Military History of 1st Gunner Henry Cassius Gregory, member of Stanton Hill Artillery, organized by Charles Bruce of Charlotte County. ("Cass" Gregory, son of Z. Josephus Gregory, was buried at the old John Gregory home place cemetery in Lunenburg, where the below dedication service took place.) The following is submitted 28 Sep. 1998 with permission of the author, Munsey A. Moore. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ Henry Cassius Gregory By: Munsey A. Moore Henry Cassius Gregory, a native son of Lunenburg County, Virginia, entered Confederate service at age 18 on January 16,1862. He enlisted at Camp Lee, Virginia near Richmond by joining Bruce's battery also known as The Stanton Hill Artillery. The artillery battery was organized by Charles Bruce, a local Charlotte County millionaire planter who used his own money to initially equip the unit. Camp Lee was an instruction camp for new members of the unit. Gregory received artillery instruction there during his first month of enlistment. In February 1862, the unit was sent to Savannah, Georgia and while there experienced its first known death when Private John Stepp died of disease on February 10, 1862. From Savannah, the unit was sent to Fort Branch near Hamilton, North Carolina on the lower Roanoke River. Artillery had been installed on the high bluffs overlooking the river in an effort to stop union gunboats from navigating up the river. The unit stayed in North Carolina only briefly before being sent back to Savannah for coastal duty during April, 1862. The most notable event during the battery's history at Savannah was the death of former schoolmaster, Private Henry E. Clary, who died of disease on May 1, 1862. The Staunton Hill Artillery returned to North Carolina and made camp at a place called Camp Hendrick. It was during this time that Bruce resigned from the company because of ill health and returned home to serve in the Virginia state senate. Andrew B. Paris was elected commander of the battery and "Cass" Gregory's brother, Flavius Josephus Gregory, joined the unit May 23,1862 and was immediately elected Second Lieutenant. Lt. Flavius Gregory later served in the 22nd Virginia Infantry. As spring turned to summer, the battery took up positions at Masonborough Sound, a point 25 miles northeast of Wilmington, North Carolina on the coast. Artillery emplacements at this point were important for three reasons. A key salt works was located there whose product was essential for the preservation of food. Secondly, the area at this point of the coast was considered a likely amphibious landing area for an assault on Wilmington from the rear. Lastly, batteries here could also help blockade runners coming down the coast trying to enter the port of Wilmington. The men of the battery remained at Masonborough through the end of the year 1862 into 1863. During 1863, the battery remained in the Wilmington area and saw little action on coastal defense duty. The unit changed positions, but stayed in the Wilmington area most of year protecting the important base there. In early 1864, operations were made against the Federal positions at Jacksonville and Morehead city. Part of the Staunton Hill Artillery was used in this operation with the battery seeing action. The battery took part in an expedition to recapture New Bern which was not totally successful under the command of General James Martin. However, the column did recapture Fort Macon along with 10 pieces of artillery and 78 prisoners with relatively light casualties for the Confederates with the battery returning to Wilmington after the attack. The unit remained at Masonborough sound as the year 1864 drew to a close, but was ordered on December ninth to Weldon, North Carolina for temporary duty. The trip was made on railroad flatcars with the weather being intensely cold. The train had to be stopped several times so the men could build fires and warm themselves. There were several fights, including a skirmish at Belfield, Virginia, near present day Emporia, Virginia. The unit marched to Tarboro and Hamilton, North Carolina to meet Federal threats and then returned to Wilmington. In the nick of time, the unit had to answer a threat in December to the port at Wilmington. The Confederate defense line was miles in length and the Federals picked a weak point and made a foothold in the Wilmington defenses on Christmas day, 1864. Confederate pressure caused the Federals to abandon their beachhead and retreat. The last year of the war, the unit served in the Wilmington defenses and remained until Fort Fisher fell January 15,1865. The battery skirmished with the Federals around Wilmington, but when that base was lost, the unit was reassigned to serve under General Joseph E. Johnston who was in command of the Army of Tennessee. The final major Confederate offensive battle of the war occurred at Bentonville, North Carolina in March, 1865. The battery made a good showing with two men being killed in action and four wounded. On April 9,1865, the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of General Robert E. Lee surrendered to general U. S. Grant at Appomattox. In late April, Johnston surrendered his army to Federal General Sherman. The Staunton Hill battery was included in that surrender at Durham Station, North Carolina. Looking back on the accomplishments of the battery, the unit did not participate in any of the big battles except Bentonville, but the comrades in arms managed to keep open for four long years a leading port city where millions of tons of supplies and materials came in for the benefit of the Confederates. Their defense helped keep the armies supplied during the long struggle. Henry Cassius Gregory was honored by his unit by being designated as First Gunner. He joined the war effort early and remained until the end. We can all here this 27th day of September, 1998 be proud of his courage and devotion to duty. He was a true Confederate and we are here today to remember his record as a Confederate and dedicate this tombstone in his memory. Henry Cassius Gregory survived the civil war and lived a long productive life in his native Lunenburg County. He answered the last roll call on April 29,1927 and joined his Confederate comrades. We the members of the Armistead Hill Goode Camp #1624, Sons of Confederate Veterans, proudly salute 1st gunner Henry Cassius Gregory. We hold high his memory for his devotion to duty and courage. He was faithful to the end and shall ever have the respect of his family, community, state and country.