Near Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Death of Maxcy Gregg
The Battle of Fredericksburg
| | Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park | |
Photographed by Kevin W., December 9, 2007
1. Death of Maxcy Gregg Marker
General Maxcy Gregg fell mortally wounded near this spot on December 13, 1862. Fiery and uncompromising on the issues of slavery and states rights, the South Carolina lawyer had been an early and ardent proponent of secession. When war came, Gregg, like many pre-war politicians, sought a place at the head of his states troops. Having voted to take his state out of the Union, he was willing to fight and die to keep it out.
When, at midday on December 13, Union troops broke into the woods in front of you, Gregg at first misidentified them as Confederate pickets. He ordered his South Carolinians, atop this ridge, to hold their fire a fatal mistake. A Union bullet struck Gregg in the side, piercing his spine. Two days later he died, having assured the governor of his state, I yield my life cheerfully, fighting for the independence of South Carolina.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1675.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 15.083′ N, 77° 26.634′ W. Marker was
this page online
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. It was also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Union Breakthrough (here, next to this marker); Death of a Southern Radical (within shouting distance of this marker); A Southern Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Meade Pyramid (approx. 0.3 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). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.
More about this marker. In the lower left corner of the marker, there is a map detailing the maneuvers leading up to the death of Maxcy Gregg. The map carries the caption, "To reach Greggs lines, Union troops plunged through a swampy gap in the low ground before you. The Union breakthrough not only took Greggs life, it imperiled Jacksons entire position."
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location titled
February 16, 2007
2. Close-up of Map on Marker
Also see . . . Death of Maxcy Gregg Painting. Until recently, one of the park's battlefield paintings depicted the death of Maxcy Gregg. The painting was replaced by the current marker. (Submitted on December 25, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Kevin W., December 9, 2007
3. "Death of Maxcy Gregg" and "Union Breakthrough" Markers
Internet Archive
4. Brigadier-General Maxcy Gregg, C.S.A.,
Killed at Fredericksburg
Killed at Fredericksburg
from Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol. 3, Robert Underwood Johnson & Clarence Clough Buel 1887.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,816 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 10, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 2. submitted on February 19, 2008. 3. submitted on December 10, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4. submitted on September 22, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
