Maxcy Gregg: Lawyer, Scholar, “Fire Eater”, Gallant Soldier, and Confederate Brigadier General

Maxcy Gregg was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and was the great-grandson of Esek Hopkins, a commodore of the Continental Navy, and grandson of Jonathan Maxcy, the first president of South Carolina College (now called the University of South Carolina). Gregg attended South Carolina College, and graduated 1st in his class in 1836. He then studied law, was admitted to the South Carolina bar in 1839, and settled into practicing law with his father. Gregg was considered a man of “keen intellect” and followed many scholarly pursuits, coming to be considered an authority in ornithology, botany, and astronomy (having his own private observatory built to study the constellations). He was a very respected member of Columbia society.

From 1839 until the outbreak of the WBTS, Gregg was very active in state and regional politics. He served in the Mexican War as a major in the 12th U. S. Infantry, but saw no action, and returned to his law practice in South Carolina at its conclusion.

Always a strong advocate for States Rights, he was considered to be one of South Carolina’s “Fire Eaters”. In 1858, he authored a pamphlet entitled “An Appeal to the States Rights Party of South Carolina”, which became a “secessionists’ manifesto”. It rejected incorporation into the Democratic Party over the tariff controversy. A major proponent of secession, Gregg was a member of the state secession convention and “jubilantly voted to leave the Union in December 1860.”

Maxcy Gregg’s War Years: From Secession till Fredericksburg

The following information is taken from – findagrave.com [FG] and civilwarreference.com [CWR].

The [South Carolina state secession] convention authorized a 6 month regiment, giving the command to him [Gregg], with the rank of Colonel. After he and his volunteers participated in the bombardment of Fort Sumter, in April 1861, they moved north to Virginia, where they spent the spring months drilling and picketing. When their term expired, many in the regiment returned to their homes, missing the First Bull Run Campaign [First Manassas, July 21, 1861]. [FG]

At the expiration of the term of enlistment [Gregg] reorganized his regiment in South Carolina, and returning to Virginia was stationed at Suffolk. In December, 1861, he was promoted to brigadier-general and ordered to South Carolina, where he took command of a brigade composed of the First, Twelfth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth regiments. With this brigade he was attached to the famous light division of A. P. Hill for the Seven Days' campaign before Richmond. He led the advance of the division at Cold Harbor [also called the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, on the third day of the Seven Days Campaign], crossing the creek under fire made what Hill pronounced "the handsomest charge in line I have seen during the war," and during the remainder of the battle displayed undaunted bravery. At Frayser's Farm [on the sixth day of the Seven Days Campaign] he charged and captured a Federal battery. [CWR]

It should be noted the men in [Gregg’s] brigade were men of privileged backgrounds, including doctors, and lawyers. In the Seven Days' Campaign his South Carolinians suffered more casualties than any other brigade in Major General Ambrose P. Hill's Light Division. [FG]

Assigned a reserve role at Cedar Mountain, on August 9 [1862], the brigade fought tenaciously 3 weeks later at Second Bull Run [Second Manassas, August 28-30, 1862]. During this searing battle, he walked along the brigade's line, fearlessly exposing himself and encouraging his men. His conduct moved Hill to say that "he is the man for me." He became one of only 2 brigadiers, (Dorsey Pender was the other), who had free access to Hill. [FG]

At the battle of August 29th, on the plains of Manassas, he with his comrades of the division, fought "with a heroic courage and obstinacy almost beyond parallel," repelling six determined assaults of the enemy, who sought to overwhelm Jackson's corps before Longstreet could arrive. Hill reported: "The reply of the gallant Gregg to a message of mine is worthy of note: 'Tell General Hill that my ammunition is exhausted, but that I will hold my position with the bayonet.'" In the battle of the 30th and at Ox Hill on September 1st, he was again distinguished. [CWR]

At Antietam on September 17 he was slightly wounded by the Federal volley that killed Brigadier General Lawrence O. Branch. [FG] [Gregg found the bullet the next morning at breakfast when he opened his handkerchief.]

He [Gregg] participated in the capture of Harper's Ferry [September12-15,1862], at Sharpsburg [September 17, 1862] shared with distinguished gallantry in the heroic work of the Light division, which reached the field in time to save the Confederate right, and was wounded in the fight; and at Shepherdstown [September 19-20, 1862], after the crossing of the Potomac by the army, commanded the line of three brigades which drove back and terribly punished the enemy's forces, which had the temerity to pursue the lion-hearted veterans of Lee's army. [CWR]

Flags of the Confederate States of America

The first official flag of the Confederacy, known as the First National Flag, was also called The Stars and Bars (flown from March 5, 1861 to May 1863). Meeting in Montgomery, AL, one of the first acts of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States was to appoint a "Committee on the Flag and Seal," chaired by William Porcher Miles of South Carolina. Many suggestions from the public were considered, including popular support for a flag similar to the Union's Stars and Stripes. The Stars and Bars design was approved by the committee, but eventually proved to be too similar to the Stars and Stripes. It caused confusion at the first battle of Manassas when General Pierre Beauregard delayed because he could not distinguish which flag was being flown by the approaching troops. To avoid battlefield confusion, a new flag was needed.

