Near Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Death of a Southern Radical

The Battle of Fredericksburg

— Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park —

Death of a Southern Radical Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike McKeown

1. Death of a Southern Radical Marker

Inscription. The South had few more ardent advocates for independence that Maxcy Gregg of South Carolina. He argued for secession long before most. He sought not just the protection of slavery, but its expansion into the West. And he urged the reopening of the prohibited African slave trade—the seizure of people in Africa, their transport to the United States, and their perpetual enslavement. In 1861, like many pre-war politicians, Gregg sought a command among his state's troops. On December 13, 1862, on this ride, his brigade of South Carolinians confronted a charging line of U.S. soldiers. A bullet struck General Gregg in the side piercing his spine. Two days later he died, consumed by the war he helped provoke.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is December 13, 1862.

Location. 38° 15.091′ N, 77° 26.664′ W. Marker is near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It is on Lee Drive 1½ miles east of Lansdowne Road, on the right when traveling east. Located in the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park at Stop 5 on the Auto Tour, next to the Union Breakthrough sign. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fredericksburg VA 22408, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Union Breakthrough (within shouting distance of this marker); A Southern Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Meade Pyramid (approx. 0.4 miles away); Jackson (approx. half a mile away); Fredericksburg Campaign (approx. half a mile away); Jackson Holds Prospect Hill (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Fredericksburg Campaign (approx. half a mile away); Dead Horse Hill (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Death of Maxcy Gregg (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location titled "Death of Maxcy Gregg"

Also see . . .
1. Maxcy Gregg. Wikipedia (Submitted on December 10, 2023.)

2. Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. National Park Service (Submitted on December 10, 2023.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2023, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 475 times since then and 33 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on December 9, 2023, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.