Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-07-08

FULL AND AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT or TIE DARING
EXPLOITS OF TEE TWO AsHBYS.
RoukKY July 4h.

FULL AND AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF THE DAhlNd
EXPLOITS OF TEE TWO AsHBYS.
l. RoMkkY, July 4,h.
TO the Editor of the Whig:
On he morning Of the 2stb Of June NJ. Richard Ash
by stationed in charge Of scouting party Of about
twenty men on Pattersobs Creek belorgg 10 the COM
pany of Capt. Turner Ashby, then rendezvousins al
Camp Washington, Fix miles below Romney, on the
South branch of the Potomac, part OF Col MeDonads
command. He received letter from citizen Oh
Hampshire county stating that with Mr.. Aohbys assist
ancs at certain hour and place. notorious traitor
could be arrested Mr.. Ashby having once before ad-
geousy used the services Of the informant heta.
ted not to comply with bis request On reaching his
house. bis suspicious were aroused by the evident alarm
of the informant who stated that he bad been arrested
that morning by four or five Federal troops and carried
into Maryland, but that be afterwards released
He stated further that there no Federal troops
in that negtborhood them they having all gone back to
Cumberland, but that il be would hurry on he might
ovsrtako two three strsggers then returning. For
this purpose Mr.. Ashby separated his command send
ing twelve carry the primary object OF arrest
Ing the traitor and retaining the remSning eight for the
purpose OF cutting eff the straggers above referred TO-.
After following tho route to Cumberland sufficiently long
to see that he had deceived by his informant and
that something wrong he endeavored to form con-
necion with his party OF twelve below him.
But WHOM distant from the others about mile, he
heard the order given to ambushed party of Federal
troops to Ere Who having allowed him 10 pass thereby
ofeciuslly cut of his retreat Mr. Ashby thinks
this party numbered some IS or 40. This attack was
made along the track Of the Baltimore Ohio railroad
which was Just here for the pant cut out Of rock
with allowed of filing either to right or left
for three. quarters OF mile to raviue spanned by
Railroad cattle guard about ten feet in dep'b, at which
place be knew there space enough to wheel his men
aud check the enemys advance, until he was Joined by
biz party OF twelve then below Before reaching
this point at sharp angle OF the Railroad he halted his
and fired upon the enemy a. they came up this ma
terribly checked their advance, killing one or more Of
then; after which he gave the order 20 Wheel up the
vine the cattle gusrd where he puposed TO make bis
stand Several Of bis had no. been the ground
before aud did not know where the ravne was and Mr..
Ashby being in the rear they passed by the point at
which he intended wheel them, keeping track of the
Railroad and their horses except one falling in the cattle
guard Before they reached there however, by
the enemys fire had his horse disabled aud Mr.. Asbby
had with him only ole man; him be sent forward 10
to wheel Fighting as be Ietreste Mr. Asbby turned bis
horse and in under the cattle guard when he found
his men fighting another parry OF Federas Who had been
ambushed near by. Fighting desperately. the men en-
deavored 10 cover their up the favDe One Of
the men on foot did reach the party of twelve below,
who had no officer with theIn and turned them back,
saying that all Mr. Ashty's command we're killed. kr.
Ashbys men did succeed in reaching the woods, having
exhausted their fire. and thinking he was dead During the
fight Mr.. Ashby had Cf them down, while he vas
Ia the of bayonepg lis comrade and swapping the
two remaining caps his repeater he Frustrated another
With the butt thereof who aiming his gun At Of
the Coufederates who edeayong reach cover in
the woods. After which the whole fury Of the enemy
was turned upon Mr. Ashby ard he necessarily
powered receiving several very sounds over the
head one of which ceavsd of part of the skull just
over the left eye another just the elbow Of the right
arm breaking the bone. Here be- fell While down one
OF Incolns misorcanis asked bin With brutal If
hs was Union man or a Secessonist. NJ Ashby gasred
out that he was Ssesssionist upon which he received
stab sabrebayOnet in the right sids Of bis abdo-
msa and tie stock Of the gun broken over his head
Mr. Aslby's expiring consciousness enabled him to re-
collect Ina. they took eff bis spurs and hurried away,
bubbles fearing that the party below would be rein
reed aud attack them. Thus ended Er. Richard Ash.
bps tight.
Capt. Turner Ashby with eleven men, during that
morning visited Mr.. Richard Ashbys scouting station
on Paersons creek for the purpose of inspection, &C.
lie found that his brother bad gone out on scout and
abou; one O'Clock p. ~, received information that two
parties of Federal troops had left Cumberland that
ing for the purpose of surprising and cutting of the
scouting party of his brother. Impsrfecty armed his
men were (no. expecting any active service that day. he
hurried on to ihwaFt the design of the enemy, possible
at the same time dispGicbiDg courier to Camp Wash
ington with tie order that his should join him
soon es possible. Alter moving On very rapidly for
about eight miles, he painfully ascertancd that he
behind hem about hour, and that fight had taken
place. which ne presumed have been with his brother
and party Knowing tho odds against him, the charao-
ter of the ground aud the enemys intention to ambush
his BROTHER possible and fearing tina. those aud dear
to him had been either killed captured, he hurried
forward DETERMINED TO A heart less
stout and brave than Capt Ashby's would have quaied
before the fearful odds against him. for here he learned
that the enemy numbered siIty-fve or seventy. This
intelligence reached Capt. Ashby the road down tho
rlvne drained by Dams Run, which, running under the
B. & D. K r. through eulyert, empted into the Poto-
mae opposite Key's Island. On either side of this
road after reaching the island tho enemy had taken
cover ia the drift wood and dense growth. As Captain
Ashby reached the eugert he tracks leading both
ways as well through as around the same. Hating hs
men, alone this gasnt rode through the cuvert in
sight of the island; at this time he ed upon by
tho enemy Here he gave a whoop land his boys say
n was terrible whoop) and ordered the charge through
The river here about 80 or 40 yards vide This drew
their fee whilst Capt Ashbys orders his men were to
reserve theirs for eose quarters. Upon reaching the
island one OF Capt. Ashbys men wounded and anoth
er dismouned both returned TO the Virginia side. Capt
Ashby still advancing fired several rounds with revolt
vers Finally be gave tho order bring up the reserve
boys di.mount and at them with your bowie knvss"
This commard TO bring up the acted Ike magic
OF course there to bring up. The enemy
broke left aud He'd, firing, however, az they re
treated by which two Of our men were killed, viz Dr.
O. 0anlon recently Of Baltimore ard Oswald Foley, Of
Fiuquer county Va Capt. Ashby bad iavorite black
horse OF his shot under him with two balls OF which,
spent in passing through the horse through to the
skin on the opposite sde slightly brusing but not break
ing the skin Of the Captains leg. During this hght
most touching incident occurred between one Of Capt
Ashby's men, Mr.. Thomas Smith, Of Fauquier, and
one of the enemy he had just shot down. The dying
man. seiz,d with that strange thirst which Immediately
PROCEEDS DEATH asked for water.
Mr. Smith Immediately to the river and brought
what be could in his hat. The dying man drank and
died make no comment this instance Of moral he
rosm After the last battle search made for Mr..
Richard Ashby, who not found until o'clock that
~ Il L..