7 he Truth of History. 71
the engagement, I have endeavored, with the help of the official reports, to furnish a simple narrative of its leading and most striking features, giving at the same time an account of it as viewed from the standpoint of one of several thousand soldiers who took part in this exceptionally tragic action with muskets in their hands, without attempting to account or to fix upon any officer or officers in com- mand or troops engaged the responsibility for the failure of the Con- federate forces to accomplish more after such frightful loss of life. If what I have written has interested the reader and has given him a clearer conception of this closing scene of the seven days' battles around Richmond, the sketch will have served its purpose.
GEORGE S. BERNARD. Petersburg, Va., September 23, 1887.
THE TRUTH OF HISTORY.
Defence of Fort Gregg The Battle of Jericho Ford Troops Surrendered
at Appomattox Courthouse Last Official Reports Made
to General Lee After the Surrender, etc.
In the account of the Unveiling of the Soldiers' Monument in Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg, Va., from the correspondent of the Richmond (Va.) Dispatch, and published in its issue of June 8, 1890, and republished in the Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. XVII, pp. 388-403, occurs the following misstatement : " Fort Gregg, whose defence by the small band of gallant Mississippians was one of the bravest, most glorious, and most stubborn in the annals of the war."
This inadvertant publication has elicited from General James H. Lane several material communications, explaining not only how the oft-repeated error as to the real defenders of Fort Gregg first gained currency, but correcting other erroneous statements heretofore made. He also makes a valuable suggestion.
Under date of September 5, 1890, he writes :
" General Lee, at Appomattox Courthouse, ordered official reports from all of his general officers. I made mine [published, with the letters of Lieutenants Snow, Craige, Howard and Rigler, in the Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. Ill, pp. 19-28, January,
