Description
Extremely rare document pertaining to future Confederate General Maxcy Gregg. The document dates to Maxcy’s time serving as colonel of the 23rd South Carolina Militia and is dated Sept. 29, 1845. Written from the headquarters of the 23rd Regiment while located at Columbia, South Carolina, the order lists the names of 12 men who are required to travel to Camden for court martial for failing to attend the encampment of officers of the 5th Brigade. The order which is two pages in length, is twice signed by Gregg which reads “Maxcy Gregg Col. 23rd Regt S. C. M.”. When war came in 1861, Maxcy helped raise the 1st South Carolina Volunteers and served as the regiments colonel. He later became a brigadier general and served in A. P. Hill’s Light Division. His brigade played a prominent role in Hill’s assault on the Union lines at Gaine’s Mill. He would gain prominence at the Second Battle of Bull Run when his men repulsed six Union assaults, and served during Lee’s Maryland Campaign. At Antietam he was wounded in the thigh by the same bullet that killed Brig. Gen. Lawrence Branch. At Fredericksburg, Gregg’s brigade was caught by surprise, and in the confusion he was shot in the back. Gregg was found by a group of staff officers and taken to a field hospital in the rear. An examination of the wound found that the bullet had penetrated his spine. Gregg was unable to feel anything in his lower body and assumed he was completely paralyzed from the waist down, but after being placed in bed he managed to regain some feeling in his legs. However, doctors pronounced the wound mortal, and Gregg died on December 15, saying on his deathbed “I yield my life cheerfully, fighting for the independence of South Carolina.”. The letter itself is in suffers from condition issues as is apparent. A mouse has chewed along one side of the document, however the majority of the writing is still present. There is some paper separation along the folds as well. Even with the condition, Gregg’s signatures are very difficult to find much less an entire document.
