Maxcy Gregg was a lawyer, soldier in the United States Army during the Mexican - American War, and a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg and died two days later.
Background
Maxcy Gregg was born on August 1, 1814 at Columbia, South Carolina, the son of colonel James and Cornelia (Maxcy) Gregg. His mother was a daughter of Jonathan Maxcy. His father was a graduate of South Carolina College (later the University of South Carolina) and a lawyer by profession.
Education
Maxcy studied law with his father. He was well versed in the classics, especially in Greek literature and philosophy. He was a close student of botany and ornithology and had a large and select library and a well-equipped astronomical observatory at his home in Columbia.
Career
Gregg was admitted to the bar in 1839.
He was appointed major in Col. M. L. Bonham’s regiment of volunteers on March 24, 1847, and ordered to Mexico; but he failed to reach the battlegrounds in time to take part in any of the major engagements. After the war he returned to Columbia and practised law until 1860. “In 1850, when the North violated the Missouri Compromise and swindled the Southern people out of California, Gen. Gregg was early and decided in declaring for secession in a speech”.
Gregg was appointed colonel of the 16t Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers, and was busy about Charleston with his forces from January 3, 1861, until the fall of Fort Sumter, after which he served in Virginia. He was made a brigadier-general in December 1861 and was returned to South Carolina. He was under fire with his brigade later at Cold Harbor, Frazier’s Farm, Malvern Hill, Cedar Run, Second Manassas, Ox Hill, Harper’s Ferry, Sharpsburg, Shepherdstown, and Fredericksburg. He was wounded on the leg at Manassas and had his horse shot from under him at Sharpsburg. He was killed at Fredericksburg.
He was buried in the yard of the First Presbyterian Church, at Columbia, South Carolina.
Politics
Gregg was an intense Southerner, active in politics, and a leader of the State-Rights party.
He was a leading member of the Convention of Southern Rights Associations in Charleston. In 1857 and 1858 he advocated the reopening of the slave trade as a means of separation from the North. He was a delegate from the Richland district to the South Carolina secession convention and a member of the central committee which framed the ordinance of secession, adopted on December 20, 1860. In this convention he argued that all laws of Congress “fall instantly to the ground on passage of the act of secession. ” He was the author of a resolution to instruct the governor to appoint postmasters for South Carolina.
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
Gregg won the confidence and admiration of his superior officers. Gen. A. P. Hill spoke of him as the “invincible pillar of my strength”; Gen. Lee said, “In Brigadier-Generals Gregg and Cobb, the Confederacy has lost two of its noblest citizens and the army two of its bravest and most distinguished officers". Gen. T. J. Jackson said of him, “Gen. Gregg was a brave and accomplished officer, full of heroic sentiment and chivalrous honor. He had rendered valuable service in this great struggle for our freedom, and the country has much reason to deplore the loss sustained by his premature death”.