·         “…I have endured hardships and trails calculated to injury any ones constitution, but thank our
Merciful Father I yet enjoy most excellent health.”

·         “I will go back as far as the Wilderness campaign.  On the fifth day of May we met the enemy in
 full force.  We fought them two hours and forty five minutes without intermission darkness prevented
us from fighting longer but on the following morning the fight was renewed with great vigor.  We drove
them some two miles, but the ride changed and they then drove us.  During the two days mentioned we
left many of brave fellows in that well known Wilderness which the name of, will live in history for all
time to come.” 

·         “I know not how often I have escaped, but I will merely relate one or two incidences.  On the morning
of the sixth we were down flat upon the ground and the bullets passing harmlessly over our heads. When
 the Rebels swarmed upon our front line like so many bees, and it was compelled to give way we raised
 and fired one volley only; in less time than I am writing this line nearly one quarter of regiment fell some
 killed some mortally wounded and some but slightly.  It was there that a bullet passed through my
haversack and I really believe that all that saved me from a mortal wound was a frying pan which I
carried… As I have it yet I have always kept it and I always will.”

·         “I will tell you of a very rainy night a very short time after I think it was about the eleventh of May. 
We had built strong breastworks and the enemy were almost in sight we were tired and completely worn
out.  We had dug up the ground and the rain had filled up the hole with water and so many men tramping
about had it so muddy that it was utterly unfit to be down, but lie down we must.   Nature was nearly
exhausted.  Now I will tell you how I done.  It was an easy matter to find gums for they were strewn over
 the ground thick.  I got two or three and put one end on the lower log, and the but on the ground and
there I made my bed both feet in the water but it made but little difference but they could get no wetter
than they were.  It was as wet as wet could be but I spread my gum blanket over me more to keep dry my
gun than anything else.  For I could get no wetter.  I slept up on those gums during the night although had
 to get up several times as I would get so sore and cramped up yet I rested.” 

·         “At daylight we went on the skirmish line there one of our company was shot through the head (Joseph
Warren) he stood close by my side he fell and did not speak we were compelled to leave him there upon the
 ground we could not bury him as it was almost certain death to stand up straight.  I marked his name and
 Co. and Regt. on an old shingle which happened to be close and put it by his head then threw a blanket over
him when we left that ground they chased us for a mile but fortunately we got off safe.” 

·         “We marched all of that night and the next day we arrived at or near Spotsylvania Court House.  The
Campaign from May fifth until June 8th was a continued battle hardly a day passed that we were not under
 fire.  Since we crossed the James River our marches have not been so great but the fighting has been about
 the same.  We crossed the James River on the 16th day June and marched to within six miles of Petersburg
 that evening.  On the night of the seventeenth we become engaged and we kept it up nearly all night and on
 the following morning it was renewed.  That was the day we took the Norfolk and Petersburg Rail Road. 
Our company was that day on the skirmish line we had two men badly wounded and two slightly.  On that
day a bullet passed through my hat and knocked it off of my head it just grazed the top of my head and
raised a small bump.  I did think at first I was hurt.  After we captured the Rail Road we layed still until
sundown.  We were in a deep cut.  We were safe while in there for they could not hurt any of us, but we must
have water and we could not get it without going out of that cut.  The Rebels then in there fortifications and
they are there in the same place yet.  I went after water and at the spring I met a man whom I knew at
convalescent camp.  He had been for water and was coming back he remarked to me as he passed this is a
 hot place.  I said yes.  I did not stop to talk for it was a hot place.  The bullets were flying thick.  I got my
water and was coming back when I seen poor Seth lying dead.  Seth was his name, but I never knew his last
name.  He was cook at convalescent camp last winter.”  

·         “At sundown we charged the fort but we failed to carry it.  They drove us back with a heavy loss on our
 side.  They now hold the same works but since that time the fort has been blown up and captured by our
troops but recaptured the same day by the Rebels.  We were then close to Petersburg, we could see the
steeples in the city quite plain.  Just two months from that day we took the Weldon Rail Road that was
another desperate fight 18th, 19th and 21st.  On the 20th all was quiet there we had none killed or wounded
 but seven taken prisoner.  Two have got back, the rest we have never heard from.”

The letter from Gregg’s Lieutenant is addressed to “Mr. Casper Hause” in Philadelphia.  Hause was the man who the family had asked to retrieve Gregg’s body.

                                                                                                                                        Camp 11th Regt. Pa. Vols.
                                                                                                                                                            April 29th, ‘65

            Mr. C. Hause Sir,

                                  I have to inform you that Sergt. John Gregg is buried near the battle ground 
            of the Five Forks, on the Boydentown Plank Road.  His grave is marked.                  
                                 In order to reach the place, you will have to get on the cars at Petersburg, 
            the South side R.R.  It is about twelve miles from Petersburg and within a couple of miles
             of the R.R.                                      
                                                                      Yours very respectfully,

                                                                                       J. Brenneman

                                                                                       Lt. Co. G, 11th Pa. Vols.

This letter also comes with the over it was sent in.  Both letters are in good condition.  There are parts of Gregg’s letter that we wish were a little darker, but it all can be read quite easily.  This pair of letters is truly one of the most amazing sets we have offered!

