seven o’clock
Attacked in Fort Gregg , by General Gibbon , Harris 's Mississippi brigade , of two hundred and fifty men , made one of those struggles which throw their splendor along the paths of history . `` This handful of skilled marksmen , '' says a Northern writer , `` conducted the defence with such intrepidity , that Gibbon 's forces , surging repeatedly against it , were each time thrown back . '' That is the generous but cold statement of an opponent ; but it is sufficient . It was not until seven o'clock that Gibbon stormed the fort . Thirty men only out of the two hundred and fifty were left , but they were still fighting . In the attack the Federal loss was `` about five hundred men , '' says the writer above quoted . So fell Lee 's last stronghold on this vital part of his lines .