The Second National Flag was created and put into service on May 1, 1863. Called the Stainless Banner because of the predominant white field in the design, it was said to refer to "the unspotted virtue and honor of Southerners and their fight for independence from the tyranny and aggression of northern states." This flag was also nicknamed the Stonewall Jackson Flag because it was used to cover General Stonewall Jackson's coffin at his funeral. This flag had a problem, however. On a calm day it was sometimes mistaken for a flag of truce or surrender because the white field often concealed the rest of the design. The Second National was also adapted as a naval ensign in 1863 and was the only ensign taken around the world (on board the CSS Shenandoah) and was the last Confederate flag lowered at the end of the war (November 7, 1865 on board the CSS Shenandoah at Liverpool, England).

The Third National Flag was adopted on March 4, 1865, shortly before the end of The War for Southern Independence and flew briefly over the Capitol at Richmond, Virginia. The red stripe on the end of the white field was added to distinguish it from a flag of truce or surrender, which had been a problem with the Second National Flag. It was sometimes called The Blood-stained or The Blood-dipped Banner. The few flags actually made prior to the end of the war were simply modified 1863 naval ensigns with a red bar added. Given its short usage, this is the rarest of the Confederate national flags.

The most recognizable flag today is The Battle Flag, often erroneously called The Confederate Flag. It was envisioned to be "a war flag to be used only on the field of battle" and "entirely different from any State or Federal flag." This flag was designed by William Porcher Miles of South Carolina, Chairman of the Committee on the Flag and Seal. His design was inspired by one of the many 'secessionist flags' flown at the South Carolina secession convention of December 1860. General Johnston suggested making the flag square instead of the usual rectangular shape. General Beauregard agreed and the first set of new battle flags were formally received by the Army of Northern Virginia on November 28, 1861. Sometimes called St. Andrews Cross, Beauregard's Flag, The Southern Cross (which actually refers to the rectangular Confederate Navy Jack), or the Virginia Battle Flag, it is properly called The Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia.

The Confederate government never officially adopted The Bonnie Blue Flag, but the people did. The first recorded use of a lone star flag actually dates back to 1810 when the English-speaking people of Spanish West Florida rebelled against Spanish rule. The dragoons who helped overthrow the dictatorial governor carried a lone-star flag and raised it over their new republic. Twenty-nine years later, the Republic of Texas adopted a similar national flag, changing the star from yellow to white. Twenty-two years later, the lone star flag flew again as the unofficial flag of the Republic of Mississippi in 1861. Harry McCarthy was inspired to write the song, "The Bonnie Blue Flag," which became the second most popular patriotic song of the Confederacy.

The original Flag of South Carolina is believed to have been designed in 1775 for South Carolina's use during the first war of secession, commonly known as the American Revolutionary War. This makes South Carolina's flag a true secession flag. Elements that compose the current flag were actually seen as far back as 1765 during South Carolina's protests of the Stamp Act. With the addition of the palmetto tree, the current version was adopted on January 28, 1861, as the "national" flag of the newly seceded South Carolina. The flag remained the official state flag when the War for Southern Independence ended. The palmetto tree represents the defense of Fort Moultrie, built of palmetto logs, against British attack in 1776. The most misunderstood piece of symbolism on the flag is the crescent, which some refer to as a 'new moon.' It is actually a gorget symbol that was worn on the caps of South Carolina revolutionary war soldiers. Worn for centuries as a part of body armor, a gorget is a steel collar designed to protect the throat in battle. Both the gorget and the palmetto tree emblems symbolized defensive prowess.

The Confederate Seal

The Great Seal of the Confederacy was the official seal of the Confederate States of America. The seal prominently features George Washington, a southerner, on horseback in the same position as a statue of him in Richmond, Virginia. Washington is surrounded with a wreath which represents some of the important agricultural products of the Confederate States, including cotton, wheat, corn, and tobacco.

The margin of the seal features the words "The Confederate States of America: 22 February 1862" and the national motto, Deo Vindice, which can be pronounced 'VIN de say' or 'WIN de kay.' Deo Vindice can be translated a number of ways, including "Under God, Our Vindicator" or "With God as [our] Champion."

The date on the seal commemorates the inauguration of Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederate States of America and is also Washington's birthday.

The seal was designed shortly before the end of the War Between the States.

Compiled by Holly Sheen