Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/434

 GREGG

GREGG

QREQG, John Irvin, soldier, was born in Belle- foute, Pa., July 19, 1826; son of Andrew Gregg, iron-nraster, and grandson of the Hon. Andrew Gregg, representative and senator in congress, 1791-1813. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, serving as private, lieutenant and captain, 18-16- 48. He was appointed captain in the 6tli U.S. cavalry in May, 1861, having already enlisted in the volunteer service as captain of the Pennsyl- vania reserves and received promotion to the rank of colonel of the oth Pennsylvania volunteers. In October, 1863, he was made colonel of the 16th Pennsylvania cavalry and commanded a cavalry brigade, 1863-65. He was engaged in the various battles of the army of the Potomac including the Peninsular campaign, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor and the events that led to the surrender of Lee. He was severely wounded at Deep Bottom, Va. , and was made a prisoner three days before the surrender. He was brevetted major general of volunteers for gallant and meritorious services during the civil war, and lieutenant-colonel, colonel and brigadier-general in the regular army. He was appointed inspector-general of freedmen in Louisiana and was promoted colonel of the 8th cavalry under the orders of Jul}' 28, 1868. He was with his regiment on the Pacific coast and was retired April 3, 1879, for disability incurred in line of duty. He died in Washington, D. C , Jan. 6. 1892.

QREQQ, Maxcy, soldier, was born in Colum- bia, S.C, in 1814; son of James Gregg, a lawyer. His brother James (1787-18.53) was graduated from South Carolina college in 1808 ; was tutor and professor of mathematics there ; was a law- yer and member of the state legislature, and colonel of militia. Maxcy was graduated from South Carolina college in 1836, and was admitted to the bar in 1839. He served in the Mexican war in 1847, holding the I'ank of major of volunteers. In 1861 lie was a member of the state convention of .South Carolina and was one of the committee appointed to draw up the ordinance of secession. He served in the civil war, having command of the 1st South Carolina regiment and was pro- moted to the rank of brigadier -general. He com- manded a brigade of the reserves at the disastrous battle of Beaver Dam Creek, Jime 26, 1863, and at the 3d battle of Manassas, Aug. 39, 1863, his brigade occupying the extreme left of the divi- sion of Gen. A. P. Hill of " Stonewall " Jackson'.? corps, and being cut off from the main line, resisted the terrible onslaught of the Federal troops until the ammunition was exhausted and all but two of his field officers were killed or wounded. He was then relieved after several hours' severe fighting by Early's brigade which drove back the Federal riglit and turned the bat- tle in favor of the Confederates. At Fredericks-

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burg, Dec. 13, 1863, he held the centre reserve of Jackson"s line, and when Archer's and Lane's brigades fell back the Federal troops wedged themselves between the two brigades, breaking Jackson's line. Here they met Gregg's brigade which held them in check until Archer and Lane rallied and pushed the Federals back, but the leader of the victorious brigade fell at the head of his men, mortally wounded. He died at Fred- ericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1863.

QREQQ, William, manufacturer, was born in Monongahela county, Va., Feb. 3, 1800; son of William and Elizabeth (Webb) Gregg; grandson of Herman and Mary Gregg; great-grandson of

William and (Hinchy) Greg.g, and great ^

grandson of John Gregg, a native of Scotland, who formed a friend- ship with William Penn, travelled with him in England and Germany, and came to America with him in 1683. William Gregg's father, Wil- liam, was among the troops who fought in defence of Chaides- ton, S.C., in the Rev- olution, and was taken prisoner by the British, making his es- cajje at the surrender of the city. William, Jr., was brought up in the family of his uncle, Jacob Gregg, a wealthy watchmaker and manu- facturer of spinning machinery in Alexandria, Va., and with him removed to Georgia in 1810. There Jacob erected Whatley's mills on Little River, one of the first cotton mills in the south. William was sent to Lexington, Ky., in 1816, to leai'n the trade of watchmaker and silver- smith, removing thence to Petersburg, Va, in 1831, and to Columbia, S.C, in 1837. In 1839 he was married to Marina, daughter of Col. Matthias Jones of Edgefield county. S.C. In 1837 he pur- chased an interest in the Vaucluse (cotton) man- ufacturing company, S.C, but abandoned his intention of entering the cotton business on ac- count of ill health. In 1838 he resumed his business in Charleston, S.C, and acquired consid- erable wealth. In 1845 the Vaucluse mill was incorporated as the Graniteville company, and thereafter Mr. Gregg devoted his entire attention to the interests of the company, becoming its president and manager. He is the author of numerous essays on domestic industry, and the development of the manufacture of cotton yarns and cloth, contributed to periodicals. He died at Kalmia, near Graniteville, S.C, Sept. 12, 1867.

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