#S95PA - Price $1,295

Transcription:
                                                                                                          Camp Eleventh Regt. Penna. Vol.
                                                                                                                    Jerusalem Plank Road, Va.
                                                                                                                                  January 18th, 1865

My Dear Son,

            Before going to bed I will spend a few moments in writing to my little boy, although
it be late I do not feel sleepy yet and I expect he would like to hear from Pap.

            It has now been almost ten months since I have seen you and during that period I
 have endured hardships and trails calculated to injury any ones constitution, but thank
 our Merciful Father I yet enjoy most excellent health.

            I will go back as far as the Wilderness campaign.  On the fifth day of May we
met the enemy in full force.  We fought them two hours and forty five minutes without
 intermission darkness prevented us from fighting longer but on the following morning
the fight was renewed with great vigor.  We drove them some two miles, but the ride
changed and they then drove us.  During the two days mentioned we left many of brave
 fellows in that well known Wilderness which the name of, will live in history for all time
 to come. 

            I know not how often I have escaped, but I will merely relate one or two incidences. 
On the morning of the sixth we were down flat upon the ground and the bullets passing
 harmlessly over our heads. When the Rebels swarmed upon our front line like so many
bees, and it was compelled to give way we raised and fired one volley only; in less time
than I am writing this line nearly one quarter of regiment fell some killed some mortally
 wounded and some but slightly.  It was there that a bullet passed through my haversack
 and I really believe that all that saved me from a mortal wound was a frying pan which
I carried.  Should I get home I intend taking it along.  As I have it yet I have always kept
it and I always will.  I have used it for all kinds of cooking and today it is as good as new.

            I will tell you of a very rainy night a very short time after I think it was about the
eleventh of May.  We had built strong breastworks and the enemy were almost in sight
we were tired and completely worn out.  We had dug up the ground and the rain had filled
up the hole with water and so many men tramping about had it so muddy that it was
utterly unfit to be down, but lie down we must.   Nature was nearly exhausted.  Now I will
tell you how I done.  It was an easy matter to find gums for they were strewn over the
ground thick.  I got two or three and put one end on the lower log, and the but on the
ground and there I made my bed both feet in the water but it made but little difference
but they could get no wetter than they were.  It was as wet as wet could be but I spread
my gum blanket over me more to keep dry my gun than anything else.  For I could get no
wetter.  I slept up on those gums during the night although had to get up several times as
I would get so sore and cramped up yet I rested.  At daylight we went on the skirmish line
 there one of our company was shot through the head (Joseph Warren) he stood close by
my side he fell and did not speak we were compelled to leave him there upon the ground we
could not bury him as it was almost certain death to stand up straight.  I marked his name
 and Co. and Regt. on an old shingle which happened to be close and put it by his head then 
threw a blanket over him when we left that ground they chased us for a mile but fortunately
we got off safe.  We marched all of that night and the next day we arrived at or near
Spotsylvania Court House.  The Campaign from May fifth until June 8th was a continued
 battle hardly a day passed that we were not under fire.  Since we crossed the James River
 our marches have not been so great but the fighting has been about the same.  We crossed
 the James River on the 16th day June and marched to within six miles of Petersburg that
 evening.  On the night of the seventeenth we become engaged and we kept it up nearly all
night and on the following morning it was renewed.  That was the day we took the Norfolk
 and Petersburg Rail Road.  Our company was that day on the skirmish line we had two
men badly wounded and two slightly.  On that day a bullet passed through my hat and
knocked it off of my head it just grazed the top of my head and raised a small bump.  I did
think at first I was hurt.  After we captured the Rail Road we layed still until sundown.  We
 were in a deep cut.  We were safe while in there for they could not hurt any of us, but we
must have water and we could not get it without going out of that cut.  The Rebels then in
there fortifications and they are there in the same place yet.  I went after water and at the
 spring I met a man whom I knew at convalescent camp.  He had been for water and was
coming back he remarked to me as he passed this is a hot place.  I said yes.  I did not stop
to talk for it was a hot place.  The bullets were flying thick.  I got my water and was coming
back when I seen poor Seth lying dead.  Seth was his name, but I never knew his last name. 
He was cook at convalescent camp last winter.   At sundown we charged the fort but we
failed to carry it.  They drove us back with a heavy loss on our side.  They now hold the
same works but since that time the fort has been blown up and captured by our troops but
recaptured the same day by the Rebels.  We were then close to Petersburg, we could see the
 steeples in the city quite plain.  Just two months from that day we took the Weldon Rail
Road that was another desperate fight 18th, 19th and 21st.  On the 20th all was quiet there
we had none killed or wounded but seven taken prisoner.  Two have got back, the rest we
have never heard from.  Now it is getting late and I have spent an hour writing I will have
to stop soon.  When I come home I will tell my boy many many things, but I want him to be
 a good boy and grow up to be a useful and good man.  Why what am I talking, of course
he is a good boy.  I like to have forgot myself.  I will bring something home you all three,
but you must not quarrel about it.  I don’t know yet what it will be.

            Now I will have to stop so good night and may the time be short until I see you all. 

                                   

                                                                                                I forever remain your

                            Most affectionate Pap.

                                                                                    Jno. Gregg

Page 1 (entire page does not fit on scanner):







Top of page 1:

Bottom of page 1:

Top of page 2:

Bottom of page 2:

Top of page 3:

Bottom of page 3:

Page 4:

Letter from Lt. John Brenneman: