylvania. Nice, waist up portrait of the general, dressed in his double breasted frock and sporting very unique shoulder boards. Slightly trimmed, this one is back marked by Brady.
